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Should I have my sister learn the hard way?
I am 15 years old and my sister seems to be having financial problems. As her brother I don't mind lending or giving her a little bit of money. My parents found a marijuana pipe and later meth pipe both used in her room. She seems to spend so much that she started stealing money from me and asking me to make counterfeits. Then like always she lies and makes up lame excuses. How should I deal with it, call the cops and file a theft charge try to "scare her straight"? She passed a drug test but it was at home her friends were over and it took her 2 hours.
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I would say your sister needs to go to therapy, something may be troubling her that led her to that path. I would also say she needs to go to rehab and get on a program for recovery.
I would write your sister a letter telling her that you care about her, and poor your soul out and try to convince her to get help.
It is sad though because if someone falls off path, no matter what you do it is still up to them to get clean. I know how you feel because my father is an alcoholic, and it took me a very long time to get past it.
If your sister doesn't see the light I recommend looking up self-help books or articles about dealing with family members who are addicts.
Hope things get better!
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tell your mum just dont tell the police as it will get her and your parents into trouble.
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Ouch.
15 and standing up to a situation like this. For what it's worth kid, you've got my respect.
Now.
Cops will not help. That's the first line of my response, and probably the most important overall.
Cops are not your friends. Cops exist solely to protect the laws society has in place. The laws are there to create structure, not to save your sister from herself.
Second. Protect your shit. Getting a lockbox or small safe for your money would not be a bad idea. And stop the loaning. Loaning equals enabling, every time you give her money it's almost guaranteed she's buying crap with it.
Third. Marijuana pipe easily dismissible. Meth pipe _bad_. Really, really bad. Meth is one of the most damaging and addictive substances known to man.
This problem is beyond your ability to directly help at 15. Like it or not, you lack life experience and some measure of adult maturity. You're not ready to take this on.
Professional help is required.
Step 1: Google to find local rehab clinics. Call around and see if you can make an appointment or five with some therapists.
Step 1.5: If no rehab appointments are possible, call a few local hospitals and explain the situation enough to find out who you might be able to talk to.
Step 2: Speak with them. Explain the situation in as much detail as possible, and ask for advice.
That's your best starting point. If you want to help your sister in any real sense, you need someone who understands addiction and addicts. Pay attention along the way.
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You need to tell your parents. If they fall for her excuses start keeping a "diary" of things your sister takes from you. If you notice something missing, write it down. If you see her trying to take something write it down with the date and time. Then you'll have a log of events to show you're not just making it up. You sister is on drugs. She needs help. Meth is highly addictive and once you start its hard to stop. Your parents need to step in here and get her some treatment. Try talking to them and see if you all can come up with a plan together to try and deal with this. Good luck.
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OK, it sounds like your sister is doing drugs, but you don't want to blame all of her behavior on that, either. If she is stealing from you do not make excuses for her by blaming it on the drugs; that's letting her off way too easy. Let her know you don't trust her and it's too bad that you have to admit that your own sister's a sneaky thief, but it is what it is.
I am sorry to tell you this, but there's really nothing else you can do, and any attempt to try to make her see the light is just going to end up being hurtful to you. The best thing you can do for your sister is hold her accountable for her actions and don't let her take advantage of you. Also, you can send her a lot of good wishes that if she is doing drugs she will have the strength to stop.
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