- Definition
Problematic substance use means using drugs or alcohol in ways that are risky or harmful to a person's health, safety, or life, or to others around them. This includes using substances illegally, against medical advice, or so often that it causes serious problems.
Someone who drinks alcohol at parties and as a result starts missing school or fighting with family is showing problematic use.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Problematic substance use means using a substance in a way that begins to harm a person's health, relationships, learning, or daily life.
Ask your child: Who are trusted adults or health professionals a person can talk to if substance use is causing problems?
Common mix-up: This term can include legal or illegal substances. It is not a label for a person; it describes a situation where support may be needed. Gaming can be a separate concern, but it is not substance use.
Examples
- A student who vapes regularly and finds it's hurting their performance on the school sports team.
- Using cannabis to cope with stress, which then leads to avoiding friends and falling behind in school.
problematic substance use is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
