Investigate.
Look for evidence of your teen's use. Review the information on ways to identify use.
(For more information, see the Is Your Teen Using Alcohol or Drugs? section of the topic Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse.)
If you suspect a specific drug, gather other information about that substance and its effects.
Choose a time. Wait until he or she is not high (intoxicated) to confront your teen about using a substance.
Talking to someone who is high on drugs or alcohol usually does not work and may make the situation worse. Ask about use.
Find out what substances are being used, how often, in what setting, and where your teen is getting them. Your teen may be very reluctant to give you all this information.
Have an evaluation.
Talk with a health professional about an evaluation of your teen's substance use.
Your teen may need treatment, and early treatment may prevent future alcohol and drug use problems.
Get support.
You may find it helpful to participate in a support group for family members of people with alcohol use problems, such as Al-Anon.
There are Al-Anon meetings specifically for parents, and these meetings include discussions about family effects from alcohol and other substance use.
Substance abuse is a family disease; all family members are affected by it and need some form of help to change the way they react to the person who abuses substances.
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