Youth Substance Use

This fact sheet provides general information on substance use among First Nations youth including how it can affect youth, how to recognize when it may be a problem and what you can do about it.

Basic Information about Alcohol and Drugs

The word “substance” is broadly used to refer to different forms of alcohol and drugs which can be inhaled, ingested or injected. The term “drugs” includes a variety of legal and illegal prescription and non-prescription medications, and even some traditional medicines as well.

Alcohol: Chemically, alcohol is a depressant which slows down body functions by acting as a toxin, which is where the term “intoxicated” comes from. Based on statistics from the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (RHS), alcohol use is reported to be the most problematic substance for youth in First Nations Communities (Assembly of First Nations, 2007, p. 203).

Drugs: There are different categories of drugs depending on the affect they have on people. For example,

• Stimulants such as Ritalin and Speed, crystal meth, cocaine, caffeine and commercial tobacco have an excitatory effect, for example, they might give you energy or keep you awake.
• Hallucinogens such as ecstasy, LSD, magic mushrooms, cannabis, marijuana, hash and hash oil can cause people to hear, think and feel things that are not real.

• Depressants include inhalants such as gas or glue.

  (Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2007, p.79).

It should be noted that many of the drugs listed here are used medically and are important for treatment when taken under the supervision of health care professionals. However, they can also lead to adverse effects on mental and physical health when misused
(AHF, 2007, p. 88).

For more information on drugs see Straight Facts About Drugs and Drug Abuse, Health Canada

For more information on tobacco and traditional use please visit the First Nations Centre Fact Sheet

When Substances can Become a Problem

Risk factors are qualities that increase a person’s likelihood of substance use. This does not mean that a person will definitely use substances but someone with risk factors may have to work harder to avoid using them. Most people with risks do not end up using substances or becoming addicted. When you know about and are aware of risk factors, you can take action to change some of them or ask for extra support.

Examples of risk factors include low self-esteem, peer pressure, family history of substance abuse, history of sexual or physical abuse, community isolation, poverty, and lack of parental support. Key risk periods for alcohol and substance abuse are during major transitions in a person’s life (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009). This may include the transition from elementary school to middle school (12-14 years), which is generally the first time youth are exposed to substances in the environment. It may also include the transition to high school when youth face more social and academic challenges, and at the same time are exposed to an increased availability of alcohol or substances, contact with alcohol and substance users, and participation in social events that include alcohol or substance use (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2003).

Protective factors are qualities that help reduce the risk of using drugs. Examples include being optimistic, having good social or problem solving skills, having parental support, friends that do not use drugs, antidrug policies at school and strong community attachments. These are important because youth can draw on them for strength and support in difficult situations (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2009).

Effects of Substance Use

Substances are grouped into different classes based on their effects on the brain and body but the overall effect that a substance has on a person’s physical and mental health shows a basic pattern. The severity of the impacts can vary with age, weight, gender, physical and mental health, and how much a person uses. These effects have been observed to occur both in the short-term (while using a substance or shortly after using) and the long-term (occurring after heavy use over a long period of time even when not actually using).

	Short-term effects of use	Long-term effects of use
Drugs	Confusion Anxiety Mental disturbance.	Personality disturbances. Learning difficulties Memory loss.
Alcohol	Doing things a person would not normally do. Making poor decisions. Slurred speech, dizziness or balance problems. Experiencing hangover feelings (a combination of fatigue, headache, nausea, and vomiting).	Trouble with memory. Stomach ulcers. Mood changes. Decreased sperm production for men. Liver damage

Adapted from: Health Canada (2009); Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (2005).

With regular use of drugs or alcohol, over time a person develops greater tolerance to the substance which means more of the substance is needed in order to achieve the same or desired affect. This can be harmful because it increases the risk of overdose (Health Canada, 2009).

Note: This is a general information sheet only and if you or someone you know is experiencing uncomfortable effects due to drugs or alcohol see a health professional for more detailed information and advice if needed.

When Substance Use Becomes an Addiction

Substance use can become a problem when a person continues to use after it has had a harmful effect on her or his life, including school life, work, or mental or physical wellbeing, for example, missing a lot of classes or a test due to recurrent substance use. It is important to distinguish the difference between abuse and addiction.

