You may suspect that your child or teenager is having trouble with alcohol and other drugs, but short of smelling liquor on their breath or discovering actual substances or paraphernalia, how do you tell? While symptoms vary, there are some common tipoffs. Your answers to the following questions will help you determine if a problem may exist.

1. Has the young person's personality changed dramatically? _____
A.) Does he or she seem giddy, depressed, extremely irritable, hostile without
reason? _____

2. Is your supply of liquor, mood or diet drugs dwindling? _____
(Unless you keep close inventory, you may not detect diminished amounts for
months.)

3. Are they less responsible about doing chores? _____
A.) About getting home? _____
B.) About following instructions and household rules? _____

4. Has he or she lost interest in school? _____
A.) In extracurricular activities, especially sports? _____
B.) Are grades dropping? _____
C.) Has the teacher complained that they're sleeping or inattentive in
class? _____
D.) Are they skipping school? _____
(Problems at school are frequent warning signs.)

5. Have they changed friends and started hanging around with a group known for drinking
or drug taking ? _____
A.) Are there weekend long parties? _____
( A young person having problems with alcohol or drugs will abandon old friends
and seek out those with similar attitudes and behavior.)

6. Are you missing money or objects which are easily convertible into cash? _____
(A young abuser's need for alcohol or other drugs increases and becomes more
expensive. Eventually, the need for drugs overcomes any guilt about stealing
from family members or others.)

7. Have neighbors, friends and others talked to you about your child's behavior or
drug taking? _____
(Those reports may have substance.)

8. Has there been an arrest for being "Under The Influence"? _____
A.) Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs? _____
B.) Disorderly conduct? _____
C.) Delinquent acts? _____
(Encounters with the legal system often indicate underlying problems with
alcohol and other drugs. There is a strong correlation between alcohol and/or
other drug abuse and delinquency.)

9. Do they strongly defend they're right to use alcohol and other
drugs? _____
(People defend that which is most important to them.)

10. Does they "turn off" to talks about alcohol and other drug addictions? _____
(Abusers would rather not hear anything which might interfere with their behavior,
while the nonabuser will listen without becoming defensive.)

11. Does they get into fights with other young people? _____
A.) With other family members? _____
(More than 70 percent of all beatings, stabbings and assaults have occurred
when one or both participants has been drinking or abusing other drugs.)

12. Are there medical or emotional problems? _____
(Check for ulcers, bronchitis, high blood pressure, acute indigestion, liver and
kidney ailments, hepatitis, nose bleeds, malnutrition, weight loss, depression,
memory lapses, talk of suicide. Alcohol and other drugs take their toll.
young people on "uppers" or "downers" usually lose their appetite. The taking of
PCP, "Angel Dust," leads to paranoia and hallucinations. Long-term marijuana
users often develop broncitis. Heavy drinkers experience problems with
digestion, malnutrition and depression.)

13. Do you detect physical signs - alcohol on the breath, change in pupil size in the
eyes, hyperactivity, sluggishness, slurred or incoherent speech? _____
(These are all strong clues.)

14. Do they lie to you and others often? _____
(For young abusers, lying becomes automatic. They often fib without reason.)

15. Do they volunteer to clean up after adult cocktail parties? _____
(Draining half empty glasses is a cheap high.)

16. Do you find bottles or drugs in the bedroom, garage or van? _____
(Parents of abusers are amazed to find stashes of alcohol or drugs under
mattresses, in stereo speakers, behind insulation in garages.)

17. Are they irresponsible in using the family car - taking it without
permission, making excuses for not getting home on time? _____
(Many teenagers drink in cars and then drive. They frequently cause motor
vehicle accidents.)

18. Do they stay alone in their bedroom most of the time, venturing
out only occasionally? ____
A.) Does he or she resent questions about activities or destinations? _____
(Some secrecy, aloofness and resentment on the part of teenagers is normal.
But when carried to extreme, these may signal problems with alcohol or other
drugs.)

19. Have their relationships with other family members deteriorated? _____
A.) Does he or she avoid family gatherings which were once enjoyed? _____
(An abuser's ability to relate to others suffers. The primary family relationships
are effected first.)

20. Have they been caught dealing drugs or giving them to friends? _____