It's important that you understand that you cannot control your parents' drinking or drug use. No matter how hard you try.

Trying to control a situation like this might include hiding bottles of alcohol, hiding drugs, throwing drugs or booze away, asking them to cut down or stop, questioning them, checking up on them - and so on . .

Can you identify with any of these attempts to control your parents' drinking or drug use Perhaps you've tried things like this?

In our experience attempts to control anyone's drinking or drugs use may work for a short time - but are nearly always doomed to failure.

OK then - if we can't control another persons' drinking or drugs use - then what can we do? Well, let's see . . .