Urgent Help

Is this an emergency?

Are you or others in danger? Do you need an ambulance or the police?

24 hour phone line for crisis support and suicide prevention.

24 hour phone line. A free counselling service for young people across Australia aged between 5-25 years.

24 hour phone line for support, information and advice.

Self help options

Self help options

Will I have withdrawals if I reduce or don’t use?

Share

Print + Download

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.

Some young people have no trouble reducing or stopping their drug use

It can be difficult to tell whether what you experience is a result of withdrawal symptoms from a particular drug or because of the changes you are making to your lifestyle and routine. Regardless, there are things you can do do to make both easier.

Need to know more? Talk to YoDAA if you want more help understanding what you might experience if you reduce of stop using.

It takes courage to change. Remember you are not alone & other young people have been in your shoes.

Get help now

YoDAA is a free and confidential online and phone service that offers supports to young people, families and professionals. You can contact 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

Further Reading

Setting a goal for your drug use

Staying as safe as you can

What will not using or reducing my use feel like?

Looking after yourself when you’re using

Related Articles

Duty of Care

If we become concerned about your safety (or anyone else’s) during a chat or phone session or because of the contents of an email, we will always do our best to make sure you and/or others are safe.

If we become concerned about your safety (or anyone else’s) during a chat or phone session or because of the contents of an email, we will always do our best to…

Not sure what I want to do

Top tips for staying safe

Staying safe is the most important thing. That starts with knowing what you are taking! Ask and research everything you can about a drug. Do your research. Where possible, know what you are taking, What are its effects, how long will they last, does it have side effects?

Staying safe is the most important thing. That starts with knowing what you are taking! Ask and research everything you can about a drug. Do your research. Where possible, know what…

Not sure what I want to do

Reasons drugs can become a problem

There are many reasons drug or alcohol use can become a problem for someone but it’s always something more than just ‘bad luck’.

There are many reasons drug or alcohol use can become a problem for someone but it’s always something more than just ‘bad luck’.

Drug fact

Cocaine

Cocaine is a stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant. It comes in a white powder. It speeds up the messages from your brain to your body and increases your heart and breathing rate. It’s mostly snorted but it can be injected.

Cocaine is a stimulant drug made from the leaves of the coca plant. It comes in a white powder. It speeds up the messages from your brain to your body…

Drug fact

Ecstasy

Ecstasy, or methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is a stimulant drug. It’s often used at dance parties. Ecstasy comes as tablets or pills in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. Pills are often imprinted with logos. It can also come as powder or even liquid.

Ecstasy, or methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), is a stimulant drug. It’s often used at dance parties. Ecstasy comes as tablets or pills in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours. Pills are…

Drug fact

Ice (Methamphetamines)

Ice is a stimulant which means it makes you feel really energetic and up. It comes as shards of crystal, often with different colours through it, and can be smoked, swallowed, snorted, injected or inserted anally (known as ‘shafting’ or ‘shelving’).

Ice is a stimulant which means it makes you feel really energetic and up. It comes as shards of crystal, often with different colours through it, and can be smoked,…