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How Can I Tell If a Friend or a Loved One Has a Problem With Alcohol, Marijuana, or Other Illicit Drugs? 
Sometimes it is tough to tell. Most people won't walk up to someone they're close to and ask for help. In fact, they will probably do everything possible to deny or hide the problem. But, there are certain warning signs that may indicate that a family member or friend is using drugs and drinking too much alcohol.
 
If your friend or loved one has one or more of the following signs, he or she may have a problem with drugs or alcohol:
  • getting high on drugs or getting drunk on a regular basis
  • lying about things, or the amount of drugs or alcohol they are using
  • avoiding you and others in order to get high or drunk
  • giving up activities they used to do such as sports, homework, or hanging out with friends who don't use drugs or drink
  • having to use more marijuana or other illicit drugs to get the same effects
  • constantly talking about using drugs or drinking
  • believing that in order to have fun they need to drink or use marijuana or other drugs
  • pressuring others to use drugs or drink
  • getting into trouble with the law
  • taking risks, including sexual risks and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
  • feeling run-down, hopeless, depressed, or even suicidal
  • suspension from school for an alcohol- or drug-related incident
  • missing work or poor work performance because of drinking or drug use

Many of the signs, such as sudden changes in mood, difficulty in getting along with others, poor job or school performance, irritability, and depression, might be explained by other causes. Unless you observe drug use or excessive drinking, it can be hard to determine the cause of these problems. Your first step is to contact a qualified alcohol and drug professional in your area who can give you further advice.


 
How can I Tell if I have a Problem with Drugs or Alcohol?

Drug and alcohol problems can affect every one of us regardless of age, sex, race, marital status, place of residence, income level, or lifestyle.

You may have a problem with drugs or alcohol, if:

  • You can't predict whether or not you will use drugs or get drunk.
  • You believe that in order to have fun you need to drink and/or use drugs.
  • You turn to alcohol and/or drugs after a confrontation or argument, or to relieve uncomfortable feelings.
  • You drink more or use more drugs to get the same effect that you got with smaller amounts.
  • You drink and/or use drugs alone.
  • You remember how last night began, but not how it ended, so you're worried you may have a problem.
  • You have trouble at work or in school because of your drinking or drug use.
  • You make promises to yourself or others that you'll stop getting drunk or using drugs.
  • You feel alone, scared, miserable, and depressed.
If you have experienced any of the above problems, take heart, help is available. More than a million Americans like you have taken charge of their lives and are living healthy and drug-free.
 
  Online Drug Use Personal Assessment Tool:
   http://www.drugscreening.org/   
Do you use drugs? Are these substances harming your health or increasing your risk for other problems?   This website can help you find out. Start by answering a few short questions about your past and present use of various drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, tobacco, and inhalants. You'll get feedback about the likely risks of your drug use, and advice about when and where to seek more information, evaluation, and help.
 
  Online Alcohol Personal Assessment Tool:
Do you ever wonder if drinking alcohol is harming my health now, or will it be harmful to me later in life? Should I stop drinking alcohol? Am I a binge drinker? Most adults who drink alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, or liquor) consume safe and healthy amounts. For others, unsafe drinking patterns increase their risk for injury, illness or future alcohol problems. And, for 1 in 13 American adults, alcohol causes substantial harm to their health and disruption in their lives.

If you consume alcoholic beverages, it's important to know whether your drinking patterns are safe, risky or harmful. Answering these questions will take only a few minutes, and will generate personalized results based on your age, gender and drinking patterns. Your responses are completely confidential and anonymous.

How Can I Get Help?

You can get help for yourself or for a friend or loved one from numerous national, State, and local organizations, treatment centers, referral centers, and hotlines throughout the country. There are various kinds of treatment services and centers. For example, some may involve outpatient counseling, while others may be 3- to 5-week-long inpatient programs.

While you or your friend or loved one may be hesitant to seek help, know that treatment programs offer organized and structured services with individual, group, and family therapy for people with alcohol and drug use disorders. Research shows that when appropriate treatment is given, and when clients follow their prescribed program, treatment can work. By reducing alcohol and/or drug use, treatment reduces costs to society in terms of medical care, law enforcement, and crime. More importantly, treatment can help keep you and your loved ones together.

Remember, some people may go through treatment a number of times before they are in full recovery. Do not give up hope.

To find a substance use disorder treatment program near you click here. 
  
  
Twelve Step Programs
 
Guide to Mutual Aid Resources, an online, one-stop resource for people looking for help with addiction and recovery.  Visitors can find out about the many varieties of online and in-person mutual aid groups that are helping people find and sustain their recovery from aaddiction to alcohol and other drugs.  The guide features more than 50 mutual aid groups including Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery and Women for Sobriety. 

Al-Anon/Alateen Family Groups
http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/

The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope in order to solve their common problems. They believe alcoholism is a family illness and that changed attitudes can aid recovery.

Al-Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization, or institution; does not engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any cause. There are no dues for membership.

Al-Anon has but one purpose: to help families of alcoholics. We do this by practicing the Twelve Steps, by welcoming and giving comfort to families of alcoholics, and by giving understanding and encouragement to the alcoholic.

Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership.  AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Their primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
 Michigan Narcotics Anonymous
http://www.michigan-na.org/
Michigan NA.org was founded by recovering addicts within the state of Michigan's Narcotics Anonymous service structure.  They are a state-wide committee of recovering addicts comprised of addicts from within both Regions of the state of Michigan volunteering time to help carry the message of NA throughout the state.  They are dedicated to helping people overcome the problems of addiction by providing a statewide website4 to help recovering addicts find meetings and local NA functions.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Find Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Resources and Materials
 
SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI)

NCADI is the Nation's one-stop resource for the most current and comprehensive information about substance use disorder prevention and treatment.

NCADI is one of the largest Federal clearinghouses, offering more than 500 items to the public, many of which are free of charge. They distribute the latest studies and surveys, guides, videocassettes, and other types of information and materials on substance use disorders from various agencies, such as the U.S. Departments of Education and Labor, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

They Staff both English- and Spanish-speaking information specialists who are skilled at recommending appropriate publications, posters, and videocassettes; conducting customized searches; providing grant and funding information; and referring people to appropriate organizations.

They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your calls at 1-800-729-6686.

Prevention Network
http://www.preventionnetwork.org/
Prevention Network a statewide organization that supports prevention and related efforts in Michigan, provides services which build the capacity of diverse grassroots groups to carry out effective local solutions, and coordinates statewide awareness and advocacy initiatives. Prevention Network provides a structure through which the effectiveness of community groups is increased and common goals can be identified and achieved.
Grants of up to $2,500 are available to local not-for-profit community groups for activity taking place locally within Michigan. 
 
Get Involved!
Contact your local coalitions to find out how you can get involved. To find information about coalitions in your community click here.