Resources for Health and Social Service Providers

A brief intervention by a health professional can have effects lasting up to a year. It can reduce the risks associated with drug use, including injuries, violence and chronic disease.

For more information about screening tools, check the following links:

• Canada's Lower Risk Cannabis Use Guidelines
• Information for Health Care Professionals: Cannabis and the cannabinoids
• Information for Health Care Practitioners - Medical Use of Cannabis
• Ontario Medical Association's Cannabis Resource Center
• Simplified Guideline for Prescribing Medical Cannabinoids in Primary Care
• The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids
• The Non-Medical Cannabis Resource For Primary Care Providers

Cannabis Resources for Educators

As an educator it is important to know about the impact legalization will have on schools and what information and supports are available to parents/guardians and students.

The following are resources that educators can use to support parents and guardians. They can help provide information about cannabis, cannabis legalization, risks, signs of a problem, how to help your child, and where to get more information and support. 

• Cannabis: What Parents/Guardians and Caregivers Need to Know
• Cannabis Talk Kit
• Cannabis: Important things to Know

Below are educator resources that can be used in the classroom to support students. These resources include information on how to support educators on early signs of mental health and addition problems, promote mental health and give tips on reducing the likelihood of students developing a substance use problem.

• Supporting Minds: An Educator's Guide to Promoting Students' Mental Health and Well-being
• School Mental Health ASSIST

Cannabis Resources for Workplaces

Consuming cannabis in the workplace is illegal, and will continue to be after legalization.

Employers (and supervisors):

• Need to know the rules for cannabis
• Will be required to address workplace hazards, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)

Employees and workers:

• Who are unable or unfit to work safely could be a hazard to themselves or to others in the workplace
• Have a duty to perform work safely and to report any hazards to their supervisor or employer under the OHSA

Information provided to you via this website does not constitute legal advice. To determine your rights and obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act, Cannabis Act and the Smoke-free Ontario Act and their regulations, please contact your legal counsel or refer to the legislation.

Resources

• Workplace Strategies: Risk of Impairment from Cannabis (PDF)
• Clearing the Haze: The Impacts of Marijuana in the Workplace (PDF)

Cannabis and Parenting

Cannabis may affect your ability to safely take care of your baby or child. It is important to be attentive as your child grows and develop. It is through your attentive relationship that your child learns and thrives. Always ensure there is someone available who is not using cannabis to take care of your child.

If you are using cannabis it can affect your parenting by:

• Altering your perception
• Slowing your reaction time
• Making you drowsy/sleepy

As a result:

• You may miss your child’s cues for hunger, comfort or attention
• You may not be able to make good decisions

Some things to think about if you are using cannabis while parenting is:

• Second-hand Smoke
• Cannabis can cause your child to become ill
• Cannabis can cause your child to become less alert

Keep your cannabis out of reach of children

• It is important to keep cannabis locked away
• Cannabis food products like brownies, cookies or candies can be tempting for children. Ensure they do not see them
• If your child consumes cannabis by accident, seek medical attention right away
• If you are growing cannabis, keep the door locked, and ensure your child does not have access to your plants
  • View our Cannabis and Health Effects page

Facts about Cannabis

Cannabis is illegal for anyone under the age of 19 to buy, use, posses or grow. Start the conversation about drugs (cannabis and others) with your kids. It is important because the bodies and brains of young people are still developing and cannabis can be harmful to them. Used regularly, cannabis can trigger changes and damage to the brain. Being open and talking often about drugs will help your kids make informed decisions.

Although most youth in Ontario do not use cannabis, even occasional use has its risks. It’s important to prevent kids from experimenting or initiating the use of cannabis.

