How to Help a Friend

Do you have a friend who is drinking alcohol or doing drugs? Are you worried about them? Are they doing reckless things, like driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs? Demonstrating risky sexual behavior as a result of drugs or alcohol? Are their grades going down? If you really care about them, talk to them. Let them know your concerns. Ask if you can help, or suggest they go talk to someone who can help them, like a school counselor. If they don’t listen, and you are still worried, it’s time to talk to your parents, or a counselor at school. As adults, they will know how to handle the situation, and make sure that your friend gets the help he or she needs.

You may feel weird about talking to an adult about this, but that’s better than having regrets because you didn’t talk to someone. Kids who drink or do drugs can really hurt themselves, or even die, due to risky behavior. If you care for your friend, do something.