The Alcohol and Drug Foundation is encouraging people to get the facts on drugs with the launch of a free, online, interactive tool called the 'Drug Wheel'.
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Dubbo Headspace coordinator Amy Mines said it's essential Dubbo youth and parents know about drugs and alcohol, because "having knowledge is having power."
"It's normal for any young person to become inquisitive and try things," Ms Mines said.
"This is where drugs and alcohol come into play, and therefore rather than burying our heads in the sand, we must acknowledge this stage in our young people's lives and have the facts to be able to educate them of the effects alcohol and drugs have so they can make educated decisions.
"The more open we are about this subject, peers that have lived through the experience and stories from them, the more likely someone is to be swayed in their decision".
"People can turn to drugs and alcohol through many different reasons, peer pressure and growing from a child to an adult, and even be a way to cope with the stresses of life.
"There needs to be a balance between education around drugs and alcohol and what effect they have on people, why people may choose to take them, what are people struggling to cope with, what is overwhelming them in their life, what other healthier strategies can they learn about to lessen the dependency of drugs and alcohol.
"This usually comes from early interventions as well as looking at ourselves as role models."
For information or support, people can visit www.adf.org.au.
