Child mental health

When Grief Leads a Teen to Risky Coping

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A teen drinking more after a death is often grief leaking out sideways — an attempt to numb pain. It's a recognized warning sign that needs calm, direct attention, and it can mask depression or stuck grief. Early professional help addresses both.

Last updated: July 2026History

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Why grief can turn into risky coping

Teens don't always have the words for loss, so the feeling comes out through behavior — drinking, withdrawing, or other risk-taking that numbs or distracts. A noticeable increase in substance use is listed among the signs that a grieving young person needs professional help, not a moral failing to punish away 1. Naming it as grief, out loud, is the first step.

How to talk about it without escalating

Lead with concern, not accusation: 'I've noticed you've been drinking more since Grandpa died, and I'm worried about you.' Honest, age-appropriate conversation and steady routine are protective during loss 2. Avoid threats that end the conversation. You can hold a clear limit on alcohol while still making it safe for your teen to tell you how much they're hurting — both can be true at once.

What's underneath the drinking

Risky coping often points to grief that's become stuck or to a developing depression. Prolonged or complicated grief is a distinct trajectory in bereaved youth, linked to functional impairment and increased suicidal ideation, so increased substance use deserves a careful look rather than a wait-and-see 3. The goal isn't only to stop the drinking — it's to reach the pain it's covering.

Steady the ground at home

Predictable routines, shared meals, and staying connected to family and friends give a grieving teen something solid to stand on, which reduces the pull toward numbing 2. Keep alcohol out of easy reach at home, stay curious rather than interrogating, and let your teen see you grieving in healthy ways too — it models that pain can be felt rather than dodged.

When a grieving teen's drinking needs a clinician

A clinician adds value here in several ways: they assess whether the drinking signals depression or a substance-use problem rather than a passing phase, distinguish typical grief from prolonged grief that's driving the behavior 3, and deliver evidence-based grief-focused therapy that treats the loss underneath 4. Because prolonged grief in bereaved youth is linked to increased suicidal ideation, a professional can also screen for safety 3. If drinking is escalating, paired with hopelessness, or putting your teen at risk, reach out promptly — and if there's any sign of self-harm, treat it as urgent.

Common questions

Experimentation happens, but a clear increase tied to a death is different — it suggests your teen may be using alcohol to numb grief. That pattern is a recognized warning sign worth addressing directly rather than dismissing.

No. A calm, concerned conversation that holds a limit while staying safe for honesty doesn't increase use — it opens a door. Threats and accusations are what tend to shut the conversation down.

You may not be able to tell on your own, and that's exactly what a clinician helps with — assessing whether the drinking points to depression, stuck grief, or a substance-use problem, and screening for safety.

Related

Say it back

How would you explain this to someone you love?

Two or three sentences, just as you’d say it. Gale reflects back what you focused on — a mirror, not a quiz.

If things feel heavy, a person is available anytime — call or text 988.

Talk to a clinician

A behavioral-health clinician

Gale can help you find one in your state and request a visit.

Find care →

When to act quickly

  • —Drinking or substance use that is escalating
  • —Drinking paired with hopelessness, withdrawal, or depression
  • —Driving, blackouts, or other dangerous use
  • —Any talk of self-harm or not wanting to be here

If your teen talks about suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741. Call 911 for immediate danger such as alcohol poisoning.

This article is educational and not a diagnosis. A licensed clinician can assess your teen's grief and substance use. In a crisis, call or text 988.

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References

  1. 1.American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) (2018). Children and Grief (Facts for Families No. 8). AACAP Facts for Families. link ✓Increased substance use is among the signs a grieving child or teen may need professional help.
  2. 2.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2025). Tip Sheet: How to Support a Child Through Grief. SAMHSA Library (PEP25-01-004). link ✓Honest, age-appropriate communication and maintaining routine are protective during loss.
  3. 3.Melhem NM, Porta G, Shamseddeen W, Walker Payne M, Brent DA (2011). Grief in Children and Adolescents Bereaved by Sudden Parental Death. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(9), 911-919. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.101 ✓Prolonged/complicated grief is a distinct trajectory associated with functional impairment and increased suicidal ideation.
  4. 4.Boelen PA, Lenferink LIM, Spuij M (2021). CBT for Prolonged Grief in Children and Adolescents: A Randomized Clinical Trial. American Journal of Psychiatry, 178(4), 294-304. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20050548 ✓Grief-focused CBT significantly reduces prolonged grief, depression, and PTSD symptoms in bereaved youth.

4 sources, numbered by first appearance. General health information, not medical advice. AI-assisted editorial content — every citation independently verified. Editorial policy

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