Grade by Grade
D. Healthy Living · Healthy Living

Warning Signs: Problematic Substance Use, Gaming and Gambling

D1.3 A1.2 A1.6About 45 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can identify and describe the warning signs of problematic substance use and related behaviours, such as gaming and gambling.
  • I can describe the consequences that can occur, including those of cannabis use.
  • I can name where to get help in Ontario.

Words to know

substance
Something people take into their body that changes how the body or mind works, such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, opioids or caffeine.
problematic use
Use that causes harm to a person's health, relationships, school, money or safety.
addiction
A condition with craving, loss of control, using compulsively, and continuing even when it causes harm. It can involve substances or behaviours like gambling.
tolerance
Needing more of a substance (or more of an activity) to get the same effect.
withdrawal
Unpleasant physical or emotional effects when someone stops or cuts back.
THC
The chemical in cannabis that causes the "high" and affects the developing brain.
naloxone
A medicine that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. Free naloxone kits are available at many Ontario pharmacies.

Something's changed

Your friend used to love basketball. Now he skips practice, is always tired, has new friends you don't know, and snaps when you ask what's up. He's started vaping and says it's "no big deal." Is something wrong?

The Grade 8 curriculum asks you to identify and describe the warning signs of problematic substance use and related behaviours for a variety of activities and substances, including cannabis, and the consequences that can occur.

Remember from Grade 7

In Grade 7 you learned how mental health and substance use are connected, why cannabis is a special risk for the developing brain, and how the ripple effects of substances and behaviours like gaming and gambling reach families and communities. This year you'll learn to spot the warning signs that use is becoming a problem.

Use is on a continuum

Substance use and behaviours like gaming or gambling can be thought of on a continuum, from no use to addiction. Not everyone moves along it, but the further along someone goes, the more harm and the less control they have. For young people, no use is the healthiest place on this continuum for alcohol, cannabis, nicotine and other drugs, and most Ontario students your age choose not to use alcohol, cannabis or nicotine.

No useOccasionalRegularProblematicAddictionmore harm and less control →
A simplified continuum of use. Moving right means more harm and less control.
AreaWarning signs of problematic use
BehaviourSkipping school, practice or activities they used to love; secrecy and lying; new friend group; asking for or taking money; breaking family rules
Mood and mental healthIrritable, anxious, low or flat mood; big mood swings; defensive when asked
BodyTired, sleeping a lot more or less, red eyes, changes in appetite, coughing (vaping), smell of smoke or cannabis
School and responsibilitiesFalling grades, missed assignments, being late
Loss of controlUsing more or for longer than planned; failed tries to cut back; cravings; needing more for the same effect (tolerance); feeling sick or upset when stopping (withdrawal); keeping on even after problems happen
Warning signs of problematic substance use. One sign alone doesn't prove anything; look for patterns and changes.
Substance or behaviourPossible consequences, especially for teens
CannabisTHC affects the brain, which is still developing until about the mid-twenties: problems with memory, attention and learning; higher risk of anxiety, depression and psychosis, especially with early, frequent or high-THC use; can lead to cannabis use disorder. Edibles can take 30 minutes to 2 hours or more to take effect, so people sometimes take too much. Driving after using cannabis is impaired driving.
AlcoholPoor judgment, injuries, alcohol poisoning, harm to the developing brain
Nicotine (vaping, cigarettes)Nicotine is highly addictive; vaping can harm the lungs; withdrawal causes irritability and trouble concentrating
Opioids and unknown pillsStreet drugs and fake pills can contain fentanyl, which can cause a deadly overdose even in tiny amounts
GamingLosing control over time spent gaming; gaming comes before sleep, school, friends and family; continuing despite problems; spending money on loot boxes or in-game items
Gambling (including online betting and loot boxes)"Chasing losses" (betting more to win money back); borrowing or taking money; lying about it; stress and conflict at home. In Ontario you must be at least 18 to buy lottery tickets and 19 for casinos, online casino games and sports betting.
Consequences that can occur.

Where to get help in Ontario

  • ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600, free and confidential help finding addiction, mental health and gambling services, 24/7.
  • Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868, 24/7.
  • Ontario Poison Centre: 1-800-268-9017 if someone may have taken too much of something.
  • 911 for an emergency, such as someone who can't be woken up or isn't breathing normally.
  • A doctor, nurse practitioner, school counsellor or social worker.
Worked example

Let's look for warning signs

Back to the friend who stopped going to basketball: he skips practice, is always tired, has a new friend group, snaps when asked questions, and vapes every break. He says he tried to stop but "got headaches and felt awful."

