Substance Magazine

WELCOME TO SUBSTANCE MAGAZINE!

CHECK YOUR SOURCES:

There’s a lot of information out there about cannabis and other substances — but not all of it is true. “Fake news” about drugs can be very dangerous. We look at some of the myths and lies about cannabis — and how to tell if you should trust the information.

CANNABIS IS NOT ALONE:

MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS:

Cannabis was only legalized for NWT residents 19 years and older in October 2018, and its effects on humans are still being studied by scientists. This magazine doesn’t promote cannabis, but presents information about the science to help you make good decisions. You’ll learn about the ways that different drugs can affect your body, and get some information on how to make the best choices for you.

Now that cannabis is legal, it’s getting a lot of attention. But cannabis is just one of many substances in our communities. People sometimes mix cannabis and alcohol, prescription pills, or street drugs like crack cocaine and crystal meth. Those combinations can be very dangerous, for a lot of reasons. In our In The Mix section, you’ll learn some of the possible risks of mixing drugs.

SELF-CARE ALTERNATIVES:

One common reason people use cannabis and other substances is to help them relax or cope —

but it is by no means the best or only way to unwind. On Page 41, we offer some other ways to practice self-care, with long-lasting benefits.

If you have questions we haven’t answered, or want to know more, there are people you can ask. You can reach the Kids Help Phone by calling 1-800-668-6868, texting “CONNECT” to 686868, or go to www.kidshelpphone.ca

ZAPPAR

To use the Augmented Reality features in this magazine, you need a smartphone or tablet and the Zappar app, available for free in every OS app store. Just download the app, and open it. Point your camera at the Zappar code on the Page and watch what happens next!

This magazine is full of important information about different drugs that people use to change the way they feel. There are articles, stories, infographics, and some Augmented Reality (AR) features as well. Some things to think about as you read it:

WHO’S TELLING THE TRUTH?

MAKE SURE YOU’RE GETTING YOUR INFO FROM RELIABLE SOURCES!

If you have a question, you might look to the internet or ask friends for answers, but you can’t believe everything you read or hear. Sometimes it’s hard to know which stories are real and which ones are madeup, especially online. There are some people trying to trick you. This is especially true when it comes to drugs. Some stories may be exaggerated or only contain a little bit of truth.

Why do people make up stories that aren’t true? Websites sometimes create fake stories to make you laugh. But others have fake news to try to get you to click on them so they can get more money, or to give someone a bad name.

HERE ARE SOME QUICK TIPS ON HOW YOU CAN TELL IF SOMETHING IS FAKE NEWS OR REAL:

1How did you get the article?

How does information move? Was this forwarded to you? Was it shared by a relative, or a stranger on social media? Was it published by an organization or a company? When was it first published? Check the URL on online articles - is it a legit news source, or some other site trying to imitate a real one? If you go to Google and search for the story, does the same article pop up? Who else has reported on the story? You might need to do a bit of digging, but this will help you figure out where the information is coming from. You can also get good information about drugs and other substances from university and hospital websites. Do a quick search on the author to see if they are real, or if they have written other reliable articles.

2What was your response when you saw it?

When information comes from somebody who wants to convince you of something, they will often want your first response to a headline to be angry! Scared! Surprised! The more extreme your immediate response, the more likely you are to click to the next Page.

READ PAST THE HEADLINE. They often have no real connection to the story, or make something complex sound very black-and-white. Remember - if a story makes you angry, it’s probably designed to do that. Don’t let yourself get tricked. If the information came as an infographic, a meme, or a short video, do more research. If you learned the whole story in less than a minute, it’s probably not the whole story!

3Who wants you to read this?

Think about who wrote this article, who published it, who’s advertising on it - and why. Are they trying to get you to spend money, or change your mind and opinions? Are they trying to convince you that somebody or something is a new scary enemy? Did somebody pay to have this article published? What does the author want you to do after reading this?

Sponsored content - sometimes called “advertorials”aren’t always untrue, but they exist to make money. We need to be careful to separate advertising from news, even though they often look the same. We also need to make sure that our news is coming from reliable places.

Check your bias.

“Confirmation Bias” is when we believe the first thing we hear about a subject, and disagree with information that comes later if it doesn’t line up. Confirmation bias makes us ignore new, relevant information because it doesn’t confirm what we already believe. And everybody has it!

News doesn't become fake if we disagree with it. It might make us uncomfortable to rethink our attitudes and values, but it’s a big step in becoming critical parts of the media.

Have you checked with others?

Double check everything! Most news stories are reported on by more than one source, so go looking for those. Is there a general agreement from media outlets? Who are they interviewing and using as a source? Is it somebody with credentials, like a doctor or scientist, or are amateurs involved to offer “balance”? Having a number of viewpoints is good journalism. Reliable media features real experts with credibility and expertise, and not just people with loud opinions.

