Substance use

There are lots of different reasons why adolescents might use substances such as cigarettes, drugs or alcohol. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t make them a bad person. But there are laws around the use of cigarettes, drugs and alcohol and they can have a negative effect on your child’s mental and physical health, so it’s important to know the facts and be aware of the risks.

The following resources provide information on the different types of substances young people might use. Top tips and signposting to information that can help you and your adolescent child are also included.