If your child or teen is facing a substance use crisis, 988 can connect you to immediate support. Get clear next steps for situations involving drug use, alcohol crisis support, addiction crisis concerns, or possible overdose risk.
Start with the urgency question below to get personalized guidance on when to call 988 for substance crisis support, what to say, and how to respond as a parent right now.
Parents often search for 988 for substance use crisis support when a child or teen is intoxicated, talking about using more, acting dangerously, panicking, or showing signs of an addiction crisis. If the situation feels emotionally overwhelming, unsafe, or hard to judge, calling or texting 988 can help you think clearly and act quickly. If the person is unconscious, not breathing normally, having a seizure, or may have overdosed, call 911 immediately.
Use 988 for alcohol crisis support or drug-related crisis help when your child or teen is distressed, impaired, escalating, or you are worried their substance use is creating immediate emotional or safety risks.
If you need to call 988 for addiction crisis concerns, counselors can help you sort through what is happening, assess urgency, and identify the safest next step for your family.
If you are not sure whether this is a substance use emergency, 988 can help you evaluate warning signs, decide whether emergency services are needed, and support you through the moment.
Blue lips, slowed breathing, inability to wake up, collapse, seizure, or suspected overdose require emergency medical help right away. Call 911 first in these situations.
If your child or teen is disoriented, hallucinating, threatening harm, wandering, driving impaired, or cannot stay safe, treat it as urgent and seek immediate support.
If substance use is leading to panic, aggression, intense despair, or a situation you cannot safely manage, 988 can provide crisis support while you decide on next steps.
Share what was used if known, when it happened, what symptoms you are seeing, and why you are concerned. You do not need to have every detail before reaching out.
Move away from arguments, remove access to car keys or dangerous items if you can do so safely, and keep your child or teen monitored while you get guidance.
After the immediate crisis, parents often need help deciding on supervision, medical follow-up, and how to talk about substance use without making the situation worse.
Yes. If you are unsure how serious the situation is, 988 can help you assess the urgency and decide on the safest next step. If there are signs of overdose or a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
988 can also support people facing a substance crisis, including drug use emergencies, alcohol-related crises, and addiction crisis situations that feel unsafe, overwhelming, or rapidly escalating.
Either can be appropriate. Call if you need faster back-and-forth or the situation is changing quickly. Text 988 for substance crisis support if speaking aloud is difficult or you need a quieter way to get help.
Start with what you are seeing right now: what substance may be involved, how your child or teen is acting, whether they are awake and breathing normally, and what feels most urgent. The counselor will guide the conversation from there.
Answer a few questions to better understand the urgency, when to call or text 988, and what supportive next steps may help keep your child or teen safe.
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