How Iceland Got Teens to Say No to Drugs, and How We Can Too | Aleethia Mackay | TEDxWinnipeg

Taking insights gleamed from Iceland’s focus on youth, High School Drug and Alcohol Counsellor Aleethia Mackay is helping change the lives of her students. By focusing on culture and empowerment to help curb substance use and abuse, Aleethia shares how we can all shape the future of our most vulnerable. Aleethia Mackay is a full time Addictions Counsellor at an alternative high school in the Winnipeg School Division. She works one on one with teenagers that have experienced trauma, and teenagers that are battling substance use and abuse. Since she can remember, Aleethia has always had a passion for working with youth of all ages, because she loves the tenacity and honesty they possess. Her style of counseling is guided on the idea that “I see you, I hear you, and what you say matters to me” regardless of one’s race, gender, or socioeconomic status. She believes in looking at the biological, psychological, and social aspects surrounding a teenager’s relationships with drugs and alcohol. Although she believes that addiction is a topic to be dealt with seriously, Aleethia also sees the value in counseling youth with with and exuberance. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at