Certain children are more likely than others to drink heavily and encounter alcohol-related difficulties, including health, school, legal, family, and emotional problems. Kids at highest risk for alcohol-related problems are those who:

• Begin using alcohol or other drugs before the age of 15.
• Have a parent who is a problem drinker or an alcoholic.
• Have close friends who use alcohol and/or other drugs.
• Have been aggressive, antisocial, or hard to control from an early age.
• Have experienced childhood abuse and/or other major traumas.
• Have current behavioral problems and/or are failing at school.
• Have parents who do not support them, do not communicate openly with them, and do not keep track of their behavior or whereabouts.
• Experience ongoing hostility or rejection from parents and/or harsh, inconsistent discipline.

The more of these experiences a child has had, the greater the chances that he or she will develop problems with alcohol. Having one or more risk factors does not mean that your child definitely will develop a drinking problem. It does suggest, however, that you may need to act now to help protect your youngster from later problems. For example, if you have not been openly communicating with your child, it will be important to develop new ways of talking and listening to each other. Or, if your child has serious behavioral difficulties, you may want to seek help from your child’s school counselor, physician, and/or a mental health professional.

Drugs of Abuse
Alcohol	Cocaine/Crack	Ecstasy
Heroin	Inhalants	Ketamine
Meth	Marijuana	Nicotine
Ritalin	Steroids
More Resources
• Warning Signs of Teenage Drug Abuse
• Big Changes From Elementary School to Middle School
• Pressured Tweens & Teens Turn to Alcohol & Drugs
• Help for the Innocent
• Americans in Denial About Drug Abuse
• Sex Under the Influence of Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Youth Risk Behaviors
• Impaired Driving and Teenagers

Source: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).