Preventing or Delaying Substance Use
Avoiding or delaying substance use until age 25 can protect against an increased risk of harm.
Risk and Protective Factors
Factors that make a person more or less likely to use substances appear long before substances are used. These include biological and psychological factors, family history of substance use disorder, socioeconomic influences and trauma.
Some factors are Commercial Determinants of Health, defined as “strategies and approaches used by the private sector to promote products and choices that are detrimental to health.” 1 Alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and caffeine-based product companies all market their products to encourage people to buy and consume them.
Using critical thinking skills when seeing or hearing advertisements can help consumers of all ages make informed decisions.
Young People
Children, adolescents and young adults experience events and periods that influence how they handle situations later in life and shape future health outcomes, including substance use. The Brain Story describes the science and the relationships between childhood experiences, brain development and health outcomes.
Families, friends and communities can play a positive role in helping to prevent or delay young people’s substance use by supporting their healthy physical, mental and emotional development and by having informed conversations.
What Works
It’s no longer recommended to approach substance use prevention from a “just-say-no” or a risk-reduction approach alone. Focusing initiatives on the promotion of protective factors like the development of healthy relationships, a strong sense of self, and community connectedness show promise in preventing or delaying substance use.
“The best prevention measures often have nothing do with substance use at all.”
Signs of Substance Use
Signs of substance use depend upon the substance being used, but can also signal other issues, like mental health concerns. Either way, it’s important to take the following signs seriously. Don’t ignore them.
Signs that someone might be using substances include:
- missing school, work, or other important obligations
- caring less about school, work, or friendships and family
- changes to sleeping and eating patterns
- reduced concentration or memory
- increased secrecy about activities or whereabouts
- mood changes, irritability, personality change
- a new group of friends who are less connected to home and school
References
1 Ilona Kickbusch, Luke Allen, Christian Franz, "The commercial determinants of health," December 2016. [Online]. Available: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(16)30217-0/fulltext.