When in doubt, ask a librarian. Librarians don’t know everything (who does?), but they are well trained in how to find good information from lots of sources.

DISCUSSION:

What are some examples of fake news you have heard? ⬛ How did you know it was fake?

What are some places you get news from that you trust? Why? ⬛

What would make you trust a piece of information or news?

⬛ Some reasons are given about why people spread fake news — as a joke, or to make money, for example. Can you think of other reasons? ⬛ What might somebody gain from spreading fake news?

FAKE NEWS OR THE TRUTH ANSWER KEY:

PG 8-9

False: While illegal drug operators still operate outside the law, smoking cannabis is not normally associated with violent behaviour. The opposite in fact. Though nothing is solid yet, there has been evidence that legalization has led to less violence.

comes from users themselves. In most research, about 1 in 10 people who use cannabis have said they have developed problems related to it. Cannabis legalization leads to violence and crime

False: The most compelling evidence of problems with cannabis use

Pot completely harmless

True: THC has been found to be in the breast milk of mothers who were using cannabis. It’s still unclear what exposure to cannabis during this critical development period means for the baby, but it’s definitely not a good idea to consume THC while pregnant or when breastfeeding.

Weed detected in breast milk

True: Growing pot indoors gobbles electricity through the use of highintensity lamps, air conditioners, dehumidifiers and more, while irrigation for outdoor grow-ops in California has been shown to be sucking some streams dry.

Cannabis Grow-ops bad for the planet

True: Though a common misperception, the majority of people who use cannabis do not go on to use other, harder substances.

Weed isn't a gateway drug

True: Cannabis use can lead to the development of problematic substance use.

STONEY testifies in court! Cannabis CAN be addictive”

True: Cannabis significantly impairs judgment, motor coordination, and reaction time, and studies have found a direct relationship between THC concentration and impaired driving ability.

Pot indicated in snowmobile crash!

Brain cells killed by pot False: There is no evidence as of yet that using cannabis kills brain cells, or affects intelligence, despite some claims. We simply don’t know. Killer Buds False: Too much cannabis can cause confusion, increased blood pressure and heart rate, and unintentional injury. Human beings dying from the substance alone is very unlikely – but dogs and cats definitely can! Don’t get your pets high.

True: THC in cannabis can cause problems in memory - specifically with encoding memories while high and with short-term recall. Smoking pot affects brain development in youth True: While the brain is developing until the age of 25, young people are more sensitive to the effects of repeated cannabis exposure.

Cannabis causes poor short-term recall

True: Cannabis has been used for much of human history as medicine, mostly for pain relief for light aches and pains connected with aging.

Unclear. Cannabis is not known to have any laxative effects, but it affects different people in different ways. Some forms of cannabis, like tinctures or edibles, can upset your stomach, especially if you’re not used to them. Cannabis found to have medicinal benefits

Side effects of pot include diarrhea

Undetermined. Though older studies claimed that smoking cannabis decreases male sperm count, recent research (https://www.livescience. com/64693-marijuana-sperm-counts.html) seem to show the opposite! Science is simply not sure at this point.

Weed causes sperm count to decrease

Do you think you can tell real news from fake news? On the next Page, Cody Fennell shows some information about cannabis that has been repeated for years. Can you tell which ones are real and which ones are fake? You’ll find an answer key on this Page, and you can use the AR feature to find out more about each topic.

True. Bloodshot eyes are a sign of high THC content.

Higher THC levels mean redder eyes

True. Though uncommon, cannabis can trigger a psychotic episode causing panic attacks, and hallucinations. Products with high levels of THC are associated with an increased risk.

Cannabis can cause hallucinations!

Sativa causes hair growth in bald men ages 40 and over False! Cannabis doesn’t appear to have any power as a cure for male pattern baldness, but researchers have seen links between smoking (in general) and hair loss.

HOW CANNABIS WORKS

WHAT’S CBD?

You have probably heard something about CBD, or Cannabidiol, which is the second major substance in cannabis after THC. Though CBD by itself does not get you high or give you any kind of buzz, it’s becoming more popular. There are lots of health claims being made about it — for managing anxiety, insomnia, and chronic pain — but again, not much is known for sure.

What is known is that it does NOT get you high. And there can be side-effects, including nausea, fatigue and irritability. As well, CBD can interact with other medications you may use, so if you’re using it, let your health care professional know.

IDEA

HOW ALCOHOL WORKS

Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down the things that make the body and brain work. For some people, it also makes them feel depressed or sad, or angry and aggressive. When a person gets drunk, alcohol can shut down different parts of their brain, slowing them down until they can’t do their jobs anymore. Unlike cannabis, alcohol is a toxin - that means that the feeling of being drunk is actually the feeling of being poisoned.

WHAT MAKES THE HIGH?

