Young People

Looking for alcohol and other drug resources that fit within the Australian educational curriculum? Resources on Positive Choices are organised by type, such as factsheets, videos and apps. On this page, you can click on any of these sections to find resources of a particular type.

In this video from Quit Victoria, we look at what you need to know about teenagers and vaping: How they work, what the risks are, and what to look out for.

Drug Aware’s Little White Lies campaign aims to correct misinformation around young people and drug use, help young people make informed decisions and not feel pressured to use just because they think ‘everyone else is doing it’.

This webinar from the Matilda Centre will provide attendees with an overview of the important role parents can play in preventing adolescent substance use. This video is 48 minutes.

Adolescence is a key period of growth and development, with the brain also changing enormously during this period. Under Construction is a highly acclaimed 4 minute animation that discusses adolescent brain development and highlights the effects of alcohol and risky drinking on different brain regions, as well as its impact on behaviour.

Problematic alcohol or other drug use can make it harder for you to care for your children and give them what they need. Learn more and find national services in this factsheet from RaisingChildren.net.au

Your teenager may come into contact with drugs for the first time during high school. They may encounter drugs at a party and may be tempted to try them out of curiosity, or to join in with their friends, or to feel better.

This factsheet from Reach Out can help if you:

• are concerned about peer pressure and drugs.
• want to talk to your teenager about drugs.
• need more information on how Australian teenagers are using drugs.
• are concerned that your teen has a problem.

Please note this resource was created outside of Tasmania: it may contain links for services not available in the state.

As a parent of a teenager, drugs can feel like a daunting topic to discuss. ReachOut spoke to Associate Professor Cath Chapman and Associate Professor Nicola Newton of the University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use to learn as much as possible about the best ways for parents to handle the issue.

This factsheet from Drug Aware shares strategies and tools to equip young people with the appropriate skills to successfully refuse drugs in various situations they may face as a teenager and young adult.

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What legislation covers the topic of young people and alcohol, and what does that legislation mean? Learn about youth and alcohol laws in this factsheet from Tasmania Police.

What is vaping? Why do people do it? How can you help a young person quit if they're vaping? Find the answers to these questions and more in this factsheet from the Australian Drug Foundation.

Risk-taking is a key part of adolescent development. It helps young people develop their identity, build experience and gain peer approval.And for some young people, risk-taking will mean experimentation with alcohol and other drugs.

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