CLASSICS REVISITED: When Do You Work on Use of Less-Dangerous Substances?CLASSICS REVISITED: When Do You Work on Use of Less-Dangerous Substances?
Coming Up for Air — Families Speak to Families about Addiction
Hosts discuss a family’s concern about daily cannabis use after opioids have been brought under control, using CRAFT and harm reduction principles to frame the issue. The conversation focuses on functional analysis, subtle changes in family behaviour, and deciding when substance use has become a real problem.
26:33•26 Jun 2026
Is It Time to Worry About the Weed? Harm Reduction for Families
Episode Overview
- Work on one substance at a time, prioritising the most dangerous or harmful drug before turning to others like cannabis.
- Use functional analysis to map out triggers, patterns and consequences, rather than reacting purely to the presence of a substance.
- Check whether cannabis use is actually creating problems in daily life before deciding how strongly to address it.
- Apply CRAFT by quietly removing immediate rewards and allowing natural consequences when a loved one is clearly high, while offering warmth during more functional moments.
- Stay aware of high‑potency use such as dabbing, as it may significantly increase risks and affect motivation and mental health.
“The most important factor here is if there’s a problem, you address it from the problem situation, not the actual substance.”
Curious about how others manage multiple substances in a loved one’s life? This conversation from Coming Up for Air zooms in on a mum’s tough question: her young adult son has stopped using oxycodone and is now stable on Suboxone… but he smokes cannabis every day. Is it time to tackle the weed, too? Hosts Dominique Simone Levine, Laurie McDougall and Kayla Solomon walk through this dilemma using CRAFT and harm reduction, keeping things practical and gently honest.
As Laurie puts it, the goal is to understand “what are the internal triggers… and what are the external triggers as to why he is… smoking pot.” Kayla adds a key test for families: “The most important factor here is if there’s a problem, you address it from the problem situation, not the actual substance.” They also talk about different forms of cannabis, including high‑potency dabbing, and how that can raise the level of risk, especially around motivation and mental health.
They explain why, with a “multi‑drug user,” families are urged to focus first on “the most harmful, the most dangerous, the most problematic” substance, and why three months off opioids may still be a fragile stage. A big chunk of the chat centres on functional analysis – going back to CRAFT’s Module 3 questions to work out patterns, triggers and consequences.
Throughout, the trio keep returning to subtle CRAFT skills: quietly withdrawing rewards when someone is obviously high, allowing natural consequences, and saving warmth and connection for more functional moments. The tone stays supportive and slightly humorous, even while tackling heavy material. By the end, families get a clear picture of how to work on “one substance at a time,” keep reviewing what’s changed, and use small, consistent actions to support reduced use.
It’s a helpful listen if you’re wondering, “Is this cannabis use a problem yet, and what on earth do I do about it?”
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