There are many different substances in cannabis. So far at least 113 different cannabinoids have been found, all with different effects — but the one that makes the high is called tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC attaches to receptors in the body and brain. Those receptors are already set up to get the cannabinoids made naturally by the body.

THC acts by flooding those receptors, which makes the brain release lots of dopamine, a chemical that makes you feel happy and good. Your body makes dopamine naturally, but in small amounts as a reward for things like exercise. THC gives the brain a large amount of dopamine.

Drinking alcohol also triggers the brain to release dopamine - a chemical that makes us feel happy, outgoing, and social. After about 30 minutes, dopamine levels return to normal, making you feel less happy, and like you want another drink. This cycle often leads to people drinking way more than they intended, and even continuing after they start to notice the other effects, like stumbling, falling, or getting angry when they normally wouldn’t.

A hangover is the feeling you get when your body is trying to eliminate the alcohol from your body and recover from the poisoning. If a person drinks a lot, or drinks really often, eventually, it’ll take more alcohol to trigger that first release of dopamine. This is how people develop a tolerance to alcohol - their body has become used to having a certain amount of poison in it - and how a person might become addicted to alcohol, and become unable to function without it.

WHILE CANNABIS IS A SUBSTANCE WE STILL HAVE MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT, WE‘VE GOT A PRETTY CLEAR

OF HOW IT WORKS.

DISCUSSION

USE AND ADDICTION: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION ARE OFTEN CONFUSED WITH EACH OTHER. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Addiction is when you can’t stop doing something, like a drug or alcohol, even when it’s harming your body or mind. When a person is addicted, they can’t control their use and feel like they need it to cope with daily life.

When a person is addicted to something, using that thing causes the brain to produce lots of feel-good, happy chemicals. These chemicals are called dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. This causes the brain’s reward system to go into overdrive, and makes the person want to use the substance even more – even when there are bad outcomes.

Some substances are more addictive than others – that means that they make more of those feel-good chemicals, or that the chemicals are stronger. This can lead somebody to feel addicted to that substance faster than they might expect.

People who don’t use drugs and alcohol before the age of 25 years old, and people who use in moderation are less likely to struggle with addiction.

Substance use simply refers to the use of a substance like alcohol and/or other drugs. People may use a substance, but that does not mean that they are addicted.

If people use substances a lot, it can lead to problems that can affect their life.

Substance use disorders are patterns of behaviours that are related to the continued and frequent use of substances.

Health care professionals use the following 11 criteria to help diagnose someone with a substance use disorder.

⬛ Taking larger amounts or taking a substance over a longer period than intended.

⬛ Unsuccessful at trying to quit, cut down or control substance use.

⬛ Spending a great deal of time seeking a substance, using the substance or recovering from its effects.

⬛ Craving, or a strong desire or urge to use the substance.

⬛ Problems fulfilling obligations at work, school or home.

⬛ Continued use of the substance despite having recurring social or interpersonal problems.

⬛ Giving up or reducing activities (social, recreational, school or work) because of substance use.

⬛ Using substances in physically hazardous situations or in a way that endangers self or others (e.g., driving while intoxicated).

⬛ Continued substance use despite ongoing physical or psychological problems likely to have been caused or worsened by this use.

⬛ Tolerance (i.e., need for increased amounts or diminished effect with continued use of the same amount).

⬛ Experiencing withdrawal (symptoms that happen when a person stops prolonged heavy use of a substance).

An individual may be diagnosed with having a mild, moderate or severe substance use disorder depending on the number of symptoms.

⬛ Mild substance use disorder: if they have 2 to

3 of the above symptoms.

⬛ Moderate substance use disorder: if they have 4 to 5 symptoms

⬛ Severe substance use disorder: if they have 6 or more symptoms

Severe substance use disorder is basically the same as what we call addictions. People who are experiencing severe substance use disorders or addictions are so focused on using substances that it seems to take over their lives. They continue to use substances despite the problems their substance use causes.

Often, people experiencing addictions need help to recover which could include seeing a counsellor, going to an AA meeting, attending a treatment program, going out on the land, or getting help from their health care professional. Each person is different so when a person is ready to make changes in their life, their recovery journey will be unique to them.

FUN FACT:

Most people know about THC and CBD, but there are at least 65 other cannabinoids in cannabis that can affect the way it makes you feel.

You don’t have to be addicted to need or want help with your substance use. If you think substance use is becoming a problem for you, you can call the kids help phone, talk to a counselor, go visit your local health centre to get advice, or check out online supports like MINDYOURMIND.CA

YOUR BODY, YOUR CHOICE

Consent is about getting to make your own choices about what happens to your body. Consent means…

⬛

I get to choose if I want to drink or take drugs. ⬛

I get to choose how much I drink. ⬛

I get to choose who touches me and how.

⬛

I get to choose if I want to hook up or have sex with somebody.

