Alcohol, tobacco, and other substances
Substances may be used for a variety of different reasons, including medical purposes, religious or ceremonial purposes, personal enjoyment, or to cope with stress or trauma.
Learn more about substance use:
- Substance use – Learn about getting help and talking to your loved ones about drugs.
- The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) – Information on various issues related to addiction and mental health.
- Drug Free Kids Canada – Information for parents and caregivers about talking to children about drugs.
Alcohol, also known as booze or liquor, is the most used drug in Ontario and Canada. Alcohol use is socially acceptable, but drinking any amount of alcohol has risks, especially for youth whose bodies and brains are still developing.
The effects of alcohol are different for everyone.
Short-term effects of alcohol use
- Impulsive behaviour
- Impaired judgement
- Aggressiveness
- Slowed reaction time
- Slurred speech
- Blurred vision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Impaired memory
- Injuries and blackouts
Long-term effects of alcohol use
- Heart problems
- Liver problems
- Digestive tract problems
- Cancer (breast, colon, pancreas)
- Anxiety and depression
- Infertility
More information
Canada's guidance on alcohol and health – Provides people living in Canada with important information to make informed and responsible decisions about alcohol use. This guidance, developed by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and funded by Health Canada, updates Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines.
Alcohol (CAMH) – Provides general information about alcohol and its effects on health.
Alcohol (Drug Free Kids Canada) – Provides information for parents about alcohol use among youth.
Tobacco is a plant that contains nicotine, which is an addictive drug. Tobacco can be consumed in different ways, for example, it can be smoked in tobacco cigarettes, smoked in loose form in hookahs, chewed, sniffed, and mixed with cannabis. Tobacco is legal in Canada, where it's distribution, manufacturing and marketing is controlled by government laws and regulations.
Learn more about tobacco and smoking:
- Smoking and vaping enforcement (including the Smoke Free Ontario Act) in Peel.
- Smoke-free Housing Ontario – Learn how to take action on second hand smoke and making your building smoke-free.
- Second-hand smoke – Get information about second hand smoke including making your home and car smoke-free.
- Support to quit smoking – Find support and resources to quit smoking.
Cannabis, also called marijuana, weed and pot, is a drug that comes from a plant. In October 2018, Canada legalized cannabis for recreational use and in October 2019, Canada legalized the production and sale of cannabis edibles, topicals and extracts.
Learn more about cannabis:
- Tobacco, cannabis, waterpipes, and vapour product enforcement in Peel Region.
- Cannabis in Canada – get the facts
- Health and safety resources for parents and caregivers
- Ontario mental health services for children and youth – Learn more about finding mental health support for children and youth 18 years or younger.
Science-based recommendations to enable people to reduce their health risks associated with cannabis use:
Vaping is inhaling an aerosol created by an electronic cigarette or other vaping device. These devices have cartridges filled with a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and chemicals. The liquid is heated into an aerosol, which the person inhales. Dried or liquid cannabis can also be vaped.
Risks of vaping
Health Canada has issued a warning for the public about the potential risk of pulmonary illness associated with vaping products. The warning states that:
- Non-smokers, pregnant women, and youth should not vape.
- If you do vape, avoid illegal or unregulated sources.
- For those who vape, monitor yourself for symptoms of pulmonary illness like cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain. See medical attention immediately if you develop symptoms.
Vaping to help stop smoking
There isn't enough evidence to support the use of e-cigarettes as a stop smoking aid.
Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have not approved vaping devices and products to be used as a stop smoking aid.
Current recommendations for quitting smoking include nicotine replacement therapy or prescription medications, along with behavioural support and counselling.
Learn more about vaping:
- Peel Outdoor No Smoking or No Vaping By-law.
- Not an experiment – Learn more about vaping for children and parents.
- Support to quit vaping
- Support to quit vaping (youth and young adults)
- About vaping
- Where you can't vape or smoke in Ontario
The issue of drug toxicity and overdose is most often associated with opioid use. Opioids are drugs used to treat pain. Not all opioids are harmful and can be prescribed by doctors. However, when drugs contain toxic substances, they can be harmful. Learn more about opioids.
All levels of government and local community organizations are part of ongoing efforts to save lives and reduce harms from opioids. In Peel, our local response includes the Peel Region Substance Strategy.
Harm reduction services
In partnership with community agencies, Peel Public Health provides access to naloxone and training and provides safer drug use materials and education.
Harm reduction helps reduce harmful health effects for people who use substances, including the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C, and prevent fatal overdoses.
Using Naloxone for an opioid overdose
Naloxone is a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid overdose and restore breathing within 2 to 5 minutes. Some local pharmacies carry naloxone kits. Find out where to get a free naloxone kit.
Watch how to administer naloxone.
Treatment
Our partners in the health sector are working to ensure access to effective addictions and mental health treatment services. Treatment services for opioid use disorder include:
- assessment
- support groups
- education
- counselling
- withdrawal management programs
Medications like methadone or suboxone can help with opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Access supports and services:
Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection for individuals who seek emergency help during an overdose.
The Act is intended to reduce fear of police attending overdose events and encourage people to help save a life and applies to anyone seeking emergency support during an overdose, including the person experiencing an overdose. The Act protects the person who seeks help, whether they stay or leave from the overdose scene before help arrives. The Act also protects anyone else who is at the scene when help arrives.