The impacts of substance use on your teen

(NC) Young people use drugs or alcohol for a number of reasons: to fit in, manage stress, cope or just to feel good. But the risks are high, especially for young people, whose brains are still developing. Drugs or alcohol increase the risk of harm to brain function, like memory, concentration and mental health, including the risk of creating or worsening anxiety and depression. 

Some substances also have hidden dangers. For example, illegal drugs might be mixed with other substances like fentanyl without the person’s knowledge, which can cause serious harm or even death.

It’s important to have the facts about substance use. There are free resources available on the Health Canada Experiences site. It has interactive modules for teens and parents to get informed and learn the risks and effects of substance use, including on mental health. 

Here are some of the substances young people use and their effects:

Alcohol: Its effects might not be felt right away, but any amount slows brain function and thought processes.

• It affects judgment and increases the chances of risky behaviour or situations, including impulsive behaviour, violence, and passing out. Severe intoxication can be life-threatening or even fatal. 
• Sugary drinks can mask the taste, but the effects and risks are still there. 
• While mixing alcohol with caffeine may make a person feel more alert,  they may be less able to sense its effects, making binge drinking and alcohol poisoning more likely. 
• Alcohol use also increases the risk of many health conditions, including high blood pressure, organ damage, mental health issues and developing various forms of cancer.

Cannabis: Some people use it to relax or cope with stress or mental health challenges, but using cannabis regularly contributes to poor mental health and increases the symptoms and risk of anxiety and depression by impacting the brain’s dopamine system. It can also harm short and long-term memory, thought patterns, focus and speech and lead to cannabis dependence. 

Not all cannabis is legal, and it’s sometimes tough to tell the difference. Legal cannabis can only be sold in government-approved stores to those of legal age in child-resistant packaging and can’t mimic the name or design of popular candy or snack food brands. Illegal cannabis often isn’t tested, may not be correctly labelled, if at all, and may contain harmful levels of:

• THC
• Mould
• Bacteria
• Heavy metals
• Pesticides

Opioids: Prescription opioids should only be used by a patient as prescribed by their health care professional—it’s illegal to share or sell your prescription drugs. Illegally made opioids are increasingly contaminated with harmful substances, including fentanyl. That’s a drug that’s 20 to 40 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just a few grains of it are enough to kill someone.

Vaping nicotine: Nicotine is highly addictive, and can make it harder for youth to concentrate, learn and manage their emotions. Although some teens believe that vaping helps relieve stress, it actually does the opposite: nicotine raises heart rate and blood pressure shortly after use, putting added stress on the body. Vaping is a less harmful option for adults if they’ve been unable to quit smoking using authorized quit aids, but there are still risks. Youth and people who don’t smoke shouldn’t use any nicotine products.

Combining alcohol, opioids, cannabis or other substances has unpredictable effects on the brain and body and can lead to severe intoxication, poisoning, drug overdose and, in some cases, death. It also makes addiction more likely. 

You can find more resources at healthcanadaexperiences.ca.