⬛

I get to choose when I go home.

⬛

Nobody gets to touch me if I’m asleep or passed out.

REMEMBER – if a person is not sober or not awake, they cannot consent to sexual activity. Make sure your friends are being supervised and in a safe place if they can’t take care of themselves anymore!

WHAT’S THE BUD?

INDICA, SATIVA

HYBRIDS:

We usually hear about two main varieties of the cannabis plant: indica and sativa, and then hybrids, or mixes of the two strains, that growers combine. Recent studies however, show that this is more hype and marketing than anything else. The truth is that there has been so much mixing — and that there are so many combinations of chemicals in the plant — that the names are more of a guess for how that type of cannabis will make you feel.

CANNABIS SATIVA:

The sativa plant type is known for its uplifting and energetic effect. That’s why Sativa plants are sometimes used to treat depression. But they can also cause you to feel anxious or afraid.

CANNABIS INDICA:

The indica plant type is known for its relaxing effect, mainly on the body. Indica plants are used to treat chronic pain and anxiety, as well as make you sleepy. It can also cause “couch lock,” which can make users feel unmotivated and isolated.

HYBRIDS:

A hybrid cannabis plant is one that is specially grown. Growers take characteristics from both the sativa and indica plants and blend them together.

AND

WHY DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANNABIS CAN MAKE YOU FEEL DIFFERENT

CANNABIS 2.0:

NEW WAYS TO USE CANNABIS

EDIBLES: There’s a long tradition of using cannabis in food. Today, there are more and more edible products being made, from cookies to jellies and everything in between.

Eating cannabis is healthier than breathing in its smoke, but it can be tricky. The body processes THC very differently when you eat it rather than smoke it. An edible high can take a long time — as long as two hours — to take effect, and it can be much stronger than the high you get from smoking. As well, the high can last longer — as much as five to eight hours.

Because of this, new users — and even old pros — often take too much, thinking that it isn’t working. It’s also hard to be sure exactly how strong an edible is — especially homemade ones — so one pot cookie can be much stronger than the next.

REMEMBER:

⬛ Edibles take much longer to take effect, and it’s easy to take too much.

⬛ The amount of THC in an edible is hard to predict. One can have too much, another can have very little.

⬛ Edible highs can last much longer.

⬛ Edibles can look just like any other type of food. Keep them labelled and safely secured, especially if you live with kids or animals.

SHATTER/CONCENTRATES: Cannabis concentrates are processed oils and resins that are usually much stronger than dried cannabis. New technology means that there are now many ways of producing cannabis concentrates. Where a strong cannabis flower might be as much as 25 percent THC, concentrates like “shatter” can be as much as 90 percent THC.

Again, both new and experienced users should be cautious for several reasons:

⬛ Really high amounts of THC increases your risk of developing mental health issues including psychotic disorders, especially for newer users. You might also get too high to take care of yourself, or go into a “greenout” (see Page 31 for the definition of a 'greeout) and feel terrible.

⬛ Producing concentrates like shatter often involves using strong and toxic chemicals like butane alcohol. At this point, we don’t know how those chemicals could impact your healthbut it’s probably not good.

SYNTHETIC CANNABIS: Artificial drugs that are supposed to act like THC are sometimes called “synthetic cannabis”, “synthetic marijuana”, “smokable herbal incense”, “exotic herbal incense”, “potpourri”, "K2", "spice" or “legal high.”

There are many types of fake cannabis out there, using unknown chemicals and additives. These chemicals and additives are completely unregulated. They can be literally anything - which is why they’re so dangerous.

⬛ When a synthetic cannabis seller was busted in Edmonton, the users reported symptoms like vomiting, chest pain, increased heart rate, vision blackouts, headaches, kidney damage, agitation, high blood pressure and psychosis.

DISCUSSION:

⬛ What methods of using cannabis have you seen in your community?

⬛ What does addiction look like to you?

⬛ Where do substances fit into your life?

⬛ Why do you/why would somebody use…Alcohol? Tobacco? Cannabis?

Coffee or energy drinks?

⬛ What else could you do to get the same type of feeling?

Edibles, Shatter, Synthetics: there are a lot of new ways to consume cannabis out there. Be careful, especially if you are a new user — and be aware of what you are taking.

KEEPING IT LEGAL: WHAT’S THE LAW?

Cannabis is legal, but not for everybody, not in all circumstances, and not all the time. If you’re going to use cannabis in the NWT, here’s what you need to know:

⬛ People under the age of 19 can't carry, transport, buy, own, or consume cannabis. At all. This isn’t about restricting your rights, it’s about public health.

FUN FACT:

Uruguay became the first country to legalize recreational cannabis use in 2013.

⬛ People who are 19 and older can only buy legal cannabis in the NWT from vendors approved by the Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission (NTLCC) or from the NTLCC online store.

