Is my teen's substance use a problem?
If you're here, you've probably got a worried feeling you can't quite settle. This is a gentle gut-check, not a diagnosis and not a verdict on your kid or your parenting. Answer honestly based on what you've actually seen, and you'll get a plain-language sense of whether this looks like ordinary experimentation or something worth a closer conversation.
1. How often are you finding signs of drinking or drug use (empty bottles, vape pens, a smell, missing alcohol)?
2. When it does happen, do you have a sense of how much your teen is using?
3. Have you noticed changes in who your teen spends time with?
4. What's happening with the things your teen used to care about (sports, hobbies, grades, a job)?
5. When drinking or drugs come up in conversation, how does it go?
6. Have there been any consequences tied to use (school, driving, the law, a scary night)?
7. Does it seem like your teen is using to cope (to fall asleep, to take the edge off)?
8. Your gut. When you think about your teen and substances, how worried are you?
Answer each question to see your result. Nothing is saved or shared.
If you're worried about your teen's immediate safety, don't wait on a quiz — call or text 988, or find local and national support on our resources page.