Young People

Young people are often exposed to alcohol and other drug use through the media, whether this be through advertisements, the news, fictionalised media (e.g., movies, tv shows), or social media. These exposures and advertising techniques can be very persuasive and can go on to influence a young person’s own use.

It's not surprising that the tobacco industry is introducing more products to maintain its future revenue stream as reforms restrict access to vaping products, writes Associate Professor Becky Freeman in The Conversation.

E-cigarettes/vapes are spoken about a lot, and your child could see them on social media, through friends or other sources. They may have questions and may even have tried them. It’s important to have open communication with your child, to help them as they face new experiences and challenges. Here are some tips for talking about e-cigarettes with your child.

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It might surprise you to learn that alcohol, tobacco and illegal drug use are higher among people living in remote areas than those living in the big cities. Almost one third of young Australians live in rural and remote communities, so it is important to understand why they might be more at risk.

Stigma is often associated with mental health and drug use disorders, and can have lasting impacts including harassment, bullying and preventing young people from seeking help. Learn more in this Webinar from Positive Choices: Understanding stigma - creating a safe supportive environment for Australian young people

An insight into the pressures young people face can give parents and teachers an understanding of the reasons young people may use drugs and alcohol. This can help in responding in a constructive way. In this factsheet from Positive Choices, you will find some of the reasons young people give for using drugs and alcohol and ideas for starting conversations with them.

What can you do if you're a teacher, a neighbor, a churchgoer, a coach ... and you suspect a child is being impacted by a parent's addiction? This article from NPR provides some tips to support a child who may be impacted by family addiction.

Of teenagers in Australia who are drinking alcohol, 41.6% said their parents were the main source of alcohol supply. That’s why DrinkWise created the national It’s okay to say nay campaign.

Illicit drugs are never safe and the impact on your health and life can be harmful. Find out the risks to your health and read the Australian Government's Department of Health and Aged Care's tips for staying safe at events. Discover what you can do as parent or teacher to support teenagers and young people.

Sourced from Positive Choices, this short animation goes through some ideas for how you can say no to your friends without losing face.

This factsheet from the Department of Health Tasmania and the Department for Education, Children and Young People Tasmania features example images of vaping devices and important information that parents and teachers need to know.

What are adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and what do they mean for a growing child? Find out in this animated video from the Canadian Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health.