⬛ You (if you’re over 19) can travel or be out in public with up to 30 grams of dried cannabis. This includes using airports, although you can’t smoke while you’re flying.

⬛ Each household can grow up to 4 cannabis plants - but sorry about your power bill!

⬛ Each town, city, province and territory can make their own rules about where and when cannabis can be consumed. Do your research before you travel!

⬛ Driving while you’re stoned is the same kind of criminal charge as drunk driving, and can be dangerous in the same ways. Don’t use and drive - designated drivers are your friends!

⬛ If you’re 19 or older, and you share your cannabis with somebody underage, you’re looking at steep fines and maybe jail time.

⬛ Giving a pet (cat, dog, rabbit, whatever) cannabis is illegal, and considered animal abuse. Animals have receptor systems that are much more sensitive than ours, and a tiny bit of cannabis can poison them, or even kill them. They also can’t tell us when they need help, so we can’t take care of them until it might be too late. If this happens accidentally, call your vet right away. You won’t get in trouble.

CANNABIS, WEED, MARIJUANA, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?

WHY LANGUAGE MATTERS WHEN TALKING ABOUT DRUGS

CANNABIS:

This is the word that governments and people growing the plant for medical purposes use. It’s the most official and a lot of people think it’s the best word to use today. Cannabis is the Latin, or scientific name to describe the whole plant, which in English is called hemp.

POT:

This is a slang word that probably was shortened from the Mexican Spanish word potiguaya, which means "cannabis leaves.” Not a lot of people still use this word.

FUN FACT:

Shatter is a super concentrated cannabis extract that has been associated with psychosis, paranoia, and anxiety. The THC levels can be very high, and really hard to predict.

WEED:

Commonly used in pop culture today and by people who use cannabis, it dates back to Harlem, a neighbourhood in New York City, in the 1930s.

MARIJUANA:

This is a Spanish word that began being used in the United States in the 1930s. A U.S. government official, Harry J. Anslinger, wanted to stop cannabis use and linked it to immigration from Mexico by calling it marijuana, thinking some Americans didn’t want Mexicans coming to their country. It was a racist move, and some people today have stopped using the word marijuana because of that.

Scan the zapcode and watch Roach the Raven come to life!

TAP: Find and tap on the icons for more!

Scan the zapcode and watch Stoney the Inukshuk come to life!

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Scan the zapcode and watch it come to life!

TAP: Find and tap on the icons for more!

TAP: Find and tap on the icons for more! Scan the zapcode and watch Weedini the Genie come to life!

WHO DID THIS?

Cody Fennell, the creative spirit responsible for the Augmented Reality (AR) comics you’ll find in this magazine, is an NWT artist with deep connections to the region.

Meet the artist behind Creepy Baby, Weedini, and Stoney the Inukshuk

Born and raised in Yellowknife, Cody has family roots that go all the way back to Chief Snuff Aze, who signed Treaty 8 in 1900 for the Talston River Yellowknives Dene — also known as the Rocher River People. “And my great-grandfather was Frank Morrison,” says Cody, “a trapper and gold prospector who Morrison Drive in Yellowknife’s Old Town is named after.”

Cody’s path to becoming a working artist had a lot to do with hard work and taking advantage of lucky breaks and opportunities, he says. “I had friends in bands, and they gave me the opportunity to design album covers, t-shirts and music videos for them. Eventually, I worked for a promotion company that booked live music. I did all the gig posters and fliers for years. Your portfolio grows, and once the word is out there is a whole world of options.” In the NWT, Cody is perhaps best known for his posters for the annual Dead North festival of homemade horror films.

“If you are interested in pursuing a creative career, then embrace your ideas and find places for them to be used. Force them to become a reality so you can move on to your next idea. It’s important to keep moving forward to the next idea or project. Set deadlines for yourself, try new things even if you are destined to fail — and embrace failing so you can learn from your mistakes.”

IN THE MIX

Cannabis is getting lots of attention right now because it recently became legal. But there are many other substances being used in the NWT too. Drugs like alcohol, crystal meth, and crack cocaine are often used together, which can have unexpected effects. It’s important to be aware of what happens when you mix substances!

Alcohol is legal if you are over the age of 19, but it's really dangerous and can harm your body in a lot of ways. It's a depressant, but many people feel really happy when they’re drinking or drunk. Often, the “depressed” part comes later – hangovers for sure, but lots of people feel “the booze blues” for days after they drink too much.

WHEN YOU MIX ALCOHOL AND CANNABIS, this is sometimes called crossfading and can lead to a greenout. Because of how your body processes alcohol and cannabis, using them together can increase the effect of the THC. This sounds like it might be a good thing — but the problem is it’s really hard to control the effect.

