I am not sure why you think it would be "snooping" if you think your child may be in trouble or headed in the wrong direction. Were you snooping when you checked their homework to see that it was done or test scores to see if they studied? I don't think so. Well, neither of these things will kill them, but drugs could. It would be nice if they came out already knowing how to make good and wise choices but teaching that is our job. I have talked to my child about drinking, smoking and drugs for many years. And I make a joke out of having a "pop quiz" when friends are here for a party or when I randomly have her sign me into her facebook and my space accounts.  If parents would not be so afraid of being distrusted, there would not be profile after profile of way too much information and pictures of kids drinking, smoking, etc. when some are even too young to drive. That was not the problem with my daughter's page but she had enough information on it to lead any pedophile directly to her school knowing the days she had cheerleading practice, where they hung out, etc.  I don't really go through her things but I do watch her closely and if she came home high, I would not hesitate to have her "help" me go through her things. I always make it clear to her that it until she shows me otherwise, it is not a matter of me not trusting her but of her being too trusting that causes me to follow along behind and check on her. That if she is around when someone else has the drugs, she is in just as much trouble. And she knows that I always check her "attitude and demeanor" when she comes home or if there is a crowd here. I caught several kids that had been drinking once at a cookout and when I would not let them drive home but made them leave cars here or call parents, it was the last time. They still come over and their parents feel better because I check on them so often. I don't think it is snooping if they know the rules of the house and if those rules include a loss of privacy should they engage in risky behavior.