CANADA—Health organizations across Canada are marking Addictions Awareness Week (NAAW) from November 17 to 21 and this year those organizations will be placing a particular emphasis on substance abuse prevention among youth.
Led nationally by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) this week will focus attention on the critical issues associated with alcohol and other drug-related harms to individuals, families and communities across Canada. This year all of Manitoulin’s First Nations have partnered to bring a comprehensive program of events, the full schedule can be found in last week’s edition of The Expositor.
“Youth substance abuse prevention is important because early investments in our young people can yield long-term improvement in health, socio-economic, individual and family outcomes,” said Rita Notarandrea, interim CCSA CEO. “Collectively committing to the well-being of our children—our future leaders—is in everyone’s best interests. We look forward to celebrating the theme of youth substance abuse prevention during National Addictions Awareness Week 2014 with our many partners and stakeholders across Canada.”
“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,” said the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health. “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.”
“We know that many young Canadians who struggle with substance misuse also experience underlying symptoms of mental disorders that go undiagnosed and untreated,” said Dr. Catherine Zahn, president and CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). “Our young people and their families deserve coordinated and effective care for mental illness, including addictions. They need the information and tools that will guide them to the best care and supports.”
Addictions Awareness Week provides an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about substance abuse prevention, to talk about treatment and recovery and to bring forward solutions for change.
This year the CCSA will mark each day during Addiction Awareness Week by placing emphasis on different substances and youth-related issues, including the use of alcohol, cannabis and prescription drugs, as well as the problem of impaired driving.
Preventing and reducing harms associated with substance use and abuse by youth is a priority for CCSA and its many community partners as a substantial amount of change and growth—including significant brain growth and development—takes place during the years of development. Youth 15 to 24 years of age have the highest self-reported past-year use of illicit substances, compared to older Canadians, and are approximately five times more likely than adults aged 25 years and older to report harm because of drug use.
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. Preventing these harms is key to helping reduce the demand on an already strained treatment system.
Not simply a progressive issue, evidence-informed prevention and early intervention programs plainly shows that reported savings from reducing the cost of substance abuse to society would result in savings of $15 to $18 for every dollar spent on drug abuse prevention.
To facilitate the development of effective programs, CCSA created the Canadian Standards for Youth Substance Abuse Prevention, Canada’s first national resource for schools, families and communities. The Standards provide guidance on how to plan, implement and evaluate multi-faceted preventi
