Youth Substance-Use Prevention & Family Resources

You can ask for help even if you are not sure whether your use is “bad enough.” You do not need a diagnosis, a parent’s permission, or a crisis to contact a confidential service. Many youth programs accept self-referrals.

If you are a young person and you want support, you can:

• Call or text ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600, or text CONNEX to 247247, for addiction, mental-health and problem-gambling navigation 24/7.
• Call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 686868.
• Call Access CAMH at 416-535-8501 and press 2 to ask about youth addiction services.
• Call Health811 at 811 for health advice and help finding care.
• Speak with a school counsellor, nurse, family doctor, nurse practitioner or a youth wellness hub.
• Ask a trusted adult to help you make the call if that feels easier.

If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 988. If there is immediate danger, call 911.

An overdose happens when a person takes more of a substance than their body can handle. With opioids, breathing can slow or stop. That is a medical emergency. Call 911.

Naloxone is a medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. It is not a treatment for addiction. It does not reverse alcohol poisoning or every kind of overdose. It will not harm someone if opioids are not the cause, and it does not replace emergency medical care.

In Ontario, you can get a free naloxone kit at participating pharmacies and some community organizations. You do not need a prescription. You do not need an Ontario health card. Ask the pharmacist to show you how to use the kit. Not every pharmacy stocks kits at all times, so use the official locator rather than assuming a nearby store has them today.

Find participating locations: Ontario naloxone locator.

If someone may have overdosed, call 911 first. Give naloxone if you have it. Stay until help arrives. Do not leave the person to sleep it off.

Fentanyl is a powerful opioid. In the unregulated drug supply, pills, powders and other substances can contain fentanyl or other unexpected drugs even when the person did not intend to take an opioid. Appearance, colour or a street name does not tell you what is in a substance.

Not every drug contains fentanyl. The risk is uncertainty: a person cannot reliably know the contents or strength of an unregulated substance. That uncertainty is one reason overdose prevention, naloxone and not using alone matter. This page cannot tell you whether a particular substance is “safe.”

If you or someone you care about uses unregulated substances, talk with a healthcare provider or a harm-reduction service about overdose risk. Carry naloxone. Call 911 if you suspect an overdose.

In Ontario, the legal age to buy, possess and consume alcohol is 19. Alcohol is still a drug that affects the brain, judgment, coordination and breathing. Young people’s brains continue to develop into the mid-20s, and alcohol can interfere with that development, sleep, mood, school and relationships.

Alcohol use can range from a single drink to regular heavy use. Problems can start before someone meets anyone’s idea of “an alcoholic.” Blackouts, drinking to cope, hiding use, needing more to feel the same effect, or using alcohol with other drugs are reasons to ask for help.

Alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency. Warning signs can include confusion, vomiting, seizures, slow or irregular breathing, cold or pale skin, and a person who cannot be woken. Call 911. Do not leave the person to sleep it off. Do not give them more alcohol, coffee or a cold shower as a substitute for emergency care.

Ontario Poison Centre: 1-800-268-9017.

Mixing alcohol with other substances

Mixing alcohol with opioids, benzodiazepines, other sedatives or some medications can slow breathing and increase the risk of overdose or poisoning. Mixing alcohol with cannabis can increase impairment more than either substance alone. Mixing alcohol with stimulants can hide how drunk a person is and make it easier to drink a dangerous amount. See Mixing substances.

Health Canada information: Alcohol.

In Ontario, the legal age for non-medical cannabis is 19 and older. Cannabis can affect memory, attention, coordination, mood and mental health. Higher-THC products and daily or near-daily use carry greater risk, especially for young people.

Cannabis is not risk-free because it is legal for adults. Legal products are regulated; unregulated products are not. Driving after using cannabis is dangerous and illegal when a person is impaired.

Edibles

Edible cannabis (food or drink containing cannabis) does not usually take effect right away. Effects can take up to two hours to begin, and they can last many hours. People sometimes take more because they do not feel anything yet. That is a common way people consume far more than they intended and become distressed, very drowsy or unwell.

