The fear of experiencing unpleasant feelings can be a big barrier for young people trying to reduce or better manage their use.

Exactly what you will experience when you reduce your use or don’t use for a while will depend on what you use, how much, how often and in what ways you use. Why you use, (or how your drug use helps you) is also important. 

For example if you use cannabis to deal with stress and tension then without cannabis these things may feel like they increase until you try out other strategies.

Some young people have no trouble reducing or stopping their drug use and even experience  better moods and have more energy. Other people find it more difficult-with less energy and more emotional problems like anxiety and trouble sleeping.