Today’s kids are faced with difficult choices, enormous peer pressure, and have easier access to drugs and alcohol than at any other time in history.  The impact of drug and alcohol use can be devastating. In fact, the greatest risk of harm to teens that exists today is that of injury or death resulting from the use of drugs and alcohol.  Research collected from several sources including Health Canada, Vancouver Coastal Health, Canadian Addiction Survey, and the McCreary Centre Society indicates:

• 40% of Canadian youth aged 15 to 19 have used marijuana.
• 21% of Vancouver’s youth aged 16 to 25 drink alcohol once a week or more.
• Youth who use alcohol and marijuana are more likely to engage in risky behaviour such as unsafe sex and drinking and driving.
• Many youth who use alcohol or drugs see a drop in their marks. They also become less motivated and more likely to drop out of school.
• Youth who use alcohol or drugs are three times more likely to attempt suicide than non-using youth. 
• 26.7% of Canadian youth aged 15 to 19 report smoking cigarettes at least occasionally.
• Youth who smoke cigarettes are more likely than those who do not smoke to use, abuse, and become dependent on other illicit substances.
• Last year’s highly publicized deaths of two lower mainland teenage girls, thought to be linked to Ecstasy, brought home the ultimate cost of teen drug use.
• Gang violence and youth involvement has risen sharply in recent years.