Many young people live with a worrying secret. They know that someone is using illegal drugs or volatile substances (glue and gas). But they are not quite sure what they should do. Often it is a friend or it may be a brother or sister. If this is ringing bells, then read on. In the first place you have to decide how big a problem this person has. This check-list will help you decide: Are they using drugs more often than they used to? Do they appear physically ill? Have you noticed a change in their personality? Do they often say they´ve overdone it? Have they said they would find it difficult to stop using? Do they have problems finding money for drugs? Has using led to problems with other friends, relationships, parents, education, work or the police? Have they started injecting? If the answer to any of these questions is ´yes´, then there is a good chance they are heading for problems. The more yes answers means the bigger these problems may be. Now, the next, and more important, question for you is just exactly what you can do about it. And this is a very difficult decision to make. But…don´t worry, you are not alone, help is out there. Take a look in the helplines and advice section of this website to find many national and local numbers to call. Many of these offer a confidential advice service, some numbers are free, and many do not register on your phone bill as drugs advice lines. Some services are offered in several languages. More immediately, you may like to consider whom you can confide in from among your immediate circle of adults. Don´t discount your own parents, or those of the person concerned. This is a difficult option, but perhaps won´t be as bad as it seems if you try. Some who are parents these days, were among the young people of the sixties and seventies and may have tried drugs themselves. If not, perhaps you could approach another relative, or a teacher, or youth worker. Anyone whom you feel you can trust. In the meantime, keep in touch with that person. Listen to what they are feeling, perhaps offer to go with them for help from a counselling service, or suggest ideas of what they could do to help themselves (without nagging!!) Help them have a positive outlook about themselves and keep them feeling they can do something positive about their problem.