Substance Abuse among Youth in Canada: An Anti-oppressive Perspective Introduction There is considerable evidence that substance abuse among youth is a growing concern in Canada (Smye, Browne, Varcoe & Josewski, 2011; Leslie, 2008). Stigma, oppression and marginalization are closely linked to the social problem of substance abuse (Nelson, 2012; Room, 2005; Hyman 2005 & Reinarman, 2005 as cited in Graham, Young, Valach & Wood, 2007). My thesis statement for this essay is that, an anti-oppressive
their transition into primary school has the potential to influence their future attitudes to learning and in turn, their educational success. The terms ‘social and emotional wellbeing’ and ‘mental health’ will be used interchangeably throughout this essay, depending on the context, as most definitions of ‘mental health’ include the terms ‘social wellbeing’ and ‘emotional wellbeing’ (Weare, 2000). If a student’s social and