Youth And Drug Addiction In Ontario

Using substances in order to change the way one thinks and feels about their life is the quintessential definition of addiction. Some people find comfort in their addiction, but depending on the substance, this coping method can be very detrimental to one’s mental and physical health. It must be said that teenagers and youth (15-24) have a lot of pressures to overcome as well.

Whether it is their academic performance, personal relationships, work obligations, family life, or dealing with the Covid pandemic, Ontario’s youth use substances on an alarming level in overcoming these stressors. In this article we will look at youth addiction in Ontario and the negative impacts it has one their well being.   

Signs Of Addiction

Very often, young people who are at risk of substance abuse struggle with the following:

• Family history of substance abuse
• Emotional or mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression
• Low self-esteem
• Not “fitting in” in their peer groups
• Past experience of trauma or abuse

What is important to note here is that addiction can be a sign of mental health issues that some people can not overcome on their own. Compounding mental health issues with addiction can bring about certain warning signs about the problematic use of substances. These warning signs can include:

• Missing school, work, or other obligations
• Caring less about school, work, family and friends
• Reduced concentration and/or memory
• Changes to sleeping and eating patterns
• Irritability, personality changes, mood swings
• Secrecy about one’s activities and whereabouts
• Making a new group of friends less connected to school or home

If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above mentioned signs, it may be a signal to seek treatment through counseling or a therapy centre.

Youth Drug Statistics 

Substance abuse is clearly on the rise in Ontario and Canada in general. The availability and prevalence of addictive substances is very problematic for our youth. Statistics through studies on youth drug and alcohol abuse make this point clear. According to CAMH, young people 15-24 are more prone than any other age group to experience addiction or mental illness.  Consider the following stats:

• 60% of illicit drug users in Canada are between the ages of 15-24
• In 2019, 23% of Ontario’s students were offered, sold, or given a drug at school. That’s about 219,000 students. 
• 42% of Ontario students have used an illicit substance in the past year. 
• 83% of Ontario grade 12 students drink alcohol, and 49 % of Onatiro students admit to binge drinking. 
• Top four addictive substances used by Ontario students include: 58% alcohol, 25% Cannabis (and steadily increasing), 17% non-prescribed pain killers (ie.codeine, Percocet, Percodan, Demerol or Tylenol #3, and 11.7% tobacco and vaping products. 

Clearly, youth drug and alcohol addiction in Ontario is a crisis that must be faced and approached through education and counseling. Aside from costing our health care system $8 billion annually, the cost to the mental and physical health of our youth is immeasurable.  

Their future ought to look bright and not grim. 

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, please contact our staff to begin your road to recovery today.