Resources and Information About Addiction
If using drugs and alcohol has become a big part of your life, you can get help. Some teens will experiment with drugs or alcohol and then stop using them, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Some teens will develop a dependency and some will move on to more dangerous drugs and cause significant harm to themselves and possibly others. Recognizing that you have a problem and getting help can be scary but it’s an important step toward getting your life back on track.
Adopted from www.kidshelpphone.ca
Using substances or engaging in addictive behaviours may not be easy to neatly categorize or label. It’s more complicated than that. Often addiction becomes a problem when it starts interfering with a person’s ability to be well, or their everyday activities, or when someone keeps using even though there are lots of negative consequences.
At the root of substance use disorders or addictions are often attempts to escape one’s pain, either through a substance or other behavior that has negative consequences.
Adopted from mindyourmind.ca
- Family history of alcohol or other substance use problems
- Difficulty coping with or managing stress and other problems
- Problems at home
- Having an untreated anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions
- Difficulty fitting in at school, at work or with peers
- Having a stressful life change or experiencing trauma