Is Your Child Using Drugs or Alcohol?

First published August 2014
Updated July 2025

As parents, we worry about our children’s use of nicotine, alcohol and other drugs. The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that 1.9 million adolescents age 12-17 used tobacco products or vaped nicotine in the past month, with 75% of those teens only vaping nicotine.

When looking at alcohol use, 5.6 million youth age 12-20 drank in the past month, with over 3 million reporting heavy use or binge drinking.  With the rise in legalization of marijuana across the United States, 4.3 million youth reported use in the last 30 days.

How can parents help their children make healthy decisions in their lives? Talking to your children early and often about alcohol and drugs can protect against many high-risk behaviors associated with using drugs.  

How can you spot possible drug use in your own child? Look for:

Behavioral Changes:

• Being unusually clumsy or lacking coordination
• New hostility or anger
• Decreased motivation
• Loud or obnoxious behavior
• Being deceitful or secretive

School or Work Changes:

• Truancy or loss of interest in schoolwork
• Drop in grades
• Failure to fulfill responsibilities at work or school

Personal Appearance Changes:

• Unusually messy, careless appearance
• Red, flushed cheeks or face
• Poor hygiene, and burns or soot on fingers or lips

Personal Habit Changes Including:

• Avoiding eye contact
• Secretive phone calls
• Heavy use of over-the-counter preparations to reduce things like:
• Eye reddening (eye drops)
• Nasal irritation
• Bad breath

If you have any concerns, you should talk to your child and if necessary, obtain a comprehensive substance abuse assessment by an addiction professional.

It is never too early to talk to your children about alcohol and drugs and the older kids get, the more likely they will try a substance. When parental expectations about alcohol and drug use are clearly stated, children are more likely to respect parent rules and advice. Patterning of responsible use of alcohol and minimal to no use of nicotine and marijuana should be demonstrated by parents. Get to know your children’s friends and their families, avoiding exposure to people that might increase your child’s chance of using drugs. Substance abuse is more easily treated if caught early and appropriate treatment is initiated.

At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Substance Use Treatment and Recovery Program in the Division of Adolescent Medicine helps youth age 12-25 with a variety of substance use disorders including nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, opioid, stimulants, benzodiazepines, and more. Call (614) 355-8614 to schedule an appointment.