Did you know? November 17 - 21, 2014 is National Addictions Awareness Week. Led by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), this national awareness campaign calls attention to critical issues and solutions associated with alcohol and other drug-related harm to individuals, families and communities across Canada.
This year’s theme is Youth Substance Abuse Prevention, which highlights an opportunity to address the use of cannabis, alcohol and prescription drugs with young people.
Why focus on young people?
Substance use and abuse during this critical time can have impacts that persist long after the high has worn off, including chronic disease, addiction and mental health disorders.
- 57% of youth between ages 15 and 24 in Canada have used drugs in their lifetime
- 49% of students in grades 10 to 12 reported binge drinking in the past 12 months
- 14 is the average age at which students in grades 7 to 12 first used cannabis
- 13 is the average age at which students in grades 7 to 12 consumed their first alcoholic beverage
“This year's National Addictions Awareness Week theme of preventing youth substance abuse is a key focus of our Government’s National Anti-Drug Strategy. We must do everything we can to prevent our children and youth from abusing drugs in the first place. This week presents an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and learn more about the harms of both legal and illegal
substances.”
The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health
References
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (2014). National addictions awareness week (NAAW). Retrieved from http://ccsa.ca/eng/newsevents/pages/national-addictions-awareness-week.aspx