When it comes to alcohol and other drugs, students, like educators, want the facts. Young people across Canada tell us that when it comes to substance use health, they want to make informed decisions. Many young people have questions about cannabis, such as:
- Can regular or heavy use of cannabis impair adolescent brain development? (Yes)
- Does cannabis help you to focus? (No)
- Is cannabis less dangerous than other drugs because it is derived from plants? (No)
- Is cannabis-impaired driving dangerous? (Yes, very)
They are going online with their questions. Too often, the Internet is giving them the wrong answers.
Who Are Educators?
Educators are part of a group that CCSA defines as youth allies — the people students can turn to with important questions. We develop evidence-based resources, such as Understanding Substance Use: Educators Guide, as valuable tools for youth allies to help answer the questions educators and young people are asking.
Visit the Youth and Emerging Adults section of our website for information on what youth need to know about the consequences of drug and alcohol use.
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Guidance, Tools and Resources
CCSA produces research-based publications, tools, and resources to support evidence-based decision-making on substance use health issues. Select your area of interest from the six categories below:
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Substances
Delve into key resources on commonly used substances, such as alcohol, cannabis, opioids, stimulants and psychedelics. Learn about their effects, usage patterns, associated health and social consequences, and harm reduction considerations
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Personal and Societal Impacts
Get insights on the personal and societal impacts of substance use and addiction , including gambling and impaired driving, and their effects on health, safety, and social well-being. Learn about effective prevention and harm-reduction strategies in various sectors.
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Communities
Communities share common interests, values or goals, and interact with one another to build relationships and help networks. These materials support more inclusive, equitable, and community-informed responses to substance use and addiction. Dive into resources highlighting people with lived and living experience, stigma, sex- and gender-based analysis, Indigenous Peoples, and housing.
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Treatment and Prevention
Explore medical, psychological, and social approaches aimed at helping individuals avoid or recover from substance use disorders. Get the facts on public health topics and learn about collaborative efforts to reduce stigma and promote more equitable, inclusive responses to substance use.
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Youth
Learn about factors influencing substance use in young people, including childhood trauma and brain development, and get tools to support adult allies in leading meaningful, evidence-informed conversations with youth. Content promotes early prevention, harm reduction and supportive environments for youth up to age 25.
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Substance Use and the Workplace
Substance use has a significant impact on the workplace, potentially affecting safety, productivity and employee well-being. Explore research on substance use in various industries. Resources support workplace leaders in building more supportive, stigma-free environments through practical strategies, improved approaches and initiative-taking education.