DEPENDING ON : ⬛ your body size ⬛ the type of alcohol you’re drinking ⬛ your mood ⬛ what you had to eat that day and many other different things, you might get an extra buzz - or you might find yourself much more drunk or high than you wanted, or in a Greenout.

A greenout is what happens when you take in too much THC at once. It’s not fatal, but it can be a really bad experience, especially if you don’t understand what’s happening. Physical signs of greening out can be feeling dizzy, feeling sweaty and feeling like you want to vomit. Greenouts can happen to people using cannabis by itself, but adding booze makes it much more likely.

The effects of mixing alcohol and cannabis can be hard to predict, even for experienced users. You can go from being mildly high to being completely unable to take care of yourself in minutes — and that’s really dangerous.

COCAINE & ALCOHOL

Some people think that using cocaine and alcohol together will stop them from feeling the negative effects of either - that the “stimulant” will cancel out the “depressant”. Often, they think that doing cocaine when they're drunk will help them sober up. In reality, they're getting way more intoxicated by taking both together. They're just less aware of the signs the body is giving to tell them that something's not right.

When a person uses alcohol and cocaine at the same time, they meet in the liver and produce a new substance called cocaethylene. This is a really strong, dangerous chemical that has been linked to aggressive and violent behavior, and a higher chance of completing suicide. Cocaethylene can speed up your heart rate more than twice as much as cocaine on its own, and can lead to heart palpitations and blockages. Mixing cocaine and alcohol together can lead to a sudden heart attack and even death, even if you’re young, healthy, and have no medical concerns.

STIMULANTS

Stimulants speed up what your body’s doing. They can increase your heart rate to unsafe levels and they can cause your body to get so hot it can’t cool down without help. They can also lead to aggressive or violent behaviour, even if somebody’s not usually a fighter. Stimulants are substances like cocaine, crystal meth, and prescriptions like Adderall or Ritalin.

DEPRESSANTS

The name doesn’t mean that it makes you feel depressed all the time; it means that it depresses – or slows down – the way your body functions. They can slow down your breathing and your heart rate, and they can stop you from reacting quickly in different situations. Depressants are drugs like alcohol, cannabis, heroin, and glue.

Cocaine and alcohol are both extremely hard on the liver and kidneys. Using both together can cause the liver to partly or completely shut down, which means it can’t filter out toxins anymore. While the human body can recover from some liver damage, if the damage is too bad, it can be fatal. You need your liver to live –that’s how it got its name.

OPIOIDS

Opioids are a type of painkiller. One infamous and dangerous opioid is fentanyl. Fentanyl is a really strong painkiller that’s caused many overdose deaths across the country.

But there are many different types of opioid-based painkillers. "Mixing any opioid with alcohol, cannabis, or other substances is always risky.

Most opioids are depressants. When you use more than one depressant at a time, the results are unpredictable.

Cannabis and alcohol can increase the effects of opioids, leading to severe breathing problems, comas, or worse. They also make opioid overdoses much more likely.

STREET DRUGS

Street drugs like crystal meth and crack are highly addictive, toxic, and extremely dangerous to their users. On their own, these drugs destroy lives, families and communities. If you use them with cannabis, alcohol, or anything else, you’re just multiplying their effects.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

There are lots of different prescription drugs, and it’s impossible to know how each one will react with other substances. THC can change the way our bodies react to medications – it might make it less effective, or much stronger. Alcohol can change the effects of drugs completely. There are lots of medications

that you absolutely shouldn’t use when you’re drinking.

The best advice is to be careful. Let your health care provider know about ALL the substances you’re using, so they can help you find the safest combination.

IF YOU’RE USING - START LOW, GO SLOW, AND LET SOMEBODY KNOW.

WARNING

Fentanyl and carfentanil are extremely strong and dangerous drugs in the opioid family. They are often mixed into other substances and street drugs, as well as being used on their own. Even a tiny bit of either of these drugs can lead to a fatal overdose, and people have even gotten sick from just touching them. You can't see, smell, or taste fentanyl or carfentanil, and it can be in ANYTHING. Don’t assume that the drugs you’re taking are pure, no matter where you got them. Carry a Naloxone kit if you or your friends might be at risk – you can get them for free at your local health centre or pharmacy.

VAPING: WHAT’S THE DEAL?

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT VAPING RIGHT NOW – AND THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. WHAT’S THE DEAL?

WHAT EXACTLY IS VAPING?

Vaping is when you inhale a vapor created by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or other batterypowered vaping device. E-liquid, dried cannabis, or other substances can be used in vaping devices.

THOSE BIG VAPE CLOUDS – AREN’T THEY JUST STEAM?

No. Vaping devices usually contain an aerosol that has a number of ingredients such as propylene glycol, glycerin, flavouring and other chemicals - so it’s definitely not just water vapour. E-cigarettes also often contain nicotine which is very addictive and is harmful for brain development. Some vaping devices have even been adapted for use with cannabis or its components (THC, hash oil) or other substances.

