For Parents and Adults
Parents, caregivers, and caring adults play a critical role in the lives of young people. Here’s how you can help.
How Can Crossing Bridges Help Me?
If you’re an adult looking for support to help your child or a young person with their addiction or substance use, you can meet with one of our Addictions Counsellors for a free, one-time virtual consultation.
During the one-time, 30-minute consultation, you can:
- Describe what concerns you have about a young person’s addiction or substance use
- Ask questions about how you can support a young person with their addiction or substance use
- Learn what services and resources are available for young people and families struggling with addiction or substance use
This consultation is for parents and adults seeking to support a young person. For addictions programs and services for adults, please see the resources section further down on this page.
What Can I Do if I Think a Young Person Has an Addiction?
Be a Positive Role Model – It’s important to be aware of your own substance use and behaviour and mindful of how your use or behaviour might impact your child or a young person you care for. Try to model healthy coping skills to the young person in your life and invite them to join in and try the coping strategies with you. It’s also important to role model positive boundaries. Follow through with established limits that are set and try to encourage the responsibilities you want the young person to follow. Try to avoid taking action for the young person and instead try doing actions with them.
Ask for Permission Before Starting the Conversation – Before starting an important conversation with a young person, try asking, “Is now a good time to talk?” Try to stay calm when discussing substance use or problematic behaviour with your child or a young person you care for. Create a safe space where they can speak to you without feeling judgement. Try setting aside “judgement-free times” where you and the young person can speak openly without the young person being afraid of repercussions.
Listen to the Young Person’s Perspective – Try to listen to the young person’s perspective, even when it may be different from your own, and seek to understand their experiences. Addiction is complex and seeking clarification by asking questions, reading materials, and talking to a professional can help you better understand what a young person might be experiencing and where they’re coming from.
Learn About Harm Reduction – While a young person may not be willing or able to completely stop using a substance or engaging in a behaviour, ask how they might be able to minimize risks related to using or the behaviour. For example, if they are choosing to drink alcohol at a friend’s party, encourage them not to drive and to make a plan for how they can stay safe.
Get Support – Look at and reach out to community and online resources. These resources may be able to offer support to both you and the young person you care for.
Use “I” Statements Whenever Possible – When talking with a young person about their substance use or a problematic behaviour, be mindful of your tone and use “I” statements to share how you feel and your own experiences. For example, if a young person says, “It’s not a big deal, everyone my age is doing it,” you might respond with, “I’m hearing you say you don’t think this behaviour is a big deal. I wonder if I can share some changes in your behaviour I’ve noticed and that make me concerned.”
What Addiction Programs and Services Can I Access?
If you’re looking for substance use and addictions services for yourself, CMHA Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health Services and CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services offer the following substance use and addiction services for adults.
- What Is It? Free, practical, and confidential services to anyone living in Huron and Perth Counties who have concerns about their own or someone else’s alcohol or drug use. Services offered include, but are not limited to:
- Assessment
- Information and support
- Individual counselling
- Family counselling
- Shared experience groups
- Referral to treatment services
- Referral to community services
- Who Offers It? CMHA Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health Services
- How Do I Access It? For more information or if you’re interested in the program:
- Call 1-877-218-0077
- Email support@choicesforchange.ca
- What Is It? A drop-in program where staff and volunteers who have lived experience with mental health and addiction recovery offer supportive listening and can help you connect to other resources if needed. This is a welcoming space for individual and group support and fun activities like movie nights, games, and crafts.
- Who Offers It? CMHA Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health Services
- How Do I Access It? The Peer Support Community Centre is located on the third floor of 10 Downie St. in Stratford, Ontario. You are invited to drop in Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm.
Other Services and Programs at CMHA Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health Services
CMHA Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health Services offers additional substance use and behavioural addiction related programs and services. You can find information and program details by visiting www.cmhahuronperth.com.
