Does Someone You Care About Have a Problem with Alcohol and/or Drugs?

Being close to someone with an alcohol and/or drug problem is a difficult situation. You may feel a wide range of feelings … alone, angry, tired, hopeless, afraid or concerned. There are many resources in the Austin community to help get you the information you need and the support to take action.

Tools to Assess Others

Assessment tools do not provide a diagnosis of alcohol or drug abuse, alcohol or drug dependence or any other medical condition. The information provided here cannot substitute for a full evaluation by a health professional, and should only be used as a guide to understanding your family member or friend's alcohol and/or drug use and the potential health issues involved with it.

How Well Do You Know Your Teenager?
If you're a parent concerned about your teen's (12-18 years old)
alcohol and/or drug use.

Al-Anon Quiz
If you're an adult concerned about another adult's (18 or older)
drinking.

Drug Abuse Screening Test for Significant Others
If you're an adult concerned about another adult's (18 or older)
drug use.

Warning Signs
Wondering if a loved one has a substance abuse problem?
Find out the warning signs that indicate someone is using alcohol or drugs.

What To Do

How can I get someone to stop using?

Although you probably want the substance use to stop as soon as possible, immediate abstinence has certain risks, including withdrawal symptoms with serious medical consequences. Many people need to be admitted to a detoxification center to help them physically withdraw.

Even if detoxification is not necessary, a formal, structured treatment program is often vital for sustained abstinence. A healthcare professional or addiction counselor can help you and the person in need assess your options.

How does substance abuse affect the entire family?

How much a family is affected by a substance use problem depends on how long they have lived with it, how advanced it is, how much shame and secrecy surround it, and the roles and responsibilities of the person with the disorder. If the problem is left untreated, family members will also develop destructive behaviors, such as denial, enabling, and co-dependency.

Who To Call

There are a number of resources available for families to get help. Al-Anon, a Twelve Step program, whose meetings are readily available in the Austin community, provides support and guidance for family members and friends, whether their loved one accepts treatment or refuses to get help.

Other resources on this website you can consider are interventionists, and treatment centers/programs.

Gateway to Recovery is a free education program provided by Austin Recovery. Taught by a Master’s degreed addiction counselor who specializes in intervention, the program is offered from 7-9PM the first two Wednesdays of each month (except in December). It is an excellent source of basic information on alcoholism, drug addiction, and recovery for both individuals and families.