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Substance Use Prevention and Teens

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Learn about the effects of substances on teens, and helpful parenting strategies.

As a parent, you are an important influence on your teen.

Alcohol and other drugs can be dangerous and affect teens differently than adults. To learn how the teen brain is still under construction and impacted by substance use, watch The Workings of the Adolescent Mind video (YouTube link).

You may find it challenging to know how to have a conversation with your teen about substances. The following resources can help you navigate and learn the reasons why teens use, tips for talking to your teen, and other important information.

 

Information and resources

In the drop-down sections below, learn more about substances to help guide conversations with your teen.

As a parent/guardian, being informed about alcohol and its effects on youth can help you to initiate early, open and honest conversations with your teen. Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health (external link) provides people with the information they need to make informed decisions about alcohol use and their health. Drinking alcohol has many health risks. The more you drink, the greater the risk for alcohol related harms. When it comes to youth, the risk of negative health outcomes is much greater and they should be encouraged to delay alcohol use for as long as possible.

What you say and do makes a difference to your child. Use the following parent resources to learn more about alcohol and how to talk with your teen:

Caffeinated Energy Drinks typically contain caffeine, plant-based stimulants, simple sugars, and other additives. Too much caffeine can be dangerous, and mixing it with alcohol can put teens at higher risk of alcohol harms. The purpose of mixing energy drinks with alcohol is to counteract the sedative effect of alcohol with the stimulatory effect of caffeine.  This can lead to drinking more alcohol and increasing risk-taking behaviours and alcohol related harms.

What you say and do makes a difference to your child. Use the following parent resources to learn more about Caffeinated Energy Drinks and how to talk with your teen:

Cannabis (also called marijuana, weed, dope, pot) is a drug that comes from the cannabis plant.  It is illegal for youth under the age of 19 to use, buy, possess, or share recreational cannabis. Cannabis is a psychoactive substance and there are many health and social risks associated with youth who use cannabis at a young age, often and long-term including:

  • Harm to the brain - problems with memory, concentration and thinking.
  • Problems with academic progress - impact on learning and attention, completing school work and lower school performance.
  • Mental health problems - psychosis or schizophrenia and possibly depression, anxiety and suicide, especially if there’s a personal or family history of mental illness.
  • Physical health harms - lung and respiratory problems from smoking cannabis.
  • Addiction - difficulty controlling how much or how often a person uses it.  

What you say and do makes a difference to your child. Use the following parent resources to learn more about cannabis and how to talk with your teen:

Understanding the potential negative health effects of vaping for youth is important for parents to know.  Many vaping substances contain harmful chemicals including varying levels of nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical, and youth are more susceptible to its negative health effects.

What you say and do makes a difference to your child. Use the following parent resources to learn more about vaping and how to talk with your teen:

Parent resources:

Opioids are drugs used to treat and relieve pain. They are commonly known as prescription painkillers. While opioids are effective at treating pain, they are also highly addictive. Common opioids include: morphine, codeine, and oxycontin.

Of particular concern is the toxic nature of illicit or illegal drugs available on the street.  This supply can contain powerful opioids such as fentanyl, carfentanil and other substances making the street supply much more potent and dangerous. The misuse of prescription opioids can be as dangerous as the use of illegal street drugs. Misuse may lead to addiction, overdose and death. Clean out your medicine cabinet and bring leftover or old medications to your local pharmacist for safe disposal at least once a year.

What you say and do makes a difference to your child. Use the following parent resources to learn more about opioids and how to talk with your teen:

Tobacco smoke contains over 7000 chemicals, of which over 70 are known to cause cancer. Many health conditions can be related to tobacco use such as: heart attacks, strokes and lung diseases. Tobacco products contain nicotine, making them highly addictive and hard to quit. The good news is that according to Health Canada, rates for youth who smoke tobacco cigarettes continue to decline and are at an all-time low.

What you say and do makes a difference to your child. Use the following parent resources to learn more about smoking and how to talk with your teen:

 

Community supports

If you are looking for substance use and addiction services for your teen please visit our Substance Use and Addiction Prevention for Schools webpage and select the Community Partners: Resources and Services tab.

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