Youth is a time of significant growth and change. It is often when risky behaviours take place and substance use begins. These behaviours can result in consequences such as injuries, car crashes, school difficulties and relationship problems. Understanding youth’s needs is essential for providing them with guidance and support. For these reasons, CCSA conducts research, shares knowledge and provides targeted materials to support evidence-based decisions and actions for addressing youth and substance use.
Further information about youth:
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Adverse Childhood Experiences
How adverse childhood experiences can influence physical and mental health.
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Canadian Perceptions and Trends
Perceptions about cannabis among the general and youth populations.
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Cannabis and the Developing Brain
How cannabis affects adolescent brain development.
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Childhood Pathways to Substance Use and Addiction
Understanding the developmental pathways to youth substance use disorders.
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Health Impacts of Alcohol
How alcohol affects the physical health, mental health, cognitive functioning and development of youth.
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Student Cannabis Use Profiles
Regional breakdown of cannabis use trends among students grade 9-12.
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Youth and Cannabis
How to talk to youth about cannabis use and harm reduction.
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Youth and Impaired Driving
Perceptions and current knowledge about impaired driving among youth.
Resources for Adult Allies
How to Prevent and Reduce Substance Use Harms for Youth: What Youth Say Works
Intended for anyone who works with or supports youth including educators, service providers,...
Substance Use Conversations with Youth: Tips for Adult Allies — A Communication Guide
Designed to help caregivers, educators, and other adult allies in providing information and...
Understanding Substance Use: Educator's Guide
Designed for education professionals (teachers, guidance counsellors, coaches, social workers and so on) working with youth from grades 6–12 to gain knowledge, tools and...
Talking Pot with Youth: A Cannabis Communication Guide for Youth Allies
Provides introductory information and a set of exercises to engage youth in meaningful...
Get to know our team.
Vaughan Dowie - Chair (Ontario)
Governor-in-Council Appointee
Curtis Clarke, PhD (British Columbia)
Governor-in-Council Appointee
Scott Elliott (British Columbia)
Governor-in-Council Appointee
Anne Élizabeth Lapointe, BA (Quebec)
Governor-in-Council Appointee
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Contact an Expert
Latest CCSA Updates
Our Response: Why economists should like booze
As a research scientist in epidemiology and health economics, with a focus on alcohol and other substances, I found your article comparing alcohol non-users to free-riders to be light on fact and…
As a research scientist in epidemiology and health economics, with a focus on alcohol and other substances, I found your article comparing alcohol non-users to free-riders to be light on fact and…
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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.
