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Prevention & Treatment Resources

Many of the resources listed below can be obtained from the Public Health Resource Centre or by calling 519-883-2256

Resources for Parents

General Information

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is the key Ontario organization for information on alcohol and drug issues.

Some items you will find on this site include results of the bi-annual Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (2007 is the most recent edition), reliable pamphlets on different types of drugs, books and videos that can be borrowed from their library, and more.

Note: It may be a little difficult to find what you are looking for. When in doubt, use the Search option.

Parent Action on Drugs (PAD)

PAD addresses issues of substance use among youth through outreach, prevention, education and parent support.

PAD enhances the capacity of parents, youth and communities to promote an environment for making informed choices.

Parent Help Line

Parent Help Line aims to help enhance parents' and caregivers' coping and parenting skills.

Talking with Kids about Tough Issues

Talking with Kids aims to enhance parents' and caregivers' coping and parenting skills. This U.S. initiative by Children Now and the Kaiser Family Foundation encourages parents to talk with their children earlier about tough issues, including alcohol.

Alcohol & Drug Information

Talk to Your Kids about Alcohol

The LCBO and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada believe it's never too late to start talking to your kids about alcohol.

Be the Influence

An information tool to help you talk to your children about alcohol.

The book helps you consider how your own attitudes and behaviour about alcohol influence your child.

It will also help you identify opportunities to talk about alcohol and provide resources for more specific information.

The website also offers an interactive quiz to help parents learn more about influences in their child's life.

Talking with Your Teen about Drugs

How your child will grow into adulthood is greatly influenced by your actions and words. Their behaviours, decisions, and filters are shaped at a very early age and clear and consistent communication between parent and child is critical to help them understand what's expected of them.

Keep talking, the most powerful tool you have with your teenagers is communication.

The Parent Action on Drugs

This website helps parents make informed choices about substance-abuse issues that affect their children. It provides parents, teens and the community with tools to prevent the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Specific information provided on:

Marijuana Legislation

For the past several years, there has been a lot of discussion and debate about marijuana in the media, courts and parliament. The controversy has created an environment of uncertainty for parents and teens.

Parent Action on Drugs has developed this resource to help make sense of the issues and promote informed discussion with young people.

Questions to consider

If you're worried your child is using tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.

What you can do

What you can do to keep your child away from tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

Parents Talking to Teenagers About Drugs

"The one thing you probably have in common with anyone else reading this is that you are the parent of a teenager.

Whatever your specific reasons for reading this booklet, your concern is likely to be for the welfare of your child and your relationship with them."

This is a useful resource with details about how to talk to your teenager about drugs.

Health Canada

This site includes information for parents on substance-misuse prevention.

Click on "A-Z Index" followed by "P" for parenting and then select "Common Issues" and "Youth and Substance Use."

MADD Canada

MADD Canada has information for youth regarding drugs like marijuana, the most popular form of hallucinogen.

Drug-impaired driving is of growing concern when it comes to road safety.

Talking to Teenagers Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission

AADAC is now a part of Alberta Health Services and its content will be moved to this site. Commission information offers a short list of tips for talking to teenagers about alcohol and other drugs.

The website includes a variety of resources on alcohol and drug issues.

Drug and Alcohol Helpline

Drug and Alchohol Helpline offers information on drug and alcohol treatment in Ontario. The 24-hour, toll-free Drug and Alcohol Info line number (1-800-565-8603) is confidential and anonymous.

Keeping Your Kids Drug-Free

A how-to guide for parents and caregivers contains tips on communicating with your kids.

Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National PTA as part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy's national youth anti-drug media campaign.

I Promise Program

This program works to reduce the risk of youth-related car crashes.

It relies on parents (as role models) to enter into a contract with their young drivers for safe, responsible use of the car.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Geared to parents and guardians of children ages 10 to 14 years. Keep in mind that the suggestions are just that: suggestions.

Trust your instincts. Choose ideas you are comfortable with and use your own style in carrying out approaches you find useful.

Partnership for a Drug-Free America

Includes a series of tip sheets for Raising Healthy Kids. Selections are divided by age of the child (preschool to high school).

Anti Drug Site

The Anti Drug Site provides suggestions for parents about talking to kids about being drug-free, signs and symptoms of drug use and information on many drugs.

The Parents Hub National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign

Your Web Guide to Keeping Kids Healthy and Drug Free (part of the Partnership for Drug-free America initiatives)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAMHSA is a family guide to keeping youth drug-free. This site includes communication tips for talking with your child, teaching assertiveness and being a better listener.

Drinking / Drug Use & Driving Information

I Promise Program

The program aims to reduce the risk of youth-related car crashes. It relies on parents (as role models) to enter into a contract with their young driver for safe, responsible use of the car.

Resources for Youth

What do other youth say about drug and alcohol use?

How do you sort through all the information?

And what can you do to become active on this issue?

These sites can help you answer the questions...

General Information

Xperiment.ca

Designed as a virtual space where youth participate anonymously in simulated experiments to see the effects of drug use without experiencing any negative consequences.