- What Is It? In-person and/or virtual counselling services designed to improve the health, social outcomes, and quality of life for people with substance use concerns, including tobacco use. You will be supported through screening, assessment, and treatment planning to work towards goals related to substance use. Group treatment supports are also available if appropriate.
- Who Offers It? CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
- How Do I Access It? To access this program, you can:
- Call 519-673-3242 ext. 222
- Email intake.addiction@cmhatv.ca
- Come to the office at 200 Queen’s Ave., London, Ontario Monday – Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm or find your local office location at https://cmhatv.ca/
- What Is It? A group for anyone concerned about someone’s substance use, Internet use, gaming, or gambling. This group provides family members with a forum to discuss successes and challenges in coping with their loved ones’ addiction, healthy ways to support loved ones, and how to navigate the addiction treatment system. Family Group is held on the 3rd and 4th Monday of every month from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.
- Who Offers It? CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
- How Do I Access It? Call 519-673-3242 ext. 222 to register, as space is limited
- What Is It? The Program Guide provides more information about a range of mental health and addiction programs offered by CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services for youth and adults aged 16 years or older. Programming may be virtual or on site in London, Middlesex County, Elgin County, or Oxford County.
- Who Offers It? CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
- How Do I Access It?
- To access the Program Guide, go to cmhamiddlesex.ca/services/program-guide/
- Follow the instructions provided in the guide to register online or by phone
Other Services and Programs at CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services also provides a variety of additional substance use and behavioural addiction related programs and services. Below is a list of some of the services offered. Click on the program name to access the program page where you can learn more information.
- Back on Track
- Community Opioid Addiction Program
- Community Withdrawal Support Program
- Heartspace (pregnancy and parenting program)
- Housing Services
- Problem Gambling and Behavioural Addictions Program
- Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic
To learn more about other programs and services offered by CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services, go to https://cmhatv.ca/programs-services/.
Offices are located across London and Middlesex, including in Exeter, Goderich, Ingersoll, London, St. Thomas, Strathroy, Tillsonburg, and Woodstock.
Additional Resources for Parents and Adults
Below is a list of additional resources, programs, and services related to addiction, substance use, and mental health that may be helpful for parents, caregivers, and caring adults looking to support a young person.
- Find information about specific substances (e.g. alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, opioids, prescription drugs), substance use in Canada, gambling, treatment, support, and recovery options, Canadian and student drug use trends, and publications on a variety of topics.
- CAMH is Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital and a leading research centre. Their website provides educational information about mental health conditions and disorders, medication therapies, and substance use, research on a variety of topics, and information about their programs and services. Specific pages that may be of particular interest include:
- The Youth Addiction & Concurrent Disorders Service provided by CAMH
- Information about how to talk about and spot substance use
- The Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY) offered by CAMH
- What parents need to know about youth and prescription painkillers
- ConnexOntario provides free and confidential health services information for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness, or gambling by connecting them with services in their area.
- Drug Free Kids Canada supports parents to prevent and reduce harms of problematic drug use by youth through education, engagement, and empowerment. Find parent-focused tips, tools, and resources related to substance use prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery for youth.
- eMentalHealth.ca provides anonymous, confidential, and trustworthy information 24/7 about mental health and where to find help. Resources include a directory of mental health services and organizations, information sheets, screening tools, information about mental health events and the latest mental health news, and information about related research studies.
Parent Action on Drugs
- Access a toolkit with statistics, facts, and talking points about alcohol and other drugs that can help you talk with young people about substance use. You can also access parentactionpack.ca for more information about alcohol and drug use (e.g. risks, causes, prevention, and treatment).
Government of Canada
- This resources page provides tips for talking with young people about drugs, information about cannabis, information about prescription drugs, and resources to help with problematic substance use.
- Wellness Together Canada offers free mental health and substance use support for people in Canada and Canadians abroad. Services range from basic wellness information, to one-on-one sessions with a counsellor, to participating in a community of support.
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