Substances at a Glance series – Resources
Substances at a Glance – The four week series of printable resources will be available on this page for the next four weeks.
Week 1 – Substances At A Glance: Cannabis
Cannabis is the second most commonly used substance in Canada, after alcohol.
The average age of initiation is 14 years old, and the most common ways teens use cannabis products are smoking, vaping and consuming edibles. Find out why kids might decide to use cannabis and how to reduce the risks of early cannabis use.
Click the PDF image to access the resource.
Want to know more about cannabis and its effects on youth? Get much more information on our Drug Spotlights – Cannabis pages.
Week 2 – Substances At A Glance: Alcohol
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance in this country. However, alcohol use has an impact on the mental and physical health of everyone, particularly youth. The younger the person is when they begin drinking, the higher the risk for poor mental and physical health and problems related to alcohol consumption later in life.
Click the PDF image to access the resource.
Looking for more information about alcohol and its risks so you can keep the conversations going? Find more in our Drug Spotlights – Alcohol pages.
Week 3 – Substances At A Glance: Vaping and E-cigarettes
Vaping’s popularity among youth has grown significantly over the past few years – the vaping rate is highest among young Canadians between 15 to 24 years old.
There is a lot of concern that vaping may have a negative impact on the overall health of young people – vaping can be as addictive as smoking due to the high levels of nicotine.
The e-liquids or “juices” in vape devices can also contain cannabis extracts like oils, which typically have very high levels of THC.
Click the PDF image to access the resource.
Looking for more information on the risks of vaping so you can keep conversations going with your kids? Find more about the issue of vaping on our website.
Week 4 – Substances At A Glance: Opioids
Approximately 1 in 10 people who use opioids report problematic or addictive use.
As prescribed pain relievers, opioids are effective when used properly, but because they can produce feelings of euphoria, some people may begin to use them problematically. When used incorrectly, opioids pose a serious risk for addiction and accidental overdose.
Opioids are also produced illegally and are available on their own and mixed with other street drugs. It can be difficult to tell the difference between prescription and illegal opioid pills, and anyone who takes opioids that are not prescribed directly to them is at risk.
Click the PDF image to access the resource.
Get more information about the opioid crisis in Canada on our website, or download the “Let’s Talk Opioids, including fentanyl” resource for more about opioids and youth.
Talk with your kids about opioids – ensure they understand the serious health risks of taking pills without a prescription or using drugs they’ve purchased off the street or online.
If your child already uses opioids problematically, help them understand how to reduce the risk of an accidental overdose. Make a safety plan together and keep Naloxone on hand. Ensure they know that you will support them whenever they are ready to reach out for help.
The Substances at a Glance series is complete, thank you for signing up. We’d love your feedback! Feel free to contact us at: info@drugfreekidscanada.org – Subject line: Substances at a Glance