If someone has taken too much cannabis and is in severe distress, cannot stay awake, or you are worried about their breathing or safety, call 911 or the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017.

Health Canada information: Cannabis.

Vapes and e-cigarettes can contain nicotine, cannabis extracts, flavouring chemicals or other substances. Nicotine is addictive. Youth and young adults are more vulnerable to nicotine dependence because the brain is still developing.

Vaping is not a harmless alternative to smoking. Aerosol can include nicotine and other chemicals. Some products contain far more nicotine than a person expects. Cannabis vapes can also deliver high amounts of THC. Sharing devices can spread infections.

If a young person wants help reducing or stopping nicotine or vaping, a family doctor, pharmacist, Health811, ConnexOntario or a youth substance-use program can discuss options. This page does not prescribe a quit plan.

Health Canada information: Vaping.

Medications prescribed for pain, anxiety, sleep, ADHD or other conditions can cause harm if they are taken in a way that was not prescribed, mixed with alcohol or other drugs, or shared with someone else. Over-the-counter products such as cough syrups, dimenhydrinate or acetaminophen can also cause poisoning if misused.

Do not stop a prescribed medication because of this page. Stopping some medicines suddenly can be harmful. Questions about dose, side effects, dependence or whether a prescription is still needed belong with the prescribing clinician or a pharmacist.

Do not share prescription medication. Keep medicines in their original labelled containers and out of easy reach of children. Unused or expired medication can often be returned to a pharmacy for safe disposal.

If you think someone has taken too much medication, call 911 if they are in danger, or call the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017.

People may encounter cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, unregulated pills, ketamine, inhalants or other substances. This page is not an encyclopedia of drugs. What matters for health and safety is that unregulated substances vary in strength and contents, mixing increases risk, and help is available whether use is experimental, occasional or daily.

If you do not know what a substance is, do not try to identify it from a photo on this website. Call ConnexOntario, a healthcare provider or 911 if the person is unwell.

Using more than one substance at the same time — including alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, medications and unregulated drugs — can make effects stronger, less predictable and harder to reverse. Mixing is a common factor in overdose and poisoning.

• Alcohol or benzodiazepines with opioids can slow or stop breathing.
• Alcohol with cannabis can increase impairment and nausea.
• Stimulants with alcohol can hide drunkenness and lead to drinking a dangerous amount.
• Taking extra medication “to come down” or “to sleep” after other drug use can be dangerous.

If you are not sure whether a combination is dangerous, treat it as a reason to get medical advice. For an emergency, call 911. For poison advice, call 1-800-268-9017.

You do not need proof of addiction before you ask for information. Consider getting support if you notice several of these changes, or even one change that feels serious:

• use that is becoming more frequent, more secretive or harder to control
• using to cope with stress, sleep, anxiety or sadness
• needing more of a substance to get the same effect
• withdrawal symptoms when not using, such as shaking, sweating, nausea, irritability or strong cravings
• falling grades, missed school or work, or dropping activities the person used to care about
• changes in sleep, appetite, mood, friends or money
• using when it is not safe: before driving, before work or school, while caring for others, or when mixing substances
• overdose, poisoning, blackouts, or using despite a medical or mental-health problem

None of these signs, on their own, is a diagnosis. A qualified healthcare or addiction professional can assess what is going on. Sahan can help you find where to start.

Choose a calm moment, not the middle of an argument or while someone is intoxicated. Speak about specific things you have noticed and the person’s health and safety, not about shame or punishment. Listen more than you lecture. You can set household rules and still treat substance use as a health issue.

It is reasonable to say you are worried, that you want the person to be safe, and that help is available. It is also reasonable to offer to sit with them while they call ConnexOntario, Kids Help Phone or a youth program.

If the conversation becomes unsafe, stop and get help. If there is immediate danger, call 911.

Many young people are not ready to enter treatment the first time a family member raises the issue. That does not mean you should do nothing, and it does not mean you should try to force treatment from this website.

