How to Get Help if Your Child Is Using Drugs

Once you have determined your child is using drugs, the next step is to find a treatment that is best for your child and your family.

Instructions

1. Seek out a certified drug counselor who will help your family find a treatment program.

2. Enlist the aid of your family physician, the local hospital, the school social worker, the school district's substance abuse coordinator, other parents whose children have been treated for drug abuse, or the county mental health society.

3. Call the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at 1-800-662-HELP for referrals.

Tips & Warnings

• Drug addiction is believed to be a chronic disease in which relapse is common, and successful treatment depends on a multitude of factors. It is not unusual for parents to make several attempts at intervention before a child recovers from substance abuse.