Substance abuse can be seen when a person is physically affected or impaired by a substance in a way that it puts the “physical and/or emotional safety of the user and/or others at risk due to poor judgment and careless or hostile communications and physical actions” (National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, 2005, Glossary).

Addiction includes situations where a person is physically impaired by a substance but in addition there is a psychological or physical dependence on the substance that makes it very difficult to stop. Users can become preoccupied with finding and using substances to the point where it impacts other aspects of their life (National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, 2005).

Psychological signs of abuse and addiction:
• Inability to control drinking or stop drinking.
• Increased irritability, anger.
• Blaming others for their problems.
• Difficulty making commitments (school, work, friends).
• Anxiety or depression.

Prevention, Intervention or Treatment: What You Can Do

• Parents and community members can help prevent youth from using and abusing substances by promoting protective factors that reduce the risk of substance use. These may include teaching and supporting children and youth to:
  • Understand their emotions, attention and behavior so that they can cope with difficult situations that are out of their control.
  • Believe in their own skills and abilities.
    (CAMH, 2009).
• Consider the benefit that youth receive when they are provided with consistent rules and parental involvement in their lives, as well as the creation of an environment that is caring, supportive, and respectful.
• Develop an open line of communication to address issues of substance abuse and risk factors that may lead youth to substance use.
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of substance use and share any concerns you have with your child/youth and/or other family and community members.
• The First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey recommends that interventions should include the entire family rather than be oriented solely around the child or youth who is perceived to be in trouble (AFN, 2007, p.206). This may help increase awareness and community/family support to help prevent future generations from engaging in use.
• Interventions may also include educating youth on substances, use, abuse, and addiction, and the negative impacts these can have on their health and well-being. The most effective intervention is one that is tailored to meet the unique needs of that particular youth, and takes into consideration their current home, community and school situation.
• If you or your community is looking into treatment programs for youth or developing a community-based treatment program, Addictive Behaviors Among Aboriginal People in Canada (AHF, 2007) provides a detailed look into addiction, intervention, treatment, and community-models for treatment, and it offers stories of hope.
• Talk to someone you trust about times when you might be using substances or want to use substances to cover up bad feelings.

Additional Resources

White Bison Centre for the Wellbriety Movement

National Native Addictions Partnership Initiative

A list of treatment centres across Canada

For more information on what you can do if you are concerned about substance use for yourself or for someone you care about see Addiction: An Information Guide

Drug and Alcohol Registry of Treatment (DART) 24 hour toll-free confidential anonymous Infoline: call 1-800-565-8603 or visit the website

Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse

The Addiction Recovery Guide

Youth Drug Prevention for Parents at Health Canada

References

Aboriginal Healing Foundation. (2007). Addictive Behaviours Among Aboriginal People in Canada. http://www.ahf.ca/publications/research-series

Addictions Foundation of Manitoba. 2005. The Basics Series on Alcohol and Drug Information – Alcohol. http://www.afm.mb.ca/Learn%20More/Alcohol.pdf

Assembly of First Nations/First Nations Information Governance Committee. (2007). The First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (RHS), 2002/0: Results for adults, youth and children living in First Nations communities, 2nd Ed.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2009). Educating Students About Drug Use and Mental Health – Risk and Protective Factors: Youth and Substance Abuse. http://www.rhs-ers.ca/english/pdf/rhs2002-03reports/rhs2002-03-technicalreport-afn.pdf

Health Canada. 2009. Straight Facts About Drugs and Drug Use. http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H39-65-2000E.pdf

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2003). Preventing drug use among children and adolescents: A research-based guide for parents, educators, and community leaders, 2nd Ed. US: National Institutes of Health. Retrieved April 19, 2010 from: http://www.drugabuse.gov

National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation. (2005, April). Framework for a renewed Aboriginal addictions system: Implementing the strategic recommendations of the 1998 general review of the National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program. Streamlined Edition. Retrieved April 19, 2010 from: http://www.nnapf.org/sites/default/files/en/2009/04/streamlined-renewal-framework.pdf.