This page does not advise coercive or forced treatment. Treatment works best when the person can take part. Families can still get information and support for themselves, keep naloxone in the home if opioid risk is a concern, reduce easy access to alcohol and unused medications, and leave the door open for a later conversation.

Some Toronto programs, including Breakaway’s Family & Youth Initiative, can support parents, guardians or other family members even if the young person is not ready to attend. ConnexOntario can help you understand options. If the person is in immediate medical danger, call 911. Child-protection questions are a separate issue and should be directed to the appropriate children’s aid society or, in an emergency, to 911.

Anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, psychosis and substance use often overlap. A person may use alcohol or drugs to cope with mental-health symptoms, and substance use can also worsen mood, sleep, anxiety or thinking. You do not have to sort out “which came first” before asking for help.

If someone is in immediate danger or unable to stay safe, call 911. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 anywhere in Canada. The 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline is available 24 hours a day.

For health advice and help finding care, call Health811 at 811. Health811

Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868. Kids Help Phone

ConnexOntario can help with both mental-health and addiction navigation: 1-866-531-2600.

Withdrawal is the physical and psychological reaction that can happen when a person who has been using a substance regularly stops or cuts back. Symptoms vary by substance and by the person. Alcohol and some sedative medications can cause withdrawal that is medically dangerous.

This page does not provide home-detox instructions. Do not use this website as a guide to tapering, substituting substances or managing withdrawal at home. Talk to a healthcare professional, call ConnexOntario, or go to an emergency department if withdrawal is severe. If the person has seizures, confusion, chest pain, severe vomiting, suicidal thoughts or trouble breathing, call 911.

Help is not only residential rehab. Depending on age, needs and readiness, support might include:

• information, education and early intervention
• outpatient counselling or a youth substance-use program
• family support even if the young person is not attending
• care for mental health and substance use together
• medical care, including discussion of medications when a clinician recommends them
• day treatment or school-linked programs
• withdrawal management or residential treatment when clinically appropriate
• harm-reduction support alongside prevention and treatment

A program that helped one person may not be the right fit for another. Eligibility, wait times and intake processes change. Confirm details directly with the provider.

ConnexOntario is a free, confidential 24/7 navigation service for mental health, addictions and problem gambling in Ontario. Call 1-866-531-2600 or text CONNEX to 247247. ConnexOntario

These are examples of Toronto-area services. They operate independently from Sahan. Call to confirm eligibility, hours and how to refer. Sahan serves Toronto and can help you navigate; it does not operate these programs.

• CAMH Youth Addiction and Concurrent Disorders Service — treatment for young people with substance-use concerns, with or without mental-health concerns. Access CAMH: 416-535-8501, press 2. Self-referral is accepted. Confirm current age eligibility with Access CAMH. CAMH
• CAMH AMANI Mental Health & Substance Use Program — culturally responsive mental-health and substance-use support for Black youth ages 12–25 and their families. Access CAMH: 416-535-8501, press 2. AMANI at CAMH
• SickKids Substance Use Program — assessment and treatment for youth up to age 18. Telephone: 416-813-5097. Self-referrals and family referrals are accepted. SickKids Adolescent Medicine
• Breakaway Family & Youth Initiative — outpatient support for youth ages 12–25 and family members affected by substance use. Intake: 416-537-9346, ext. 225. Family members can often get support even if the young person is not ready to attend. Breakaway Family & Youth Initiative
• YMCA Youth Substance Awareness Program (YSAP) — free, confidential substance-use counselling for youth and young adults ages 14–24. Intake: 416-473-7407. YMCA YSAP
• Central Toronto Youth Wellness Hub (Lumenus) — integrated mental-health, substance-use and other youth supports. Call 1-833-586-3687, ext. 7300. Central Toronto Youth Wellness Hub

Call 211 or ConnexOntario if you need help matching a young person to a service.

Prevention and harm reduction are complementary. Prevention aims to delay or reduce substance use and support healthy choices. Harm reduction aims to reduce injury, overdose and other harm for people who are using. One does not cancel the other.

