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Drug + Alcohol Info

Essential information for families and carers

Alcohol & Drug Information

Young people and medical cannabis

Recently we’ve heard at YoDAA that young people have been talking about the new laws that allow for use of medicinal cannabis for medical purposes. There has been some confusion around the legality of cannabis. ...

Drug Facts

DXM- Fast facts for families.

DXM causes ‘Woozy’ and detached feelings, a loss of motor control like alcohol and hallucinations leading to good or bad trips....

Understanding how to help

Drug Tests – How and Why?

Tests that claim to show weather or not a young person has been using drugs are a tempting option for family members concerned about a persons behaviour. But are drug tests everything they are cracked up to be? ...

Understanding Youth Drug & Alcohol Use

Is it the power of ice that causes all the problems?

Ice is an evil drug that causes addiction, ruins lives and wreaks havoc in the community. If you are personally struggling with the impacts of ice use in your family then this would ring true. But is this the full story?...

Understanding Youth Drug & Alcohol Use

Ice-understanding how it works

Ice is one form of methamphetamine. Using ice causes a surge in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters that are vital to the normal healthy function of the human brain with each responsible for regulating different functions....

Understanding Youth Drug & Alcohol Use

Understanding Psychosis

Worried that your loved one is at risk of psychosis? Here's what to look out for and how to help them....

Drug Facts

Ketamine-Fast facts for families

Ketamine causes ‘Floaty’ and detached feelings, physical inability to move, and hallucinations leading to good or bad trips. Large doses can exacerbate mental health problems...

Drug Facts

GHB/ GBL-Fast facts for families

If a young person uses a small amount of GHB they may appear in a similar state to if they had used alcohol. They may be in a state of euphoria, be less inhibited or even be sleepy. ...

Drug Facts

LSD (Acid)-Fast facts for families

A young person who has used LSD will usually have a distorted sense of reality since LSD alters a person’s perceptions. This could include visual and auditory hallucinations. ...

Drug Facts

Tobacco-Fast facts for families

The most tell-tale sign that someone has recently used tobacco is the lingering smell of smoke on hair, clothing, breath and hands....

Drug Facts

Synthetic drugs-Fast facts for families

Like fashion trends, synthetic drugs may seem popular one day then out of flavour the next....

Drug Facts

Synthetic cannabis-Fast facts for families

A young person who has used synthetic cannabis may appear talkative and giggly with excessive hunger or withdrawn and relaxed. They may have decreased concentration and slower reaction times....

Drug Facts

Opiate painkillers-Fast facts for families

Opiates give powerful relief to physical and emotional pain. Signs that someone has used recently include feelings of wellbeing, relaxation and sleepiness...

Drug Facts

Magic mushrooms-Fast facts for families

A young person using mushrooms may have an altered sense of reality, time and space....

Drug Facts

Inhalants-Fast facts for families

Many inhalants are household products. Volatile substances, aerosols, gases, and nitrates, can all be inhaled....

Drug Facts

Ecstasy-Fast facts for families

A young person who has recently used ecstasy may display increased energy, happiness, alertness and be super chatty, optimistic and affectionate....

Drug Facts

Cocaine-Fast facts for families

Cocaine causes a burst of alertness, feelings of well-being and euphoria which could include enthusiastic talking. ...

Drug Facts

Buprenorphine-Fast facts for families

A young person who is using non-prescribed buprenorphine may appear sleepy with small pupils and slurred speech and movements...

Drug Facts

Benzodiazepines-Fast facts for families

Signs of recent Benzodiazepine use include calmness, relaxation and sleepiness, decreased anxiety and enlarged pupils. ...

Drug Facts

Alcohol - fast facts for families

Tell-tale signs of recent alcohol use are confidence, reduced inhibitions, drowsiness, unsteadiness, slurred speech and the smell of alcohol. ...

Understanding Youth Drug & Alcohol Use

Why do young people use drugs?

Young people use drugs for all sorts of different reasons. As carers, it helps to understand that there is almost always some function and meaning for a young person. ...

Understanding Youth Drug & Alcohol Use

Will they develop a problem or addiction?

Many young people try drugs or alcohol at some stage in their adolescence but for most they never develop problems. The thought that someone you care about and love might develop a drug problem can be distressing....

Getting support for myself

Family support programs

We recognise it can be hard for young people to access services, but we don’t often talk about that fact that it can be equally difficult for families to get help for themselves or be willing to be involved in a young person’s treatment....

Understanding Youth Drug & Alcohol Use

Why do drugs become a problem?

No one ever chooses to have a drug problem. Likewise when drug or alcohol use becomes a problem for a young person it’s always something more than just ‘bad luck’....

Getting support for myself

Self care

Being there for a young person who has alcohol or other drug issues is a long road. Worry, frustration, anger, disappointment and guilt are all normal emotions that a loved one may experience – and they are all draining....

Drug Facts

Ice - Fast facts for families

Ice is an illegal stimulant, meaning it is designed to ‘hype up’ rather than ‘calm down’ a person who is using it....

Drug Facts

Heroin - Fast facts for families

Heroin is an illegal substance that is extracted from the opium poppy. It is in the same family of drugs as the pain killing medication morphine....

Understanding Youth Drug & Alcohol Use

Helping Young People to Change

….A small dry seed sits on a window sill. Surrounded by sunlight it knows it wants to become something more than a shrived dry seed and so every day it wills itself to grow…. ...

Drug Facts

Cannabis - Fast facts for families

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia and is the most commonly used drug by young people accessing support services....

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My mum is always ringing my worker. What can they tell her?

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