An upcoming series of workshops later this summer will be exploring the topic of youth substance abuse.
Organized by the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Society, the workshops will look at the commonly used term “substance use”, discuss frequently used substances and the mechanisms through which they can lead to addiction, and examine potential long-term implications.
Founded in 2023, the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Society works to increase public awareness of substance use, particularly among youth who may be more vulnerable to recreational use and its associated risks.
The workshops will take place as different levels of government and researchers continue to assess and understand the personal and public health implications of substance use.
Experts in preventative health and substance use policy within our community highlight substance use as a public health issue rather than simply a moral failing or a lack of willpower among users, warranting more detailed study of the subject.
With regards to cannabis use, Dr. Erica Frank – a physician and professor in UBC’s School of Population and Public Health and Department of Family Medicine – notes that many studies do not yet have the level of scrutiny necessary to fully understand the health effects that come with consumption. For instance, few studies have examined differences in modes of consumption (smoked, vaped, eaten, or consumed as beverages). As Dr. Frank observes, “so few data [are] being collected at the scale needed to determine, prevent, and address negative population-level effects.”
Experts also emphasize the importance of how that evidence is ultimately applied. Dr. Kora DeBeck, Professor of Substance Use and Drug Policy at Simon Fraser University, emphasizes that substance use policy should prioritize harm reduction approaches rather than punitive, law-enforcement-based strategies that criminalize substance use. She also stresses the importance of a holistic approach to addiction treatment that centers on overall well-being, rather than defining success solely through abstinence.
It is in this evolving landscape that the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Society’s workshops will take place and strive to play a role in informing youth, who can often be drawn to recreational substance use without fully understanding the potential health consequences.
The workshops will be held in the multi-purpose room at the Wesbrook Community Centre on August 21 from 4:00–5:00 p.m. and on a second date in September to be announced at a later date.
SEOHYEON PARK IS A MEMBER OF THE YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION SOCIETY AND IS PURSUING HER BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES AT UBC.