Examples of harm reduction include carrying naloxone, not using alone, avoiding mixing substances, using a smaller amount when the supply is uncertain, and getting medical care instead of waiting through a medical emergency. Sahan is not a supervised consumption site and does not provide harm-reduction supplies. Toronto Public Health and community programs can explain local services.

No single conversation prevents every problem. Protective factors that can lower risk include:

• a trusted adult who will listen without humiliation
• accurate information about alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, medications and other drugs
• help with mental health, sleep, bullying, grief or family stress before substances become the coping tool
• limits on access to alcohol, cannabis and unused medications at home
• connection to school, sports, faith, culture, work or other meaningful activities
• clear expectations about not driving impaired and not mixing substances

Curiosity, peer influence and stress are common. Shame is not a prevention strategy. Early, calm information and easy paths to help matter more than waiting until there is a crisis.

A student can ask a school counsellor, social worker, nurse or student-health clinic about substance use. Colleges and universities often have health and counselling services. A school can be part of support; it is not a substitute for medical care in an emergency. If a student is in immediate danger, call 911.

Parents can ask the school what supports exist without sharing more private health information than they choose to share. Clinical treatment decisions belong with healthcare and addiction programs.

Alcohol, cannabis and other drugs can impair driving. Impaired driving is dangerous and can have serious legal consequences. Do not drive, and do not get in a vehicle with a driver who is impaired. Plan another way home.

This page does not give legal advice. For questions about charges, court, youth justice or related legal information, see Understanding the Criminal Justice System or ask Sahan to help you identify Legal Aid Ontario, a community legal clinic or another qualified provider. Legal Aid Ontario

Alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, opioids, medications and other drugs can affect a pregnancy. If you are pregnant or think you might be, talk with a qualified healthcare provider as soon as you can. Do not stop a prescribed medication on the basis of this page.

For pregnancy, prenatal care and family-health navigation in Toronto, see Women & Family Support.

A young person’s substance use affects the whole household. Parents, siblings and caregivers may feel fear, anger, guilt or exhaustion. You did not cause a substance-use problem by caring, and you do not have to manage it alone.

Family members can get support even when the young person is not ready. ConnexOntario, Breakaway’s family services, CAMH family resources, Kids Help Phone (for younger siblings) and a family doctor are starting points. Taking care of your own sleep, safety and mental health is part of helping, not a distraction from it.

If the main concern is peer pressure, violence, exploitation or another unsafe situation rather than substance use itself, use Sahan’s Youth Safety, Peer Pressure & Positive Choices page. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Sahan Community Network helps people in Toronto find the next practical step. Staff and volunteers may be able to help you:

• identify a health, youth or addiction service that fits the situation
• understand publicly available information about programs such as ConnexOntario, CAMH, SickKids, Breakaway, YMCA YSAP and youth wellness hubs
• find interpretation or language assistance
• help organize forms and supporting documents for eligible services where appropriate
• help make telephone calls or online inquiries with the service user
• book appointments where permitted
• print, scan, upload and organize documents, including from the service user’s own account when appropriate
• access a computer or internet connection

Sahan does not diagnose substance-use disorders, provide medical treatment, counselling as a clinical service, detox, withdrawal management, supervised consumption, naloxone kits, or emergency response. Sahan does not tell anyone to start, stop or change a medication.

Toronto
Sahan Community Network
1735 Kipling Avenue, Lower Level, 101, Toronto, Ontario M9R 2Y8
Telephone: +1 416-668-9156
Ask Sahan for Help

Please do not include medical history, substance-use history, or detailed information about a child’s health in the website contact form. If there is immediate danger or a suspected overdose, call 911.

• Women & Family Support
• Youth Safety, Peer Pressure & Positive Choices
• Understanding the Criminal Justice System
• Legal Information, Navigation & Notary Services

External organizations operate independently from Sahan. Confirm current information directly with the provider. Resources last reviewed: August 23, 2026.