Answer: This is a tough one. We may not like it, but have to accept it as inevitable that youth will experiment with drugs (including alcohol). At that age, young people will deny their own mortality, or think that somehow they are the exception to the rule. "I can handle it," or "Nothing big, it's just pot."
Everything we ingest, by way of food or drink, has an effect on the human body. This is not the time for a soapbox or moral diatribes. Ask intelligent questions. What kind of drugs? How frequently? Are we talking pills or needles or smoking? How do drugs make you feel? How do you feel when you come back down?
Take the time to hear your mentee's side of things. You can then let him/her know how it makes you feel. Be real. If you've established a working rapport, you may be willing to disclose past experiences of your own. Avoid those "When I was a boy" moralizations, but if you knew someone who messed up his/her life with drugs, tell the story. Then ask your mentee if he/she is aware of other real world "horror stories" - like basketball star Len Bias, whose cardiovascular system couldn't handle the strain of cocaine.
It's normal for youth to challenge authority and law, to experiment and deny consequences. As a mentor, you are not a medical professional. If you suspect a serious drug problem, you will want to talk to the Mentor Program Manager about that (chances are they are already aware of the problem). Then ask for advice on what you can do to help. Be prepared to break off a mentor-mentee relationship if the youth is offended by your action. You are not to blame.
