A Dissemination & Train the Leaders Program by Parents, for Parents
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Francais Project Start Page About this Project Project Contacts Project Tools |
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Drugs and Teen Use What Schools Can Do What Parents Can Do What Parent Volunteers Can Do What Parent Leaders Can Do |
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Youth Drug Use
Harms Associated with Problem Use
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Risk, Resilience and Youth Development Years of research have identified a wide range of factors that are linked to substance use problems. The terms “protective” and “risk” factors are often used to identify aspects of a person and his or her environment that make the development of a substance use problem less (i.e., protective factor) or more likely (i.e., risk factor). The more risks that a child or youth experiences, the more likely that substance use and related problems may occur. Potential Risk and Protective Factors
All substance use by young people is potentially hazardous. It is not possible to predict the outcome of any drug using situation but a mix of factors help determine the hazards involved in any drug-using situation: the nature of the drug, the characteristics of the person, and the context of use. Drug: The way the drug is prepared (i.e., weak vs. strong dosage) will help to determine risk. For example, the strength of cannabis used in Canada is now generally much greater than was the case twenty years ago, and risks are increased accordingly. It is very difficult to assess the quality or purity of illegal drugs, so there is a risk of unpredictable or adverse reactions and overdose. The manner of use (i.e., swallowing, sniffing, inhaling or injecting) has a large bearing on the level of risk involved. Swallowing tends to reduce the peak “high”, and lengthen the period of intoxication. On the other hand, sniffing, inhaling and injecting all result in a rapid and quite possibly, disorienting, drug effect that may be dangerous. Injection is particularly dangerous because of the risk of contracting an infection, such as HIV or Hepatitis C, from shared needles. Along with the purity of the drug and the way it is taken, the actual amount used, of course, plays a large role in determining risk level. There is always risk when using too much of a drug at one time (binge use) due to side effects, accidents and the possibility of overdose. Person: The person’s physical traits, such as weight, gender, metabolism, and state of health can all play a role in determining risk levels. For instance, women are generally impaired by lower amounts of alcohol than men. A person’s state of mind – their mood and expectations – will help to determine the experience and the level of risk involved in a drug using situation (for example, risk increases when a person drinks in an angry state or to cope with sadness, rather than to enhance an enjoyable situation). Context: The context is the setting or situation in which drug use occurs (for example, on the street vs. in a living room). Substances usually affect motor coordination, judgment and intellectual functioning in various ways. For that reason, there are certain contexts for drug use that always pose a high risk for harms and should always be avoided: v before driving a car, boat, ATV or snowmobile, or using other machinery v before studying or working v before sports or other physical activity v before sexual activity v when pregnant v when using medication or other substances Beyond a single, drug using situation, it is also important to distinguish between experimental, social, binge, frequent/heavy and dependent use when examining risk levels. The lines between these levels of use are fuzzy but clearly, binge and frequent, heavy use involves a much greater risk of harms. However, even experimental use can pose a risk if the person is not cautious (particularly with illegal substances that have unknown purity). Some people see experimenting with tobacco, alcohol or cannabis as “gateways” into harmful use of these and other substances. It is true that most persons with a drug dependency started their drug use with one of these substances (and no one ever sets out to become drug dependent!). But it is also true that almost all young people that experiment with these substances never go on to use any other illegal substances. Substance use can result in various harms, including safety concerns; physical health problems; mental health problems; cognitive problems; violence and crime; overdose; and drug dependence. Among the more serious harms linked to substance use is being arrested, and the context or situation really doesn’t come into play (i.e., it doesn’t matter how much or little is used). Offences for possessing, selling, cultivating or importing illegal substances are serious Criminal Code of Canada offences. A Criminal charge makes it difficult to travel and pursue certain professions. It is legal to possess and use a medical drug only if it is prescribed to you. It is illegal to sell tobacco to anyone below the age of 18 or 19, depending on the province. The legal age to purchase or possess alcohol is either 18 or 19, depending on the province. Impaired driving is a Criminal Code offence and penalties are severe. There is good reason for these substances to be illegal for young people. Adolescents go through an important developmental phase, physically, emotionally and cognitively, and this development can be disrupted by substance use.
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Building Resilient Youth
(AADAC)
(Canadian Health Network)
Middle Childhood
Resiliency
Girls, Women and Substance Use British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women's Health
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