• Early, frequent and ongoing use is linked with poor performance in school, lower grades and increased risk of dropping out
• Increased risk of mental health problems
• Using cannabis and other substances (e.g. tobacco, alcohol) at the same time can increase the chances of negative effects 

Have the Conversation

It is never too late to start the conversation:

• Spend time together doing the things you enjoy; it is a great time to talk with your kids about drugs
• Be a good role model. Avoid using alcohol or drugs to cope with stress and avoid making them seem glamorous or a way to have fun
• Model ways to have fun that does not involve alcohol and drugs
• Develop rules with your child about alcohol and drugs. Stay calm if the rules are broken. Tell them you care about them and want to make sure they are happy and healthy.
• Provide alcohol and drug-free events for your child and their friends
• Get to know your child's friends and their parents, and keep track of after school activities

Talking about Cannabis and Driving

Talk to your children early, openly and often about the effects of cannabis impaired driving. Your children understand drinking and driving is dangerous. Help them learn that cannabis impaired driving is too!

Cannabis reduces your ability to drive by impairing your:

• Memory
• Motor skills
• Balance and coordination
• Concentration and attention
• Judgement and decision making
• Reaction time

It is important to start the conversation with your children.

• Listen
• Be positive and supportive
• Don’t shame or lecture
• If they call for a ride home, help them arrive safely. No questions asked.
• Tell them not to drive with someone who is high
• Suggest delaying experimenting with cannabis to help them make informed decisions
• Be prepared with facts

Facts

• Driving high can double the risk of death and serious injury in a motor vehicle collision
• Two in five people have been a passenger with a cannabis impaired driver
• Drinking alcohol and using cannabis before driving increases the risk of getting into a collision.

Resources

• Cannabis Talk Kit
• Pot and Driving
• Video: The Call that Comes After

Unintentional Cannabis Poisoning in Children

When someone uses cannabis, they can experience impaired attention, decision-making, and memory which can increase the risk for unsafe storage and disposal of cannabis products.

Common signs of cannabis toxicity in children include (but are not limited to):

• A sudden onset of sleepiness or unresponsiveness
• Loss of muscle tone, muscle control and coordination
• Dilated pupils
• Fast and/or irregular heart beat
• Slow breathing

Unintentional cannabis poisoning in young children has been shown to increase significantly after legalization of cannabis.

Strategies to prevent unintended cannabis poisonings in children:

• Make sure you dispose of all unused cannabis and cannabis-related products.
• If you use cannabis by smoking or using it in vaporizers, use outside to avoid exposure to second-hand smoke and vape
• Use out of sight of children, particularly when using edible forms of cannabis
• Ensure your cannabis is kept in a child-resistant package and placed in a locked area out of reach and out of sight of children
• If you grow cannabis plants at home, create a dedicated grow space with controlled access (i.e., strong locks and other safeguards such as an alarm)
• If you think a child has eaten cannabis or products that contain cannabis seek medical attention right away.

To report a poisoning or for information, please call the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017

Where to Get Help

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, there are many resources and sources of support available.

Talk to your doctor about:

• your substance use
• the health risks associated with substance use
• ways to reduce your risks
• what resources may be available to you

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, there are many resources and sources of support available.

Local Supports and Resources

Mental Health: Mary Berglund Community Health Centre Hub, 807-934-2251

Addictions: Mary Berglund Community Health Centre Hub, 807-934-2251

Mental Health and Addictions: Dryden Regional Health Centre, 807-223-6678

Helplines

• ConnexOntario:1-866-531-2600
• Drug and Alcohol Helpline: 1-800-565-8603
• Mental Health Helpline: 1-866-531-2600
• Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-888-230-3505
• Cocaine Anonymous: 1-866-622-4636
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA): 1-888-811-3887

Additional Resources

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
  • Crack/Cocaine
  • Crystal Meth
  • Ecstasy
  • Fentanyl, Opioids, Oxycontin
  • Hallucinogens
  • Heroin
  • Marijuana and Hash
  • Methadone
• Drug Free Kids Canada
• Ontario Students against Drunk Driving
• Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (CAMH)
• Parent Action on Drugs
• Strategies for Parents to Prevent Underage Drinking