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Alcohol

Youth and Alcohol

 

Author: Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research

 

@youngpeople benefit from having caring adults to talk with about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Youth need support and guidance in navigating a culture where alcohol is widely advertised, socially acceptable, and commonly used by adults.

Writing Through Loneliness

By Grade 8, Tabitha found that drinking and drug use made it a lot easier to fit in, and drugs became part of her life. When her father and then her best friend died of a heroin overdose, Tabitha tried to change her own substance use, but social connections were challenging because drug use was everywhere in her community, and Tabitha found herself drowning in grief…alone. Now sober, she reflects on her path to accept her past, find new connections and reconnect with all parts of her story.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a psychoactive (mind-altering) drug that affects the way you think and behave. It is a depressant that slows down your heart rate, breathing, thoughts and actions. Alcohol can be a way to celebrate, socialize, or relax, but drinking too much, too often, or in unsafe situations can cause problems.

Featured

Treatments: What Works?

It seems like everyone has an opinion when it comes to treatments for mental health or substance use problems. To add to the confusion, it isn’t always obvious who is basing their opinions on real evidence and who is not. And while we often hear people talk about evidence-based treatments, it’s also clear that complementary and alternative medicine approaches are helpful for some.

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