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Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism- The Warning Signs
Alcohol - Beer, Wine, Liquor.

Slurred Speech.
Alcohol Odor.
Making Excuses for Irresponsible Behavior.
"Dry Drunk" Syndrome When Not Drinking
(characterized by a short temper, perhaps sarcasm, irritability and restlessness.)

The first step is to determine whether your spouse or child or you have an addictive or abusive problem with alcohol. Is the problem dependence or relief use, due to a crisis? The way to determine this is to quit. Should there be hesitation to quit, the answer may lie therein.
Other behaviors lead the observer to believe that the problem is dependence. Continued use of a substance when there is problematic use signals dependence. Denial signals dependence. Obvious continued use with excuses and justifications can be dependence rather than abuse or social use. An objective person who is not attached to the problem or defending the continued use of chemicals when there are problems of any sort or any degree would agree that continued use is harmful and self destructive, therefore, compulsive.
Another characteristic of dependence is an inability to quit - loss of control. There is also a need to control but with failed efforts. Attempts to stop after a couple of drinks on any occasion can mean dependence. A relationship with alcohol can be a sign of addiction or dependence. For example, should you have a breakout of flu or a rash after eating celery you could probably quit using celery. This is not always the case with addiction.
The abusive drinker or user will stop when there is a problem. When there is no relief but there is pain, the abusive or relief drinker can and usually will stop. An alcoholic or addict will not. These are a few ways to determine whether you have a serious or very serious problem.

How Can You Tell If Your Teen is Using Drugs?

WARNING SIGNS
Suddenly avoids contact with the family.
Experiences rapid mood swings.
Steals money from family, friends or others.
Becomes defiant.
New friends are older or less suitable to the family.
New friends are known to use drugs.
School conduct becomes a problem.
Drop in grades is unexplained.
Develops an apathetic attitude toward being successful.
Tends to isolate.
Withdrawl from former hobbies or sports.

Some of the things you will see:
more illness, running nose, cough, dilated pupils, red eyes, slurred speech, lethargy, apathy (little interest in success in appearance, school or activities which were formerly of interest to your child), smell of marijuana in room or on the child, trancelike state, disorientation, hyperactivity followed by drowsiness, nausea, loss of coordination, loss of appetite, headaches/hangover, red nostrils,slowed speech, absentmindedness, runny nose, weight gain, fatigue, staggering walk.

Some of the things you will find:
Paraphenalia such as pipes, rolling papers, roachclips, empty cigars, cans with a hole in the side, needles, cellophane bags with foreign powder or brown/green stems, seeds, smelly, sticky grass or fine granular smelly substance, glues bottles or aerosol cans, razor blades, ashes on the floor, pills or capsules, pill bottles, long fingernails (especially only the pinky), any foreign papers or objects, powder on nose, and any unusual clothing patterns which display drugs or known drug users. Lastly, look for friendships with new persons whom you suspect for any reason.

These are the symptoms which are the most prevalent, observable and frequent. These, especially when observed in groups of three or four, can be strong signs of drug abuse. Do not let these signs go unattended. Get help as soon as you can in order to begin the process of reconstruction. There is hope. Ask questions of knowledgeable persons at the police station or treatment centers if you are unfamiliar with any of the above.

Do not panic! Seek help.