Who To Talk to
If you or a friend are struggling with alcohol, know that you can take control and recovery is possible. If you suspect that you or a friend has an alcohol problem, there are many treatment options available, and the earlier you get help, the better. Talk with a trusted adult, such as a parent, family member, coach, school counselor, doctor, certified substance use counselor, or a leader in your faith community.
Please note, adolescents have many different issues that need to be addressed in different ways, and treatments for adolescents are often different than for adults. For example, there are no alcohol treatment medications that have been approved for adolescents to use.
Counseling for adolescents may use different techniques and often places much greater emphasis on family therapy. In addition, teens need to build different skills and coping strategies than adults.
All of these factors make it important to find treatment providers who have special expertise in treating adolescents.
To find alcohol, drug, or mental health treatment facilities and programs around the country that provide help for teens, visit https://findtreatment.gov/.
What To Do in an Emergency
If you or someone you know is having an emergency, call 911 immediately. See the following for information on what to do if someone is having an alcohol overdose (also called "alcohol poisoning") and for resources to access for a mental health emergency.
Symptoms of alcohol overdose include mental confusion, difficulty remaining conscious, vomiting, seizures, trouble breathing, slow heart rate, clammy skin, dulled responses (such as no gag reflex, which prevents choking), and extremely low body temperature.
Know the danger signals. If you suspect that someone is experiencing an alcohol overdose, call 911 for help immediately. Do not wait for the person to have all the symptoms, and be aware that a person who has passed out can die. Don’t play doctor—cold showers, hot coffee, food, and walking do not reverse the effects of alcohol overdose and could make things worse.
While waiting for medical help to arrive:
- Be prepared to provide information to the responders, including the type and amount of alcohol the person drank, other drugs they took (if known), and any health information that you know about the person, such as medications currently being taken, allergies to medications, and any existing health conditions.
- Do not leave the intoxicated person alone because they are at risk of getting injured from falling or choking. Keep the person in a sitting or partially upright position on the ground rather than in a chair.
- Do not induce vomiting but do help a person who is vomiting. Have them lean forward to prevent choking. If a person is unconscious or lying down, roll them onto one side, with an ear toward the ground, to prevent choking.
Many teens who drink also struggle with other substance use disorders and mental health issues, such as depression. If you or someone you know is having a mental health emergency, call 988. Following are some toll-free helplines that can provide information and support:
Call or Text 988
For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
If you're thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. Services are also available in Spanish.
800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 800-487-4889
Also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service, this helpline provides 24-hour, free, confidential treatment referral and information about mental and/or substance use disorders, prevention, and recovery in English and Spanish.
866-488-7386
The Trevor Project is a leading national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth.
Resources
Do you think someone close to you has an alcohol problem? Do you have a problem with drinking? Either way, there’s no need to go it alone. You need help right now and several organizations are ready to lend a hand. Don’t worry—they’re there to help you. You won’t get in trouble or blamed for anything.
The links below will open in a new browser window that will take you outside of this website.
Support for anyone who wants to stop drinking
Al-Anon Family Groups
- Alateen: Support for teens whose lives have been affected by someone drinking
- Al-Anon: Help for family and friends of people who are worried about someone’s drinking
- Find your local organization (888-4AL-ANON or 888-425-2666)
- Resources in Spanish
National Association for Children of Addiction
- Just4Teens
- Telephone: 301-468-0985
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
NIAAA has information about alcohol use, alcohol use disorder, and treatment options.
- NIAAA publications available for ordering
- NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator®
- College Drinking Prevention
- Kahoot! Quiz: Test your knowledge about underage drinking
- Resources in Spanish
- Personalized support and resources for families impacted by addiction
- Resources in Spanish
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Other sections:
Need immediate help for mental health and/or substance use problems?
Call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), or call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Helpline