Teen Abusing Alcohol

by Jenn Krimmer
(Ohio)

I have a 17 year old who has been drinking off and on since she has been 15. It is now a real problem. She goes to counseling, she must be "snowing" the counselor, because she says she is pretty much a normal teen. My daughter tells me all the time that I am the only parent who over-reacts. Isn't it my right to do so? Every time she gets out, she drinks in excess, comes home drunk, etc. She is abusive, nasty, cruel, etc. She is a bright girl, with a huge future in front of her. She is a very talented artist. I'm afraid I'm losing control, not that I had any real control. She will be 18 in November.

Do I just let it go? That would be REAL hard. It is really causing problems in our home, we have 5 other girls, she's the third oldest. It causes marital problems, everything. She goes to a private school, my husband is not willing to let her return to school for her senior year if she doesn't stop the drinking. I don't know really what to do, I'm lost.