Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Hospital

ResearchFoundation

Text Resize

Regular Large X-Large

Colour Contrast

Default High

Accessible formats and communication supports are available, please contact accessibility@cheo.on.ca

View Our Accessibility Plan

CareersContact UsWebsite FeedbackMyChart
FR
Childrens Hospital of Eastern Ontario Logo
Contact Us
  • Visiting CHEO
    • Accessibility
    • Amenities
    • Cold and flu season
    • COVID-19
    • Emergency care
    • Family and caregiver supports
    • Family-Centred Rounds
    • Find your doctor
    • Health Records
    • Maps and locations
    • Parking
    • Pay your bill
    • Pharmacy (Kidcare)
    • Preparing for your stay or visit
    • Visiting hours and policies
    View our Physician directory page
    Find Your Doctor Directory
  • Clinics, Services & Programs
    • Directory
    • Emergency care
    • IR/Cath and Sim Labs
    • Make a referral
    • Mental health
    • School
    • Surgical care
    • Technology Enabling Child Health Innovations (TECHi)
    • Virtual care
  • Resources and Support
    • A-Z resources
    • Community supports
    • Families First newsletter
    • Family and caregiver supports
    • Indigeneity - Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Social justice
    • Patient Experience
    • Reads2CHEO
    • Transition to adult care
  • Get Involved
    • Co-op program
    • Donate
    • Family Advisory Council
    • Feedback
    • Share your voice
    • Volunteer
    • YouthNet
  • About Us
    • 1Door4Care
    • About CHEO
    • Advocacy
    • Awards, Accreditations and Designations
    • Blog
    • Careers
    • Contact us
    • Disclaimer
    • Find your doctor
    • For community physicians
    • For learners, students and residents
    • For pharmacists
    • Indigeneity - Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Social justice
    • Innovation
    • Kids Come First
    • Leadership
    • Newsroom
    • Partners
    • Privacy and confidentiality
    • Reporting and statistics
    • Research and innovation
    • Social media terms of use
    • Strategy Renewal
HomeResources and SupportA-Z resourcesSubstance abuse

Substance abuse

A young girl wearing a pink hijab, smiling at the camera

Regular Large X-Large
 
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email this page Email
Resources and Support
    • A-Z resources
      Toggle Section A-Z resources Menu
      • ACL injuries
      • Adenoidectomy
      • ADHD
      • Allergies
      • Anger
      • Anxiety and stress management
      • Asthma
      • Autism
      • Back to school
      • Bipolar disorder
      • Borderline personality disorder
      • Breastfeeding
      • Broken bones and torn ligaments
      • Bronchiolitis
      • Broviac central line
      • Bullying
      • Burns
      • Cancer
      • Cast care
      • Cerebral Palsy
      • Child and youth abuse
      • Complimentary and alternative medicine
      • Concussion
      • Connective Tissue Diseases
      • Constipation
      • Continuous nerve blocks at home
      • Cough and cold
      • COVID-19
      • Croup
      • Crutches
      • Crying
      • Cystic fibrosis
      • Depression
      • Developmental displasia
      • Diabetes
      • Diarrhea and vomiting
      • Down syndrome
      • Ear tubes
      • Eating disorders
      • Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
      • Emergency care
      • ENFit – Transitioning to safer enteral connections
      • Epilepsy
      • FASD
      • Feeding
      • Fever
      • Financial tips
      • Functional endoscopic sinus surgery
      • Gastrostomy tubes
      • Grief and bereavement
      • Gut health
      • Halo vests
      • Head injuries
      • Healthy active living
      • Heart murmurs
      • Hip spica casts
      • Hospitalization and surgery
      • Indigenous peoples
      • Infectious Diseases
      • Intoeing
      • IV care
      • Learning disabilities and dyslexia
      • Medical imaging
      • Mental health
      • Mindfulness
      • MIS-C
      • Neck surgery
      • Neonatal Intensive Care/Premature babies
      • Nosebleeds
      • Nutrition
      • OCD
      • Oncology
      • Pain and chronic illness
      • Pain management for procedures (Comfort Care)
      • Parenting
      • Parenting - special needs
      • Pavlik harness
      • Pelvic fractures
      • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
      • Preparing for an ultrasound (Urology and Nephrology)
      • Puberty
      • Recreation therapy
      • Scoliosis
      • Sedation for medical procedures
      • Self esteem
      • Self harm
      • Sensory processing disorder
      • Sexual orientation and gender identity
      • Siblings
      • Sickle cell anemia
      • Sleep
      • Social anxiety
      • Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
      • Staying at CHEO
      • Strep Throat
      • Stuttering and language development
      • Substance abuse
      • Suicide
      • Taking care of burns
      • Taking pills
      • Technology and family life
      • Toilet training
      • Tonsillectomy
      • Torticollis
      • Tourette syndrome
      • Traumatic brain injury
      • Ultrasounds
      • Vaccination
        Toggle Section Vaccination Menu
        • COVID vaccine FAQs
      • Vascular access
      • Vulvovaginitis
    • Community supports
    • Families First newsletter
    • Family and caregiver supports
      Toggle Section Family and caregiver supports Menu
      • Child Life
      • Grief and Bereavement Care
      • Language and interpretation services
      • Navigator Program
      • Social work
      • Spiritual support
    • Indigeneity - Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Social justice
    • Patient Experience
      Toggle Section Patient Experience Menu
      • Bioethics Consultation Service
    • Reads2CHEO
    • Transition to adult care

