Some teens have gotten the idea that abusine drugs is okay as long as you do it "every once and a while." What they fail to understand is that if you have a adverse reaction to a drug, it's probably going to happen the very first time you use it. Or you could have a reaction based on some else being in your system at the same time. Read more...

Related Information:

• Is Your Teenager Using Drugs or Alcohol?
  
• Teen Drinking - Not Just a Phase
  
• How to Talk to Kids about Alcohol

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Alcohol and drug use can progress into abuse and even addiction so insidiously that sometimes people do not realize that it has become a problem for them and those around them. The following self-assessment tests can help you determine whether or not it may be time to get help.

• Alcohol Abuse Screening Quiz
  
• Drug Abuse Screening Quiz
  
• Could You Be Depressed?
  
• Is Your Child Using Drugs or Alcohol?
  
• Is Your Child Huffing Inhalants?
  

Questions for Families:

• Are You Troubled by Someone's Drinking?
  
• Are You Enabling an Alcoholic or Addict?
  
• Did You Grow Up With a Problem Drinker?
  
• Domestic Abuse Screening Quiz
  
• Adult Child Screening Quiz
  

If you are 60 years old or older and drink more than the recommended guidelines for moderate alcohol consumption, you could run the risk of losing memory and other cognitive functions, especially if you are a female. A new study has found that cognitive function declines more rapidly for heavy drinkers even compared with light-to-moderate drinkers.

For women, heavy drinking is four drinks or more during a day or more than seven drinks a week. For men, five or more drinks during any one drinking session, or more than 14 drinks a week, is considered heavy. Read more...