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Substance use

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substance abuse information

Information

Substances are things people take into their bodies (e.g. eating, drinking or smoking) that change how they feel physically and/or emotionally. These can include alcohol and other drugs (illegal or not like cannabis, caffeine and prescription medications) as well as some substances that are not drugs at all.

Using substances can:

  • Make it hard to control your actions
  • Affect your health and development
  • Change how you make decisions, how you think and how quickly you can react

For some people, alcohol or other drug use may turn into a substance use problem.

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Alcohol

Drinking alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the body. When a person drinks alcohol, it slows down their brain and how it works with the rest of the body. It is harder to think clearly, react quickly, and be co-ordinated (use fine motor skills). Drinking alcohol also influences mood and judgement. Drinking can be damaging to healthy brain development.

How alcohol affects a person might be different based on:

  • How often they drink
  • How recently and what they have eaten
  • Their sex, size, and metabolism
  • If they are mixing substances (including medications)
  • What they are drinking (strength of drink, amount, how quickly they are drinking)

It is illegal for anyone under 19 to buy, possess, or drink alcohol. Despite this and the potential health risks, some youth may still choose to drink alcohol.  In these cases, reducing the risks of harm to health, relationships, and overall well-being is important. See these Tips for Safer Alcohol Use from Foundry to understand ways to reduce harm.  

 

Cannabis

It is now legal for anyone over the age of 19 to possess, buy or use cannabis (marijuana, pot or weed) in B.C. It is illegal for anyone to use cannabis on school property or other places where children and youth commonly spend time (i.e. playgrounds, beaches, parks). It's still illegal for anyone under 19 in B.C. to possess, buy or use cannabis without medical authorization.
 

 

Decriminalization

Health Canada has granted the Province of British Columbia an exemption from the federal Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, allowing the removal of criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of certain illicit substances for personal use. Decriminalizing people who use drugs is a part of the Government’s work to tackle the toxic drug crisis, intended to remove the shame and stigma associated with substance use and support people in accessing important health and social services.

The exemption does not apply to:

  • Youth aged 17 and younger who will continue to be subject to the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA). This means that youth aged 17 and younger will not be permitted to possess illicit substances in any amount; and
  • Licenced child care or K-12 school properties where there will continue to be and are criminal penalties for possession of illegal substances, regardless of amount, while on child care and or K-12 school properties.

Removing the shame and stigma associated with substance use is one tool of many in British Columbia’s response to the toxic drug crisis as laid out in A Pathway to Hope, the Government’s roadmap for building a supports and services for mental health and addictions care.

For further information regarding drug decriminalization in B.C., please visit:

 

Harm reduction

Harm reduction is a public health approach that aims to lessen risks related to substance use. Harm reduction includes many options and approaches; it may include not using substances at all. Harm reduction is about meeting people wherever they are to lessen the negative effects of substance use. These may include social, physical, emotional and/or spiritual concerns. Harm reduction helps ensure services are non-judgmental and available to all.

Evidence shows that harm reduction does not increase or encourage substance use.

Harm reduction treats people with respect. It helps people connect with others and develop healthy relationships.

 

Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) Teams

The Ministry of Education and Child Care is supporting the implementation of Integrated Child and Youth (ICY) Teams. ICY Teams are getting started in B.C. and are a shift in community-based child and youth mental health and substance use services. Team members work together in an integrated way to provide support and services to children, youth and families. Each ICY Team supports young people within a school district, who may attend private, public, First Nations schools or who do not attend school.

ICY Teams are currently operating in five school districts (Coast Mountains – 82; Comox Valley – 71; Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows – 42; Okanagan-Similkameen – 53; Richmond – 38) and new ICY Teams are being implemented in another seven school districts (Fraser-Cascade – 78; Kootenay-Columbia – 20; Mission – 75; Nanaimo-Ladysmith – 68; North Okanagan-Shuswap – 83; Pacific Rim – 70; Powell River – 47).

 

Overdose

Every time someone uses substances they are taking a risk, which may include serious harm or even death. An overdose happens when someone takes a toxic amount of a substance or mix of substances. Anyone can overdose.

People of all ages and backgrounds are being affected by an increase of drug overdoses linked with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. Fentanyl has been found in cocaine, crack, MDMA (ecstasy), crystal meth, heroin, and in fake OxyContin, Percocet and Xanax. This list of drugs containing fentanyl is constantly changing, this is part of the risk in using substances.
 

 

Vaping and e-cigarettes

Vaping devices heat a liquid into a vapour or aerosol. The user then inhales the vapour or aerosol. Vapour products are always evolving and contain various chemicals and levels of nicotine. Some products use nicotine salts which have a far higher concentration than cigarettes. 

It is well known that there are many health risks related to smoking cigarettes. Vaping is often recommended as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. However, Health Canada has said that the long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown. Yet, there is enough evidence to justify preventing youth and non-smokers from vaping. 

Tobacco and vaping products fall under two acts: 

  • The Federal Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, regulates the accessibility, advertisement and sale of vaping products
  • The B.C. Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act, regulates the use, sale and display of tobacco and vapour products in B.C. 

The Ministry of Health administers the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act.

The act bans: 

  • The sale of all tobacco and vapour products to anyone under age 19
  • Smoking and vaping in schools and on school grounds

 

 

take action

Take action

Know the risks and signs of overdose

Recognizing the risks and signs of an overdose and knowing how to respond can save lives. Fentanyl and other opioid overdoses slow down breathing so much that a person doesn’t get enough oxygen, and this can be fatal.

Naloxone is a medication anyone can learn to use to quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Learn how and when to use naloxone, receive tips on talking honestly and openly about substances and overdose, and find supervised consumption and overdose prevention services in your community.

If you suspect an overdose call 9-1-1 and administer naloxone if available

If you have a non-emergency health concern

Call 811 to speak with a nurse any time of the day or night.

If you or a friend needs help dealing with a problem

Reach out to an adult and get help.

If you're a family member, teacher or another supportive adult

Talk with young people about using substances. Be a sensitive and respectful listener. Talk openly and honestly about the effects of substances. Ask questions about what kids are hearing, seeing or have learned. Talk about why people use substances and the potential consequences. Create an open and judgement-free environment where it's safe to ask questions. Look for natural opportunities to discuss the topic.

Educate yourself. Learn about commonly used substances. Find out how they work, what their street names are, and the signs of being under the influence. Be prepared to provide answers in a way that that's easy to understand. If you don’t know the answer, offer to find it together.

Stick to the facts. Explain how lethal fentanyl can be and that it's impossible to know which drugs contain it without using drug checking services. Use information from reliable sources and avoid scare tactics and exaggeration. Make heartfelt expressions of concern for safety, health and wellness.

Be an advocate. Support young people to do as much for themselves as possible – help them build connections, access services, and create their own network of support. When necessary, speak up on their behalf.

Ask for help. Don't try to deal with things on your own. Reach out to a crisis centre, counsellor or doctor for support. Get help or show them where they can get help for themselves.

substance abuse resources

Resources

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For Students

 

Families, Teachers and Supportive Adults

Alcohol

Cannabis

Substances

Vaping

 

Talking About Substances

 

Teaching About Substances

In the governance model for our K-12 education system, local boards of education have authority to determine the delivery of education programs in their schools, including:

  • Decisions related to resource allocations
  • Human resources
  • Specific student services

While we:

  • Set provincial regulations and policies
  • Provide funding
  • Monitors student success

We continue to work with school districts and other education partners to facilitate all students' educational success.

The following sites are free curated curriculum repositories for B.C. teachers that specifically tie to the K-12 curriculum.