-
-
MilLife Topics
- Military Basics
- Deployment
- Transitioning & Retiring
- Casualty Assistance
- Moving & PCS
- Housing & Living
- Recreation, Travel & Shopping
- Relationships
- Parenting
- Special Needs
- Health & Wellness
- Safety From Violence & Abuse
- Financial & Legal
- Education & Employment
- National Guard
- Benefits & Resources
- Benefits
- Back to Menu
- View Benefits Finder
- View Benefits Finder
- Moving
- Support Services
- Planning & Prevention
- Discounts & Perks
- Pay & Leave
- Education & Employment
- Recreation
- Family & Child Care
- Relationships
- Health Care & Emotional Well-being
- Retirement
- Housing
- Shopping
- Legal
- Travel
- Popular Benefits
- MilTax
- Space-A Travel
- DOD MWR Libraries
- Resources
- Back to Menu
- View Resources Finder
- View Resources Finder
- MilLife Guides
- Military OneSource Network Websites
- Podcasts
- Government Websites
- Webinars
- External Websites
- Directories & Tools
- Online Learning
- Mobile Apps
- Popular Resources
- MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
- Plan My Move
- Moving Personal Property
- DPS Login
- Other Resources
- Data, Research & Statistics
- Products
- Back to Menu
- View Products Finder
- View Products Finder
- Popular Product Types
- Book/Booklets
- Fact Sheets
- Brochures
- Flyers
- Educational Items
- Posters
- Popular Products
- Steps to a Smart Move Infographic
- Spouse Ambassador Network Fact Sheet
- Military Teen Adventure Camps Flyer
- A Survivor’s Guide to Benefits
- Go Read Children’s Book
- I am a…
- Confidential Help
24/7/365 Access to Support
No matter where you serve or live, free and confidential help is available.
- In Crisis?
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- Back to Menu
- Veterans/Military Crisis Line
- PhoneLive ChatInternationalWebsite
Dial 988 then press 1 or text 838255
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Back to Menu
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- PhoneLive ChatText
Call 800-799-SAFE (7233)
Text “START” to 88788
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- Back to Menu
- DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support
- PhoneLive ChatWebsite
Call 877-995-5247
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Back to Menu
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- PhoneLive ChatTTY
Call 988
Use your preferred relay service, or dial 711 then 988
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Back to Menu
- Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program
- Interactive Tool
In the United States, call 911 if you are in an emergency.
For those outside the United States, call your local emergency number.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Live Chat
- About Us
-
Contact Military OneSource
Information and support for service members and their families. About the Call Center.
- 800-342-9647
- Call Us OCONUS
- Call Us TTY/TDD
- Additional Ways to Contact Us
Substance abuse happens everywhere, including on and off military installations. Recent studies indicate that military children have higher rates of drug and alcohol use as well as a higher risk of developing an addiction. There are steps you can take to help reduce your child’s risk for substance abuse.
How can I talk to my teen about substance abuse?
The dangers of teen substance use include impaired driving, future health problems and increased susceptibility to addiction. Here are a few tips to help you discuss drug use with your teen:
- Talk now. It might seem like your pre-teens are too young for a serious talk about substance abuse, but research shows that it’s not uncommon for children to be offered drugs or alcohol before turning 13.
- Talk often. Make conversations with your child a regular, frequent practice. The more you talk to your child or teen about all topics, the easier it will be to discuss difficult topics on a regular basis.
- Embrace honesty. Be prepared to answer questions about your experience with drugs and show your own vulnerability. Sharing your own experiences or being open about any family history can make the conversation more relatable and allow your teen to learn from the past.
- Talk and listen. A two-way conversation may likely resonate better with your teen. It’s important your child feels comfortable sharing his or her opinions, concerns or questions with you. Also, try discussing serious topics during side-by-side activities, like folding laundry, preparing dinner or driving. These activities take the focus off the teen and place it on the topic at hand.
- Avoid scare tactics. Focus on real risks for commonly abused substances. For example, discuss how marijuana can affect their performance on sports teams or put them at risk for legal trouble, or how alcohol abuse can lead to addiction and future health problems.
- Be mindful of tone and word choice. Focus on positive word choices so your teen is less defensive. Use “I” statements to express how certain situations or topics make you feel as a parent versus phrasing sentences involving your teen as “you” statements. For example, begin a sentence with “I’m concerned…” instead of “you should never…” or “you always…”
- Talk one on one. While it’s important for both of the child’s parents to be on the same page and to be part of the conversations about difficult topics, your teen may feel less threatened talking to one parent at a time.
- Look for teachable moments. From music lyrics to television or movie characters to news reports, opportunities abound to discuss tough topics and situations and how others did or did not handle the challenges they faced.
- Get real. Brainstorm scenarios in which your teen may be offered drugs or alcohol and work together to come up with some real ways he or she could handle each situation.
- Stay involved. As with most difficult topics, it’s best to revisit the topic of drug and alcohol use. Get to know your son or daughter’s friends and their friends’ parents. Stay involved in their social activities.
What warning signs should I look out for?
If you think your teen may be at risk for abusing drugs or alcohol, keep an eye out for these warning signs:
- Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
- New friends and different places to hang out
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Withdrawal from or hostility toward family members
- Unfamiliar smells in the home, car or on the teen’s possessions
- Unexplained need for money and secrecy about where it goes
- Alcohol bottles, prescription drug bottles or drug paraphernalia in the teen’s room
- Changes in physical appearance or personality
- Sudden changes in school performance
Where can I find more resources?
- Check out the National Institute of Health’s MedlinePlus website for helpful information about specific drugs and underage drinking.
- Be sure to download the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism publication on talking to your child about alcohol and explore with your teen the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s NIDA for Teens website.
What should I do if my teen needs help?
Teen substance abuse can be linked to parental use and abuse. If you think you need help or if you’re concerned your teen is abusing substances, don’t hesitate to seek professional help to navigate the path to sobriety. As a member of the military community, you and your family members can receive the necessary inpatient or outpatient treatment through TRICARE. Your primary care manager can provide an appropriate referral. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Military Crisis Line at 988, then press 1, or access online chat by texting 838255.
Put your military community’s resources to work for you and your family. You aren’t in this alone.
Installation Program Directory
Find programs and services at your local installation.Your session will expire in 5 minutes.Click "Extend" below to stay logged in.
This site is for testing purposes only.If you are part of the general public, navigate to the public site. This site is solely for testing and approving site pages before they are released to the general public.