Parenting and Substance Use

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Parents and caregivers are powerful role models. How your child sees you use alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs can shape their stress levels, behaviour, and future choices. Children who see a parent under the influence are more likely to develop social, emotional or behavioural problems, experience stress, and use substances more regularly as they grow.

Talk to your children early and often about substance use. Youth are still figuring out who they are, trying to fit in, and may face peer pressure. Curiosity is normal, especially about things that feel “off-limits.” Staying connected and being prepared by having open conversations and knowing your child's friends can help you guide them through these situations.

Preventing and addressing substance use with your kids

You have an opportunity as a parent to discuss the use of alcohol or other drugs. Opening up to your kids about substances early is a good way to help influence their decision-making around using substances.

The best way to talk to youth about drug use is to listen to them and keep an open mind. Start the conversations early, and keep them going.

Spend time together doing the things you enjoy. It is a great time to talk with your kids about using substances.
Develop rules with your child about alcohol and drugs. Stay calm if the rules are broken. Tell them you care about them and want to make sure they are happy and healthy.
Stay connected to your youth.

You have more of an influence than you think! Together, parents, caregivers and other role models can help change the perception of using alcohol or other drugs by:

Be a good role model. Avoid using alcohol or drugs to cope with stress and avoid making them seem glamorous or a way to have fun.
Model ways to have fun that do not involve alcohol and drugs.
Develop rules with your child about alcohol and drugs. Stay calm if the rules are broken. Tell them you care about them and want to make sure they are happy and healthy.
Provide alcohol and drug-free activities for your child and their friends.
You are not alone. Get support from other parents and professionals.
Get to know your child's friends and their parents, and keep track of after-school activities.

Pay attention to changes in your child’s behaviour for signs of substance use. Talk to your health care provider if you are concerned about your child using substances. Find more information on where to get help.

Signs your teen may need help with substance use include:

Ignoring responsibilities at work, school, or home.
Giving up activities that they find important or enjoyable.
Changes in mood (e.g., feeling irritable and paranoid).
Changing friends.
Having difficulties with family members.
Changing sleep habits, appetite, or other behaviours.

For more information, read Health Canada's guide on How to talk to a family member or friend about substance use.

Vaping information for parents, caregivers and educators

For signs that youth are vaping and resources on how to educate and support them, visit our Tobacco, Vaping and Nicotine Products page.

Using substances while parenting

Using substances while parenting may affect your ability to safely take care of your baby or child. People who use either regulated or unregulated substances can still be loving and responsible parents. If there is more than one parent or caregiver, make sure one person has not used any substances while caring for children. For example, you can stagger your substance use as an effective parenting strategy.

If you are using substances, it can affect your parenting by:

altering your perception
slowing your reaction time
making you drowsy/sleepy

As a result, you may miss your child’s cues for hunger, comfort or attention, or you may not be able to make good decisions.

Using tobacco or cannabis products can also result in exposing your child to second hand smoke.

Safe storage

Make sure you properly store and dispose of alcohol, cannabis products or other drugs in a place that is not easily visible and accessible by children or pets.

Depending upon the age of your children, you may put different measures in place when storing alcohol, cannabis, medications and other substances. Read more information on poison prevention at home.

Unintentional cannabis poisoning in children

Edible cannabis products often look like non-cannabis treats such as chocolate, brownies and gummies. Ensure cannabis products, including plants, are securely stored away from children, youth and pets to prevent unintended cannabis poisoning.

When someone uses cannabis, they can experience impaired attention, decision-making, and memory, which can increase the risk for unsafe storage and disposal of cannabis products.

Common signs of cannabis toxicity in children include (but are not limited to):

a sudden onset of sleepiness or unresponsiveness
loss of muscle tone, muscle control and coordination
dilated pupils
fast or irregular heartbeat
slow breathing

Strategies to prevent unintended cannabis poisonings in children:

Make sure you dispose of all unused cannabis and cannabis-related products.
If you use cannabis by smoking or using it in vaporizers, use outside to avoid exposure to second-hand smoke and vape.
Use out of sight of children, particularly when using edible forms of cannabis, which may be mistaken for regular food or drink items.
Ensure your cannabis is kept in a child-resistant package and placed in a locked area out of reach and out of sight of children.
If you grow cannabis plants at home, create a dedicated grow space with controlled access (i.e., strong locks and other safeguards such as an alarm).
If you think a child has eaten cannabis or products that contain cannabis, seek medical attention right away.

To report a poisoning or for information, call the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017.

For more information, read the Ontario Poison Centre’s information on Cannabis and Kids.