The Drug & Alcohol Crisis Teens Aren't Talking About (But Should Be)

Cotton candy vapes. Cough syrup. Household cleaners. The substances teens are using might surprise you, and so will how easy they are to access. In this episode, Lily, Rachel, Jasmine, Violet, and Jacob dig into teen drug and alcohol use in Canada and beyond: the legal ages, the actual ages, and why there's such a dangerous gap between the two.They cover the short and long-term effects of drugs and alcohol on developing brains, how vape companies have deliberately marketed to teenagers through flavours, influencers, and social media, and why gateway behaviours like TikTok addiction are more connected to substance use than most people realize. They also get into the global picture, spotlighting countries that criminalize drug use versus those that have decriminalized it, and what that means for young people.This isn't a "just say no" episode. It's a real conversation. Because the best way to de-stigmatize something is to talk about it.Learn the past. Build the future.We are UNiFY.Got an idea for an episode? Let us know here: https://unify-podcast.ca/