Supporting a child or teen
When you're worried about your own child's substance use, gaming, or gambling.
1 min read
Signs to notice
- Sudden changes in friends, grades, sleep, or mood
- Secrecy about phones, money, or where they've been
- Missing money or medications
- Losing interest in things they used to love
Many of these are also ordinary parts of adolescence. The pattern and the change matter more than any single sign.
Talking with young people
- Stay calm and curious; ask more than you tell.
- Share your concern and your love in the same breath.
- Set clear, consistent rules and consequences.
- Talk about fentanyl: pills from friends or social media can be counterfeit and contain fentanyl.1
Getting help for adolescents
Look for providers experienced with adolescents and family-based treatment. Note that some adult-focused tools, like the NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator, are designed for adults.2 Your child's doctor or school counselor is often a good first step, and SAMHSA's helpline can help find adolescent services.
Research references
- Fentanyl Facts (opens another website)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Link checked October 17, 2026
Editorial draft — awaiting qualified clinical review
This page was researched and written by the GAREP editorial process with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed. It has not yet been reviewed by a licensed clinician. Use it to understand and prepare, not to make medical decisions on your own.
GAREP Editorial (AI-assisted draft)
Written to be useful in any country. Services and medication availability differ by country.
- Published
- October 17, 2026
- Updated
- October 17, 2026