CPA supports Drug Free Kids Canada Cannabis Talk Kit

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CPA supports Drug Free Kids Canada Cannabis Talk Kit

—Ottawa, ON, October 24, 2017—

The Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) supports an information campaign led by Drug Free Kids Canada to assist parents in talking to their teenagers about the risks associated with cannabis. The Cannabis Talk Kit is a user-friendly guide that highlights the latest evidence on cannabis.

“The Cannabis Talk Kit allows parents to have candid conversations with their teenagers about the risks associated with taking drugs,” says Dr. Nachiketa Sinha, CPA president. While there are variations by jurisdiction, approximately 22.6% of youth aged 15 to 19 report using cannabis during the past year; of this group, 20.6% report daily or almost daily use.

“In a world where teenagers have an increasing number of choices before them, access to the most up- to-date information could allow them to make informed decisions about their health. Moreover, this guide is timely given the federal government’s intention to legalize cannabis by July 2018,” says Dr. Sinha.

The CPA is pleased to support the timely work of Drug Free Kids Canada and will distribute this information to its members. The kit also complements the CPA’s position statement, Implications of Cannabis Legalization on Youth and Young Adults, which was released in April 2017.

“We are very appreciative of the support from CPA on this initiative,” says Marc Paris, Executive Director of Drug Free Kids Canada. “We have been disseminating national multimedia drug education prevention campaigns targeting parents of teens for the past six years. With the help of Health Canada and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, we are providing parents with a great tool to both learn about cannabis and more importantly, how to talk to their kids about the risks of consuming a substance that can have a serious negative impact on their health.”

“Health Canada was pleased to collaborate with Drug Free Kids Canada on the Cannabis Talk Kit and welcomes the endorsement of this excellent tool by the Canadian Psychiatric Association. Public education is essential to our commitment to legalizing and strictly regulating cannabis,” says the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health. “Resources like this Talk Kit are critically important to supporting Canadian parents in engaging in conversations with their children on this important topic. I am pleased to see it being used broadly and supported by health professionals.”

DFKC Cannabis Talk Kit
CPA Position Statement

The Canadian Psychiatric Association is the national voice for Canada’s 5,200 psychiatrists and more than 900 psychiatric residents. Founded in 1951, the CPA is dedicated to promoting an environment that fosters excellence in the provision of clinical care, education and research.

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