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avatarTracy
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What is appropriate discipline for my child that has smoked marijuana?



Question applies to ages: 17

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avatarBridgette
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Top 5 in: Discipline, Families and Relationships, Growth and Development, Learning Styles, Manners and Values, Parenting Support, Parents and SchoolsTop 5 in 7 Topics		 I've been pondering this since I first saw your question and I still don't know what is a good answer. But I'm willing to brainstorm with you and throw out some ideas.

The point of discipline is to teach--especially when you're talking about a 17-year-old who will soon be an adult and free of parental restrictions. So what is it that could get through to your child in a meaningful way?

I'm a big believer in discipline being logical consequences. Punishment tends to make the punished angry at the punisher while logical consequences can be tied directly to the action and help the child to understand their responsibility for the action.

Where did your child smoke the marijuana? Was it with a particular friend? If so, perhaps you could tell your child that because he/she has shown they can't be trusted to act in a legal and responsible manner with that person, that they will need to have an adult chaperone whenever they are together for a specified period of time.

If it was at a party, perhaps the child could be told that they cannot got to parties unchaperoned.

Perhaps you could set up an interview with a police officer or a drug prevention officer and have them explain the harm that comes from smoking illegal drugs.

Perhaps you could tell your child that he/she is grounded until they complete a 10-page research paper on the ill effects of marijuana.

You could also ask your child how he/she thinks he/she could do to regain your lost trust.

What are the penalties for marijuana use in your community? Perhaps if a minimum sentence (for example) is 30 days in jail, you could require 30 days of community service from your child for the organization of your choice. It might be a good way of tying in the practical consequence of what would happen if they were arrested. You could also find out how much bail or attorney fees would be and expect your child to earn that much money that is then donated to a drug-prevention organization.

Good luck.
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