A Parent's Guide to Teen Substance Use

Most adolescents don't use drugs or alcohol, and the ones who do often have something underneath it. This guide covers the signs, the conversations, what to do if you find something, and the real risk of counterfeit pills.

We're not clinicians or doctors, and this practical guide isn't medical advice. For guidance about your teen, always talk with their doctor or therapist. If you're worried about their safety, call or text 988, or call 911.

5 articlesBy Jeremy MannéMore on the way

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Fentanyl and Counterfeit Pills: What to Tell Your Teen

Counterfeit pills are fake pills made to look like real prescription medicine, such as pain relievers, anti-anxiety pills, or stimulants, and the Drug…

Then

What to Do If You Find Drugs or a Vape in Your Teen's Room

The first step after finding drugs or a vape is a safety check, and if your teen is hard to wake, breathing slowly, or not responding, call 911 right …

Then

Signs Your Teen May Be Using Drugs or Alcohol, and What They Can Also Mean

The most common signs that a teen may be using drugs or alcohol are behavioral, such as new friends, falling grades, skipped classes, lost interest in…

Every article in this guide

Substance Use

Fentanyl and Counterfeit Pills: What to Tell Your TeenCounterfeit pills are fake pills made to look like real prescription medicine, such as pain relievers, anti-anxiety pills, or stimulants, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that many of them contain fentanyl.9 min What to Do If You Find Drugs or a Vape in Your Teen's RoomThe first step after finding drugs or a vape is a safety check, and if your teen is hard to wake, breathing slowly, or not responding, call 911 right away.9 min Signs Your Teen May Be Using Drugs or Alcohol, and What They Can Also MeanThe most common signs that a teen may be using drugs or alcohol are behavioral, such as new friends, falling grades, skipped classes, lost interest in old activities, and more conflict at home.9 min When Substance Use and Mental Health Overlap in TeensSubstance use and mental health problems often show up together in teenagers, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that adolescents with substance use disorders have especially high rates of other mental health conditions.10 min How to Talk to Your Teen About Drugs and Alcohol, and Keep Them Talking to YouTalking with your teen about drugs and alcohol works best as many short, low-key conversations over months and years, which is the approach SAMHSA's Talk. They Hear You. campaign recommends.9 min

When it's more than home can handle

You don't have to figure out the next step alone

We're not clinicians, so the Getting Help guide explains your options in plain language and points you toward people who can evaluate your teen. If you're worried about safety, call or text 988, or call 911.

Levels of care, explained →What level of care your teen needs →Crisis options →