July 18, 2025

Substance Use Conversations with Youth: Tips for Adult Allies — A Communication Guide

Shea Wood, Bryce Barker

  • Youth
  • Substance Use
  • Alcohol
  • Cannabis
  • Opioids
  • Psychoactive Substances
Cover page of the report titled “Substance Use Conversations with Youth: Tips for Adult Allies — A Communication Guide.” The background features a group of diverse youth sitting together. The top left corner displays the right half of the CCSA logo. The CCSA logo appears again at the bottom left with the tagline "Evidence. Engagement. Impact."

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About this guide

Designed to help caregivers, educators, and other adult allies in providing information and guidance about substance use to young individuals. This guide offers suggestions for navigating these conversations from the perspective of youth. Adult allies will have a more prepared, comfortable, and confident mindset when discussing substance use issues with young people in a safe, unbiased, informed and non-judgmental way. This guide is an adaptation of CCSA’s Talking Pot with Youth: Cannabis Communication Guide for Youth Allies by Katie Fleming, MA, and Anna McKiernan, MA. 

Related Authors

Shea Wood, PhD

Senior Knowledge Broker

Area of Expertise

  • Cannabis
  • Mental Health
  • Youth
Read more

Bryce Barker, PhD, CE

Senior Knowledge Broker

Area of Expertise

  • Alcohol
  • Youth
Read more

Related Publications

Guide
Understanding Substance Use: Educator's Guide
Read more
Guide
Talking Pot with Youth: A Cannabis Communication Guide for Youth Allies
Read more
Report
How to Prevent and Reduce Substance Use Harms for Youth: What Youth Say Works
Read more

Browse the CCSA Network of Websites

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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