  1. Behaviour: skipping something he loved; new friends.
  2. Mood: irritable and defensive.
  3. Body: always tired.
  4. Loss of control: vapes every break; tried to stop and felt awful (withdrawal), which suggests nicotine dependence.
  5. Pattern: several warning signs together, not just one.

There are several warning signs of problematic use, including signs of nicotine dependence. A good friend says what they've noticed, without judging, and encourages him to talk to a trusted adult or to call or text Kids Help Phone. You can also tell a trusted adult yourself.

Worked example

Let's spot a gaming problem

Ari (13) games until 3 a.m. on school nights, has spent birthday money on loot boxes without telling his parents, gets angry when asked to stop, and his grades are dropping.

  1. Loss of control: can't stop at bedtime.
  2. Priority: gaming before sleep and school.
  3. Continuing despite harm: grades dropping, conflict at home.
  4. Money and secrecy: loot boxes are gambling-like (paying for a random reward).

Ari shows warning signs of problematic gaming. Helpful steps: device out of the bedroom at night, time limits agreed together, no loot box spending, and talking with a counsellor if it doesn't improve.

Pay real moneyGet a randomrewardNot the prizeyou wanted"Just one more"to chase itLike betting:you don't knowwhat you'll get
Why loot boxes are gambling-like: you pay real money for a random reward, and missing the prize you wanted can pull you into paying again ("chasing").
Hands-on activity

Media detective: messages about substances and gaming

You need: a grown-up, a device or magazines, paper and a pencil.

  1. With your grown-up, look at two or three ads, posts or game screens about vaping, alcohol, sports betting or loot boxes. (Your grown-up chooses which ones.)
  2. For each, write: What is it selling? Who is the target audience? What feelings does it use (fun, belonging, winning)? What does it leave out (risks, cost, addiction)?
  3. Rewrite one message so it tells the whole truth.
  4. Talk with your grown-up: what warning signs would they want you to tell them about?

What to look for: noticing what's missing (risks) and naming feelings ads use. This builds critical thinking (A1.6).

Your turn

1

Name three warning signs of problematic substance use.

2

What is tolerance?

3

Give two possible consequences of cannabis use for teens.

4

Why are edibles risky even for adults?

5

Name two warning signs of problematic gaming.

6

What is the ConnexOntario number?

More practice: warm-up

1

True or false: one warning sign alone proves someone has a substance problem.

2

What is the legal age to buy cannabis in Ontario?

3

What medicine can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose?

4

What does "chasing losses" mean?

5

Which is the healthiest place on the continuum for teens and alcohol, cannabis or nicotine?

More practice: on your own

1

Explain why loot boxes are described as gambling-like.

2

Why can fake pills bought online or from friends be deadly?

3

How is withdrawal a warning sign of addiction?

4

A friend says, "Cannabis is natural, so it's safe." Respond with two facts.

5

What would you say to a friend you're worried about? Write two sentences.

Challenge

1

Explain how problematic substance use and mental health can affect each other. Give an example.

2

Compare the consequences of problematic gaming and problematic alcohol use. Name one similarity and one difference.

3

Someone at a party collapses and can't be woken up after taking a pill. List the steps you should take and explain why calling 911 is important.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which is a warning sign of problematic substance use?

2.

Tolerance means...

3.

Why is cannabis a special risk for teens?

4.

Which is a warning sign of problematic gaming?

5.

Which number connects people in Ontario to addiction, mental health and gambling services?

6.

What can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: This lesson covers the Grade 8 expectation to identify and describe the warning signs of problematic substance use and related behaviours for a variety of activities and substances, including cannabis, and the consequences that can occur (D1.3). It builds coping skills (A1.2) and critical thinking about media (A1.6).

Facts used: Legal ages in Ontario: 19 for alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and vaping products; 18 for lottery tickets; 19 for casinos, online casino games and sports betting (Ontario Lottery and Gaming). Free naloxone kits are available at participating Ontario pharmacies. Helplines: ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600; Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 / text CONNECT to 686868; Ontario Poison Centre 1-800-268-9017.

How to help at home:

  • Ask open questions: "What do kids at school say about vaping or betting apps?"
  • Set clear family expectations about substances, and explain your reasons.
  • Agree on gaming rules together: devices out of bedrooms at night, spending limits, no loot boxes.
  • If you're worried about your child, talk calmly, focus on the behaviour you've noticed, and contact your doctor or ConnexOntario.

Common difficulties: thinking one sign proves a problem; believing "natural" or "legal for adults" means safe for teens; not seeing gaming or gambling as related behaviours.