Contact us

Receive Email Updates...

Below you will find a variety of resources to help you better understand, cope with and/or support someone with substance abuse.

Books

Adolescent drug & alcohol abuse: how to spot it, stop it, and get help for your family

Babbit, Nikki -- Sabastopol, CA: O'Reilly, 2000.

This book offers parents clear information, support, and guidance to understand the disease model of drug abuse, and that it's not your fault; overcome family confusion, denial, and excuses to get your child the help he needs; find allies in the community to help your child feel the appropriate consequences of his actions; know what to look for in chemical assessment facilities; see what kind of help can be given your child in treatment; gain serenity and happiness for yourself, apart from the outcome of your child's drug abuse or dependency; listen to the voices of dozens of parents and recovering teens and learn that you are not alone in how this problem profoundly affects your family.

Buzzed: the straight facts about the most used and abused drugs from alcohol to ecstasy

Kuhn, Cynthia -- New York: Norton, 1998.

This no-nonsense handbook gives the most balanced, objective information available on the most often used and abused drugs, from alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine to heroin. In both quick- reference summaries and in-depth analysis, it reports on how these drugs enter the body, how they manipulate the brain, their short-term and long-term effects, the kinds of “high” they produce, and the circumstances in which they can be deadly.

Cocktails: facts for youth about mixing medicine, booze, and street drugs

Collin, Kathleen -- Vancouver: Youth Health Program, 2002.

Designed by youth for youth and their health care providers, this booklet describes the effects of mixing street drugs with antidepressants and other medications.

The drug conversation: how to talk to your child about drugs

Bowden-Jones, Owen. -- London, UK: RCPsych Publications, 2016.

This book suggests to parents how to raise the issue of drug use with their children and gives advice on ways to have this important conversation. It provides clear, up to date, accurate information about 'psychoactive' drugs and their effects, and contains many case studies and actual example conversations between parents and children.

Helping students overcome substance abuse: effective practices for prevention and intervention

Burrow-Sanchez, Jason J. -- New York: The Guilford Press, 2007.

Unique in its coverage of both prevention and intervention, this book provides evidence-based strategies and ready-to-use tools for addressing substance abuse in middle and high school settings. Readers learn ways to identify students at risk and implement programs that meet a broad continuum of needs--from psych educational and support groups to individual intervention and referral to community services.

How to cope with a teenage drinker: changing adolescent alcohol abuse 

Forrest, Gary G. -- North Vale , N.J. Jason Aronson, 1997.

With sensibility and eloquence, Dr. Forrest helps parents and families face the ugly reality of a teenager's drinking problem and shows that there is a path away from alcohol and its tragic consequences, toward a healthier, more fulfilling life style, not just for the teenage drinker but for the entire family.

One toke: a survival guide for teens 

Aronoff, Marc; Cavanah, Earl (ill.). -- Porter House: Lenox, MA, 2016.

