Teen Alcohol And Drug Abuse: When To See A Health Professional

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When to See a Health Professional

If you think that your teen is using alcohol or drugs, gather all the information you can before taking your teen to a health professional. This will help ensure an accurate diagnosis of your teen's involvement with substances. Health professionals who can diagnose and treat substance abuse problems include medical doctors (such as a general practitioner, pediatrician or psychiatrist), a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner. Professional counseling for addiction, either individually or in a group setting, can be provided by a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or licensed mental health counselor.

If the health professional believes your teen may have a substance abuse problem, he or she will do a medical history and a physical exam. The health professional will ask questions about your teen's attitude toward substance use, history of use, and any effects of drug use. To gather this information, the health professional will want to talk with your teen in private.

Urine, blood, or hair drug analysis (toxicology testing) or a blood alcohol test is not usually done to diagnose abuse problems. Health professionals generally will not do these tests without the teen's awareness and consent. Parental consent is not sufficient unless there is a medical or legal reason for testing.

Because psychiatric conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, depression, long-term depressed mood (dysthymic disorder), anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder are common in teens who abuse substances, the health professional may evaluate your teen for one or more of these conditions. These conditions can make treatment for substance abuse more difficult, so evaluations need to be done as soon as possible to provide treatment that addresses the condition along with substance abuse.

If your teen is thought to have a substance abuse or dependence problem, the health professional will refer you to a professional who is experienced in teen alcohol and drug problems for a full evaluation. A full evaluation is used to plan treatment appropriate for your teen's level of abuse or dependence.

Early detection

Ideally, when your child is about 9 years old, your child's health professional will begin asking about his or her attitudes toward alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. As your child grows, the health professional will continue to discuss this issue during medical visits. This allows the opportunity to prevent substance abuse or to intervene early, if necessary. Intervention at an early age is very important, because early substance use increases the likelihood that your child will participate in other risky behaviors.

A health professional who suspects that you or another family member has a substance abuse problem will discuss treatment. Getting treatment early for yourself (or another family member) decreases your child's risk of developing a substance abuse problem. In addition, your child will be more likely to get treatment early if he or she does develop a substance abuse problem.

Last updated:	August 27, 2008
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Yifrah Kaminer, MD - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC