Recognize Early Warning Signs
The early warning signs of an alcohol problem can be hard to recognize because some symptoms can overlap with what are considered normal teen behaviors.
Mood and personality changes
Problems with police
Depression
Unhealthy peer/dating relationships
Hyperactivity
Disengagement from school
Health and hygiene issues
Poor attendance or dropping out
Changes in relationships with friends and family
If you notice any of these early warning signs, don't be afraid to talk to someone about it.
Identifying a potential issue early is the best thing you can do for yourself or someone you care about.
Check for Symptoms of Alcohol Use Disorder
Having only a couple of symptoms—which you might not consider trouble signs—can signal a drinking problem.
It helps to know the signs so changes can be made early. Doctors diagnose alcohol use disorder (AUD) when a person has two or more of the symptoms listed below.
AUD can be mild (the presence of two to three symptoms), moderate (the presence of four to five symptoms), or severe (the presence of six or more symptoms).
Evaluate whether you recognize any of the following symptoms in yourself. And don’t worry—even if you do identify symptoms, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of AUD and other alcohol-related consequences.
During the past year, have you:
- Had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer, than you intended?
- More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, or tried to, but couldn’t?
- Spent a lot of time drinking, or being sick from drinking, or getting over other aftereffects?
- Wanted a drink so badly you couldn’t think of anything else?
- Found that drinking—or being sick from drinking—often interfered with taking care of your home or family? Or caused job troubles? Or school problems?
- Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
- Given up or cut back on activities you found important, interesting, or pleasurable so you could drink?
- More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt (such as driving, swimming, using machinery, walking in a dangerous area, or engaging in unsafe sexual behavior)?
- Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem? Or after having had an alcohol-related memory blackout?
- Needed to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want? Or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?
- Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart, dysphoria (feeling uneasy or unhappy), malaise (general sense of being unwell), feeling low, or a seizure? Or sensed things that were not there?
If you do have any of these symptoms, then alcohol may already be a cause for concern, and a conversation about alcohol use with a professional is recommended. Don't wait. Get help. The sooner the better. The more symptoms you have, the more urgent the need for change.
Reduce the Risk of Alcohol Problems
- The best way to reduce the risk of problems is not to drink.
- The National Minimum Legal Drinking Age in the United States is 21.
Drinking at a young age can cause serious health consequences. It can make you more likely to experience problems during your teens and later in life, and can cause changes in brain development as well as have negative effects on your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.1 Drinking at a young age can also increase the likelihood of having AUD later in life.2
- Drinking alcohol has been linked to missing classes and getting lower grades, although it’s important to note that other life factors may be the root cause for both drinking alcohol and poor academic performance.3,4,5
- Teens who do decide to drink and think they may have an alcohol problem should seek help (see Getting Help).
Know where and how to get treatment and other support services and resources, including counseling or therapy (in person or through telehealth services).
Connect with your community- or faith-based organizations. Consider connecting online, through social media, or by phone or mail.
Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media.
Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate—and build this into your everyday routine.
Make time to unwind. Try to do some activities you enjoy.
Take care of your body.
Get plenty of sleep.
Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
Exercise regularly.
- Marino EN, Fromme K. Early onset drinking predicts greater level but not growth of alcohol-induced blackouts beyond the effect of binge drinking during emerging adulthood. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016 Mar; 40(3):599–605. PubMed PMID: 26853696
- Marshall, EJ. Adolescent alcohol use: risks and consequences. Alcohol Alcohol. 2014 Mar-Apr;49(2):160-64. PubMed PMID: 24402246
- Dawson DA, Goldstein RB, Chou SP, Ruan WJ, Grant BF. Age at first drink and first incidence of adult-onset DSM-IV alcohol use disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 Dec;32(12):2149-60. PubMed PMID: 18828796
- Hingson R, Heeren T, Winter MR, Wechsler H. Early age of first drunkenness as a factor in college students’ unplanned and unprotected sex attributable to drinking. Pediatrics. 2003 Jan;111(1):34-41. PubMed PMID: 12509551
- Hingson RW, Heeren T, Winter MR. Age at drinking onset and alcohol dependence: age at onset, duration, and severity. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006 Jul;160(7):739-46. PubMed PMID: 16818840
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Mental health: coping with stress. [cited 2022 Mar 21]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/cope-with-stress/index.html
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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