It can be difficult and emotional to see your child struggling with drug addictions. Substance abuse in teens doesn’t just interfere with their education; it can also impact their mental, physical, and emotional state. Teenagers suffering from addiction can start to cut themselves off from their school, families, and friends. It can be a scary situation because you’re worried about their well-being.
Facing the possibility that your child may also be charged with a drug crime can often exacerbate a situation. Fortunately, you don’t need to handle the criminal charges on your own. A drug crime defense attorney with experience handling juvenile crimes can help handle the charges and may also be able to provide you with resources to support your child as they recover from their substance abuse.
What Is Substance Abuse?
Substance abuse is the consumption of illegal drugs, alcohol, and prescription medications. When people overuse illicit drugs, it changes how they think and act due to the effect the drugs have on their mental and physical state. Drug addiction impacts everything from health to a person’s perception of reality and how they handle coping with their day-to-day life. Signs of teen drug abuse may include:
- Put distance between themselves and the rest of the family
- Be excluded from social activities
- Be vulnerable to predatory adults
- Be deprived of extra education support or home support
- Targeted by bullies or anti-social behavior
- Cut themselves off from loved ones
- Lie to others to hide the effects
A teen dealing with substance abuse requires a lot of help and rehabilitation. While it’s understandable that Louisiana has strict penalties for minors committing drug crimes, sometimes a teen benefits more from rehabilitation programs and family support. Contact an attorney who can help you give your teen the chance they need to recover.
Consequences of Juvenile Substance Abuse
Drug crimes of any kind are often serious offenses that can lead to various penalties such as time in juvenile centers and steep fines. A juvenile delinquency adjudication can include short and long-term consequences such as:
- Expulsion from their school
- Expelled for two years
- Teens under 17 with a license can have it suspended for one year
- Can be assigned to an alternative school for ten or more days
- If the teen is receiving supplemental security income (SSI) benefits, they will be withheld by the state
Juveniles charged with drug crimes who are under 17 may face repercussions that also impact their families, such as:
- Certain drug crimes may cause their household to be banned from public and section 8 housing
- They may also be banned from public housing for up to three years
- Their entire family can be evicted from their current public housing
- Their parent’s child support payments will be reduced
- Parents may also be held responsible for their child’s financial obligations if the penalties include fines or other restitution payments.
An attorney can help parents find the best solution for their teen drug addiction issues and help them achieve a favorable outcome for any charges they may face.
Work With an Experienced Juvenile Drug Crimes Attorney
Attorney Eric G. Johnson of The John D. & Eric G. Johnson Law Firm has helped juveniles and their families deal with the consequences of substance abuse for over 20 years. Eric understands the importance of carefully evaluating a situation and thoroughly investigating to obtain evidence that can secure a favorable outcome for his clients.
Contact Eric Jonhson today so he can help you get your teen the second chance they deserve. You can schedule a consultation by calling (318) 377-1555 or filling out a contact form.