The next time you bring your child to the hospital, they could be asked if they use drugs or alcohol as part of new national guidelines announced this week. The recommendations published by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction from doctors across Canada, including at CHEO, advise screening kids 10 and older for substance use concerns regardless of the reason for their hospital visit. “When you talk to an adult who has difficulties with substance use or addiction, 90 per cent of adults will say that their substance use concerns and their substance use started before the age of 18,” said Dr. Tea Rosic, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at CHEO. “There’s plenty of research to suggest and support that, so we know that this is something that develops into adolescence and that means that it’s a critical time for early detection and early intervention.” The most recent Canadian Student Alcohol and Drugs survey found 22 per cent of students in grades 7 to 12 reported drinking alcohol, 15 per cent reported vaping and 12 per cent used cannabis. “If somebody is anxious and they’re also using nicotine, and maybe they’re also using another stimulant, that’s absolutely going to worsen their symptoms,” said Dr. Karen Leslie from the Hospital for Sick Children. “There needs to be that screening to say, are you using these substances? Here’s why we’re asking you, because we want to make sure that we’re giving you the best care and that you know how substance use might be impacting your health condition or the care that you’re receiving.” The guidelines say all youth should be provided education on substance use starting as early as possible and those reporting substance use should be offered education and opportunities to discuss it. Doctors say the goal is to intervene early and provide support to kids who need it. What that looks like would be developed in partnership with the young person and their family. “We can provide medications to help stop using substances or manage withdrawal symptoms. We can provide behavioral therapies or counseling to support both caregivers and the young person,” said Rosic on some of the options available. Doctors also hope this will reduce stigma in the face of a worsening overdose crisis. “The people that are dying, and the people in their teens and their young 20s, they were kids 10 years ago and I think it’s a really important lesson that if we’re making those early interventions for folks, we could actually change that trajectory in a really real way,” said Dr. Alexander Caudarella, CEO of the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. A number of resources are available including 1Call1Click.ca.
