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.

Group of diverse youth sitting together.

Select a category:

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Early childhood experiences (ACEs) shape our minds and play a large role in how we interact with the world. ACEs can increase the risk of physical and mental illness later in life, including substance use disorders.

Learn more

Educators

Educators want factual information about alcohol and other drugs. CCSA creates evidence-based resources for youth allies, such as educators, to help students make informed decisions about substance use health.

Learn more

Youth and Emerging Adults

CCSA conducts research, shares knowledge and provides materials to support evidence-based decisions and actions for addressing youth and substance use.

Learn more

Get to know our team of experts

Bryce Barker, PhD, CE

Senior Knowledge Broker

Area of Expertise:

  • Alcohol
  • Youth
Read more

Doug Beirness, MSc, PhD

Senior Research Associate

Area of Expertise:

  • Impaired Driving
Read more

Heather Burke

Research and Policy Analyst

Read more

Alexander Caudarella, MDCM CCFP AM ABAM(d)

CEO

Area of Expertise:

  • Harm Reduction
  • Opioids
  • Recovery
  • Treatment
Read more

Karen Cumberland, MPA

Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Community Outreach​

Area of Expertise:

  • Mental Health
  • Policy
Read more

Chealsea De Moor, MA

Knowledge Broker

Area of Expertise:

  • Cannabis
  • Impaired Driving
  • 2SLGBTQ+
  • Youth
Read more

Timothy Deloughery, CCAC, CCS-AC

Substance Use Health Specialist

Area of Expertise:

  • Harm Reduction
  • Lived and Living Experience
  • Stigma
  • Treatment
Read more

Robert Gabrys, PhD

Senior Research and Policy Analyst

Area of Expertise:

  • Cannabis
  • Mental Health
Read more

François Gagnon, PhD

Senior Scientist and Special Policy Advisor

Area of Expertise:

  • Alcohol
  • Cannabis
  • Gambling
  • Harm Reduction
  • Policy
  • More Area of Expertise
Read more

Keep informed with Addiction News Daily and the CCENDU newsletter, alerts, and bulletins

CCSA is pleased to offer the opportunity to sign up to receive news and publications on substance use trends, helping to reduce harm by supporting evidence-informed decisions.
Subscribe

Browse the CCSA Network of Websites

CCSA's Issues of Substance Conference

This biannual, national conference brings together people from across the country, including addiction workers, healthcare professionals, researchers, policy makers, and people with lived and living experience
Learn more

Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms

This project provides comparable and up-to-date data on the costs and harms of substance use in Canada and allows people to explore and analyze the data through its data visualization tool.
Learn more

Workforce Competencies

CCSA developed measurable technical and behaviour competencies in knowledge, skills and values for the substance use workforce, providing consistent care across the wide range of settings.
Learn more

Drink Less Live More

Canada has new guidance on alcohol and your health. CCSA wants you to be able to make the most informed decisions you can about drinking alcohol.
Learn more

Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines

Learn about the world’s first Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines to help people in Canada make informed decisions about their gambling and lessen their risk of gambling-related harms. Use the Interactive Risk Assessment Tool to assess your personal gambling choices.
Learn more

The Highway Home

This interactive website takes an experiential approach to increasing youth’s and young drivers’ awareness of the risks and harms of drug-impaired driving, using real-life scenarios involving cannabis use and driving.
Learn more