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Help Phone Lines

If you are in need of immediate help, call 9-1-1.

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Call if you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including thoughts of suicide.

310 Mental Health Support

310-6789 (NO AREA CODE)

Call for emotional support, information and resources specific to mental health.

KUU-US Crisis Response Service

1-800-588-8717

Call for culturally-aware crisis support for Indigenous peoples in B.C.

Wellbeing

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  • Wellbeing
    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
      • Staying Active
      • Sleep Habits
      • Mindfulness
    • Emotional
      • Resilience
      • Self-Esteem
      • Loneliness
    • Social
      • Stigma
      • Family
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    What is Mindfulness?

    You can use mindfulness every day. It’s a tool you can use at any time. It helps you slow down, accept things as they are, cope well with problems, and simply appreciate what’s in your life right now.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
    • Stress
      • Symptoms of Stress
      • Managing Stress
    • Seeking Help
      • Families Supporting Youth
      • Youth Supporting Themselves
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
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    Man sits on couch, looking at smart phone

    Getting Help for Depression

    At first, you may find depression hard to notice in yourself or someone else. Learn what you can do if you are experiencing depression.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
      • Stimulants
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
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    two men stand together outside

    StopOverdose BC

    The stigma around addiction makes it harder to ask for help. Make the connection. Have the conversation. Stop the stigma.

    Learn more

Main navigation

  • Wellbeing
    • Healthy Living
      • Eating Well
      • Staying Active
      • Sleep Habits
      • Mindfulness
    • Emotional
      • Resilience
      • Self-Esteem
      • Loneliness
    • Social
      • Stigma
      • Family
    Image
    Woman outside looking off to the right

    What is Mindfulness?

    You can use mindfulness every day. It’s a tool you can use at any time. It helps you slow down, accept things as they are, cope well with problems, and simply appreciate what’s in your life right now.

    Learn more
  • Mental health
    • Anxiety
      • What to Do About Anxiety
      • Panic Attacks
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
    • Depression
      • Symptoms of Depression
      • What to Do About Depression
    • Stress
      • Symptoms of Stress
      • Managing Stress
    • Self-Harm
    • Suicide
    • Seeking Help
      • Families Supporting Youth
      • Youth Supporting Themselves
    Image
    Man sits on couch, looking at smart phone

    Getting Help for Depression

    At first, you may find depression hard to notice in yourself or someone else. Learn what you can do if you are experiencing depression.

    Learn more
  • Substance use
    • Types of Substance Use
      • Alcohol
      • Opioids
      • Stimulants
    • Addiction
      • Addiction and Health
      • Treatment and Recovery
    • Harm Reduction
      • Overdose Prevention
      • Naloxone
      • Drug Checking
    Image
    two men stand together outside

    StopOverdose BC

    The stigma around addiction makes it harder to ask for help. Make the connection. Have the conversation. Stop the stigma.

    Learn more

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Wellbeing

Substance Use

People have used substances throughout history. Substances can be both positive and negative.

Next Steps

Call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to get help finding services and to talk to a health services navigator or a registered nurse. You can call from anywhere in B.C. 24/7.

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Substance use

  • Types of Substance Use
    • Alcohol
    • Opioids
    • Stimulants
  • Addiction
    • Addiction and Health
    • Treatment and Recovery
  • Harm Reduction
    • Overdose Prevention
    • Naloxone
    • Drug Checking

Some substances are used as medicine, like prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Other examples of substances are coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis, and illegal drugs.

The term ‘substance use’ refers to the use of drugs or alcohol. There are varied levels of risk that come with using any substance.

Why do people use substances?

There are many different reasons; someone may use alcohol to wind down at the end of a busy week. Or someone who has been injured may use opioid medication to manage their pain.

Not all substance use is harmful – some people who use substances do not experience challenges. If alcohol or other drugs is causing harm to you or others, it could be a sign of a substance use challenge.

For those who struggle with substance use and addiction, it is often the result of circumstances, not personal choices. Addiction is a health condition.

It’s possible to experience mental health and substance use challenges at the same time. For example, someone dealing with stress, anxiety, depression or another mental health challenge may use alcohol or other drugs to cope with how they’re feeling. This is called a concurrent disorder.

Signs that substance use may be problematic

Even if you use substances occasionally, it is important to be aware that they can become a habit or affect your life, at any age.

The signs of a substance use challenge depend on the type you use and how that substance affects you. Substance use challenges can include the use of alcohol and other drugs. And substances affect people in different ways.

There are some signs that you may be experiencing a substance use challenge. Alcohol or other drug use may begin to affect your daily life and activities. You may physically or emotionally need substances to get you through your day.  Some other signs to watch for are:

  • With alcohol, you have blackouts; need to drink more to get the same effect; notice changes in your personality. You may deny that you are having a challenge.
  • With other drugs, you need more of the drug to feel “high” and take more of a drug over longer durations of time; you spend a lot of time trying to get the drug; you notice changes in your behaviour; you are moody or have problems sleeping.

Sometimes people are not aware they have become dependent on a substance until they experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using alcohol or other drugs.

Staying safer and finding support

Using substances in moderation and practicing harm reduction can help keep you safer.

If you are concerned about your substance use, or about someone you know:

  • Try a self-assessment tool to understand how substance use might be affecting your life.
  • Have courageous conversations – learn how to talk about substance use with loved ones.
  • Talk to your doctor or call 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information and help navigating services, or contact the Alcohol and Drug Information Referral Service.
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Types of Substance Use

Understanding what substances are, and how they can affect you, can help you stay mindful of your use.

Read more
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Addiction

There are many different types of addiction. People can become addicted to alcohol or other drugs, and behaviours.

Read more
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Harm Reduction

Many activities in life involve some level of risk, but there are ways to reduce the harm that can come to you when doing these activities.

Read more

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Emergency Contact Information

Call 9-1-1 if you are in an emergency. For mental health support, call:

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Mental Health Support Line

310-6789 (no area code needed)

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Emergency Contacts

Crisis Line

1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

Mental Health Support

310-6789