Think Ahead - harmful substance use and the brain

This resource aims to increase awareness about the impact of harmful substance use on the brain.

It urges readers to Think Ahead about the future of their brain health and to recognise that current actions can have consequences in the future.

The resource aims to:

  • provide an overview of how the brain works and what happens in the case of dementia
  • explore how drugs affect the brain and the consequences they can have in the longer term
  • provide links and details to find further information on the topic

In this resource, the term ‘harmful substances’ refers to non-prescription substances such as alcohol, tobacco, inhalants and illicit drugs that are taken to alter mood, cognition and behaviour.