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Sibling Relationships 211
Sit down with your dad and tell him how you feel about how overprotective your brother
is. Also, let your dad know that you want to be able to trust him in the same way that he
wants to trust you. This means that when the two of you make an agreement, he needs to
keep his word and not suddenly change his mind because he talked to your brother.
It might be a good idea to have a separate talk with your brother, just to remind him that
even though he has known you and loved you since you were a baby, you aren’t a baby any-
more. Thank him for all he’s done, but let him know that having one dad watching over you
is plenty! I hope this helps!
In friendship,
Terra
My sister has a drug problem
Hey Terra,
My sister has a drug problem. Neither of my parents will admit she does, but I’m really worried
about her. What should I do?
Scared
Dear Scared,
If you haven’t already spoken to your sister about her problem, do so. Many people who use
drugs don’t realize how much this hurts their loved ones. You care a lot about your sister, and
she needs to know that. You might say, “I love you, and I’m really worried about your drug
use. You’re putting yourself in danger. I want you to get some help. Would you be willing to
do that?”
Lots of organizations offer support to alcohol- and drug-dependent teens and their fam-
ilies. Local branches of these organizations are listed in the Yellow Pages under Drug Abuse
and Addiction Information and Treatment Centers. These listings may also provide a number
to a toll-free crisis intervention center where you can talk with a counselor about your sister’s
problem. It’s important to remember that, with support, you and your parents can talk with
your sister about her drug use—and hopefully she’ll choose to accept the help you lovingly