IS VAPING SAFE?

Short answer: No.

Long answer: There is very little research on how vaping affects our body and our health. What we do know is that vaping is not harmless or without risk.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF VAPING?

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There are health risks linked to the chemicals found in vape products and long term effects of vaping are still not clear. Hundreds of people in the United States and Canada have become very sick with long lasting lung damage from vaping. Some have even died. Until there is more information about the risks of vaping, it is safest not to vape.

IS SECOND HAND VAPOUR HARMFUL?

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Vaping e-liquids with nicotine can harm brain development and can lead to addiction. Nicotine is highly addictive and has even more harmful effects on young adult’s developing brain. If we use nicotine while our brains are developing, the nicotine receptors in our brain become used to the nicotine being there - increasing the risk of being a life-long nicotine customer. Not only is nicotine very addictive but it also can affect your memory, concentration, mood and impulse control.

Second hand vapour, just like second hand smoke from cigarettes, can easily be breathed in by those around the person using the vape. This means that everyone else will also be breathing in the harmful chemicals.

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E-liquid can be toxic. Even small amounts of e-juice can be poisonous to a young child if eaten and can be toxic if spilled on the skin.

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The device itself can be harmful. Vaporizers themselves need to be treated carefully. They’re electronic tools with powerful heating elements inside them, as well as batteries. Cheap vapes have been known (rarely, but it happens!) to blow up while they’re being used, injuring the user.

THE POWER OF NO

Making Choices for yourself:

Drugs and alcohol are definitely not for everyone — many people make the decision to avoid them completely, for a lot of reasons.

If you don’t use drugs or alcohol, that’s your choice. You’re the expert on your body and your mind, and you know what’s best for you. If someone is pressuring you to do drugs or take a drink — or do anything you are not comfortable with — remember that you get to make your own choices, and they deserve to be respected.

It’s the same if you feel comfortable using substances and your friends don’t. It’s their choice, and you should never pressure or try and force someone into taking a drug or drink if they are uncomfortable.

IF YOU ARE BEING PRESSURED BY PEOPLE YOU KNOW TO DO DRUGS OR DRINK ALCOHOL, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS YOU CAN DO:

BE HONEST: explain your reasons for not using substances, whether they are health concerns, allergies, a bad reaction to THC, or your own principles.

LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE BEING

DISRESPECTFUL: Nobody likes being pushed to do things they are uncomfortable with. Remind them of this.

LEAVE THE SITUATION: If they keep trying to convince you, leave. Especially if they are already high or drunk, it may be best to just remove yourself.

DISCUSSION:

Have you ever been pressured to do drugs, including alcohol?

do you think people pressure other people to do drugs, including alcohol?

What are some good ways to refuse drugs or alcohol from friends?

IF YOU’RE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO, TRY SAYING SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

And if necessary (but hopefully people are chill, and everybody respects your decision):

I’m good for tonight, but I’ll be on snack duty. Who’s hungry? Peer pressure sucks. You make your decisions, I’ll make mine. Back off.

No thanks, somebody needs to make sure you don’t do anything ridiculous.

I’ll be the designated driver for tonight, you guys have fun!

Maybe next time! I’ve got loads going on tomorrow.

CHECK YOUR HEAD: MINDSET AND SETTING

CHECK YOUR MINDSET:

⬛ How did I take care of myself today?

⬛ Am I stressed out or angry about anything right now?

⬛ Am I dealing with anything hard, or emotionally heavy?

⬛ Why am I using this substance?

⬛ What am I hoping to get out of this experience?

⬛ If I end up having a bad trip, am I in a mental and emotional place to handle that?

CHECK YOUR SETTING:

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Do I like and trust the people I’m with?

⬛ Does this space feel safe and comfortable?

When using any substance, you can have a good experience or a bad one and it can be hard to predict what’s going to happen. Just because you enjoyed something one time doesn’t mean it’ll always have the same effect. Think about your “mindset” where you are at right now, mentally and emotionally. And think about your physical “setting” who and what surrounds you before using any substance. This makes it easier to not have a bad experience. It’s okay to say no if you think you’re not going to end up enjoying yourself. This is especially true for psychoactive substances because of their mood and perception altering effects, like caffeine, alcohol, cocaine, LSD, nicotine and cannabis.

⬛ Do I have everything I might need (blankets, food, drinks, etc.)?

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Can I leave safely and easily if I need to?

If I end up having a bad trip, am I in a good place and with good people to get through it?

It’s often hard to predict how substances will affect you, even for experienced users. This is because the quality or type of experience you have is very closely connected to your state of mind and your physical well-being.

THE SELF-CARE TOOLBOX

Self-care is anything that you do to take care of yourself. There are lots of ways to take care of ourselves — our physical bodies, our minds, our hearts, and our spirits.

