Hello, My son started staying a few nights at his mates house and now has not been home for 4 weeks. We are in contact by phone and he drops in for a shower or to take drinks and food back with him. When i asked him why he doesn't come home he say's he doesn't won't to be alone. I work full time to pay the rent etc. His behaviour started changing when he went to high school, to the point that he has only attended one term and has not been back since. I have had contact continually with the school for two years and tried to get him to speak someone like Headspace or our GP but he refuses. He is not angry, abusive or threatening towards me at all, telling me he loves me very much. I am a widow and he was 2 1/2 yrs old when his father passed away so he has no recollection of him. He has a elder brother and sister. We had an issue as he wanted to smoke dope at home and i said no this is not allowed, I caught him a couple of times and repeatedly asked not to smoke at home, this is why I think he is staying away. The  parents of his mates says he is like a son to them and he can stay there permanently if he wants to. I am devastated, I feel like I have lost my son to another family, what am I able to do about this. ... View more