It is not uncommon for teenagers to try drugs or drink alcohol in their teenage years. For some they may experiment and make the positive choice not to participate but, there are also those who become dependent on drugs or alcohol. Parenting a teenager who is addicted to drugs or is alcohol dependent can be devastating and you may feel like everything you say is falling on deaf ears. Our section on drugs and alcohol has articles about spotting the signs and having the conversations to help your child stay healthy and safe.