This book addresses teen marijuana use in a straight-forward manner offering parents and teens options for being smart about a controversial subject. Written in short vignettes, it neither promotes nor dismisses teen marijuana use. Rather, the book examines how to be smart when tempted to be stupid.

Parenting 911: how to safeguard and rescue your 10-to-15 year-old from substance abuse, sexual encounters, and other risky situations

Giannetti, Charlene C. -- New York: Broadway Books, 1999.

This guide brings parents the information and reassurance they need to identify and handle the crises that can erupt even in the best of homes.

A survival guide to parenting teens: talking to your kids about sexting, drinking, drugs, and other things that freak you out

Geltman, Joani. -- New York, NY: American Management Association, 2014.

Covering a broad range of issues from the terrifying (sex, drinking, drugs, depression) to the frustrating (defiance, laziness, conformity, entitlement), the author approaches each of the 80 topics with honesty and a dash of humor.

The truth about drugs: real people, real stories 

Foundation for a Drug-Free World. -- Los Angeles, CA: Foundation for a drug-free world, 2009.

Explores the lives of several young people who have been forever changed by drug use. Shows the mental and physical consequences of illegal drugs and illustrates how easily a life can be changed or destroyed through drug use. The effects of alcohol, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy and other drugs are discussed, as well as techniques for turning away from risky drug-related situations.

Understanding street drugs: a handbook of substance misuse for parents, teachers and other professionals

Emmett, D. -- London: Jessica Kingsley, 2006.

Provides an overview of key facts and issues surrounding substance misuse. All commonly-used street drugs are discussed in detail.

Websites

  • Cannabis (Marijuana) – Parenting in Ottawa
  • Drug Free Kids Canada
  • Binge Drinking - Kids Health – Information for Kids, Teens and Parents from the Nemours Foundation
  • Fentanyl: Information for Teachers and Parents – Government of Alberta
  • Fentanyl and Carfentanil – Ottawa Public Health
  • Get Naloxone Kits for Free - Government of Ontario
  • Substance Use - Kids Help Phone
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
  • ToxQuebec – La référence québécoise en matière de toxicomanie 
  • Dépendances – Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux du Québec 
  • Ten Tips for Prevention for Youth – NCADD National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
  • Ten Tips for Prevention for Parents – NCADD National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence 
  • Problematic Drug Use: Videos – Government of Canada
  • Cannabis in Canada: Get the Facts – Government of Canada
  • Talking with teenagers about drugs – Government of Canada
  • What You Need to Know About Marijuana Use in Teens – Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Apps

Always There

  • Kids Help Phone
  • Free
  • Available from Google Play & iTunes 

Local contacts

  • Addictions and Problem Gambling Services of Ottawa
    221 Nelson St.
    Ottawa, ON K1N 1C7
    613-789-8941
    info@sandyhillchc.on.ca 
  • PLEO – Parents Lifelines of Eastern Ontario
    Ottawa: 613-321-3211
    Outside Ottawa: 1-855-775-7005 (Toll Free)
    Helpline is staffed Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 7:00
    info@pleo.on.ca
  • Kids Help Phone
    By phone: 1-800-668-6868
    By text: Text CONNECT to 686868 from anywhere in Canada 
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
    Please Note: CAMH does not provide crisis counseling over the phone
    East Region: 613-569-6024
  • Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services
    613-724-4881
    Phone is answered Monday to Thursday 8:30 am to 8:00 pm, and Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Disclaimer

These resources are for educational purposes only. If you have any questions, ask your health-care provider.

CHEO

  • Visiting CHEO
  • Clinics, Services & Programs
  • Resources and Support
  • Get Involved
  • About Us

Contact Us

CHEO
401 Smyth Road
Ottawa ON K1H 8L1
Phone: 613-737-7600
Email Us

 

Connect with us

View our Facebook Page View our Twitter Page View our Instagram Page View our YouTube Page View our LinkedIn Page

Sign up for our newsletter

twitter:1248b279-93aa-4ec9-8398-fb5ed28a6413

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario logo

Copyright 2021 CHEO.

By GHD Digital
  • Sitemap
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy and confidentiality
  • Website Feedback
  • Contact Us

Staff Portal

Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.