Sometimes, you might feel pressure to act happy, even when you’re not, or you might feel sad and really want to stop feeling that way. In those times, some people might use drugs or alcohol to change the way you’re feeling. It might change your mood or help you relax, but drugs don’t fix your problems, so they’re not long-term solutions.

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1Our brains love to think, grow, and absorb new information. They love to learn new skills, and rewards you with feel-good chemicals when we succeed at difficult challenges — like learning new languages, reading a good book, or mastering a video game. Talking to people about new things, or debating an issue with a friend are both great ways to exercise your mind. Your brain spends a lot of time growing — fill it with good stuff!

Everyone connects to spirit in their own personal way. Paying attention to your dreams, getting good sleep, connecting to animals, and enjoying time by yourself to rest are all ways to get in touch with what moves your spirit. If you’re religious maybe you go to church, or practice ceremony with your grandparents, or experience your faith in some personal way.

Be mindful of how the different parts of yourself are feeling. Here are some of the ways you can do that. LIST YOUR SELF-CARE TOOLS:

Emotions, or feelings, can be tricky and uncomfortable to deal with, but they’re part of what make us human. Whether your feelings are making you happy, sad, angry, afraid, or anything else, they’re a powerful part of who you are, and you shouldn’t be ashamed of them. If you’re having some difficult emotions, you might want to connect with somebody to talk or cry about it; you might want to do something creative like playing music, or drawing. Some people find it really helpful to process feelings through noise and movement — like running, jumping, even screaming. 4

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Your body is your home, and it deserves to be taken care of. Different bodies need different things, but most of us need food, sleep, hugs, and maybe a bit of exercise once in a while. You can connect with your body and take care of it in lots of ways — feeding yourself something healthy and delicious, sleeping in on a Saturday, taking a nice warm bath, going hiking or hunting, and spending time with people you love.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF PHINEAS GAGE

A brain injury in 1848 gave us insight into how our brain — and our personalities — work.

Phineas Gage was a railroad worker in Vermont in 1848. After an accident with a tamping rod, he had a problem: the frontal lobe of his brain was basically destroyed.

Right after the accident, he was able to walk and talk, and he could remember details about his injury. In the days and weeks after, however, the generally nice and polite man turned into an angry, violent person with an alcohol problem who couldn’t keep a job. Before his accident, Gage was smart, well-balanced, a good businessman, and always working towards his goals.

Afterwards, his friends and family said that he didn’t even seem like the same person. His health and relationships started to fail. He died almost 13 years after his accident, following a series of epileptic seizures.

As early as 1868, and as recently as 1994, scientists have been studying Gage’s skull to learn more about his injuries. They found that the damage to the frontal lobe of his brain had affected his personality and other high-level things the brain does: reasoning, language, impulse control, and social understandings.

Gage’s accident had a huge influence on early brain science, and taught us the importance of this part of the brain. His brain – and the tamping rod that started it all – are on display at the Harvard University School of Medicine. Thanks to Phineas Gage and his frontal lobe, we now know what happens when the brain doesn’t get the chance to develop properly, or when it’s damaged by an injury or a substance.

“ HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAID THAT HE DIDN’T EVEN SEEM LIKE THE SAME PERSON.

COPING TOOLS: DEALING WITH STRESS

Getting through life’s day-to-day challenges can be hard. Everybody develops what we call “coping tools” to deal with them. Substances like cannabis and alcohol are coping tools — but there are other, healthier alternatives:

WHAT ARE COPING TOOLS?

A coping tool is anything that we use to help us deal with stress. Everybody has different coping tools. They can include almost any activity, like exercise, counseling, yoga, playing games, venting to friends, or substance use.

Some coping tools, like exercise, are healthier than others, such as drinking alcohol. Using substances is a very common coping tool, but it isn’t necessarily the best or healthiest choice in the long term.

NO JUDGEMENT: we all have more and less healthy ways that we cope with life's ups and downs. It’s good to balance your less healthy coping skills with healthier ones. You don’t want to have only one thing to help you feel better, or to get you through a tough time. List your own coping tools, and look back at it when you’re having a rough day to remind yourself of all the ways you can make yourself feel better.

LIST YOUR COPING TOOLS:

DISCUSSION:

What are some coping tools you use?

What are some coping tools you have seen other people use?

Some coping tools are healthier than others. Look at these examples of coping mechanisms, and rank them from 1 (really not healthy) to 15 (very healthy).

Crying to a close friend

Drinking a beer

Drinking a case of beer

Going for a run

Running for 6 hours a day every day for a week

Taking a bath

Doing yoga & meditation

Smoking a joint alone

Smoking a joint with friends

Taking your dog for walk

Doing your favorite sport

Overeating

Binge watching Netflix

Cooking a new recipe

Talking with an elder

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