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"At Foundations Recovery Network, we utilize evidence-based practices to meet each person's individual needs with a unique and personalized program. We know how to strike the balance between solid, lasting sobriety while meeting the behavioral and mood disturbance needs that often cause relapse with a compassionate, flexible approach."
- Rob Waggener, CEO
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Canadian Teens and Alcohol
 It's the most popular illicit substance among teens, but who is doing what and at how early of an age?
Alcohol is the psychoactive substance most commonly used by Canadian youth, with 90.8 percent of youth having used alcohol in their lifetime and 82.9 percent having used alcohol in the past 12 months, according to The Canadian Addiction Survey. The study, published by the authority of the Minister of Health, tracks substance abuse by Canadian youth.
STATISTICS OF TEENS USING ALCOHOL
The average age at which adolescents first started drinking was 15.6 years. This stat is particularly important because the age of alcohol initiation has been linked to an increased risk for the development of alcohol disorders and other problems later in life.
Of the 82.9 percent who chose to partake in the past year, more than one-third (36.9 percent) reported doing so at least once a week, and 33.7 percent say they consumed five or more drinks per typical drinking occasion.
One bright spot in the study is that the most common drinking pattern among youth is light/infrequent (38.7 percent). Unfortunately, 13.8 percent of past-year drinkers reported heavy drinking at least once a week and 46.0 percent say they did so at least once a month.
While many teens feel invincible, adolescents have a higher rate of harm than the general population from their drinking. The risk of reported lifetime harm is 33.7 percent versus 24.2 percent for the average population. Meanwhile, the risk of harm in the past year is 21.8 percent versus 8.8 percent for the general population.
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