Substance use and Addiction Prevention for Schools

• Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (external link)
  National leadership on substance use and to advance solutions to address alcohol and other drug-related harms.
• Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health (external link)
  Evidence-based advice to support making well-informed decisions about alcohol consumption.
  • Drinking Less is Better Poster (external link)
  • Drinking Less is Better – Youth Version Poster (external link)
• Canada’s Lower-risk Cannabis Use Guidelines (external link)
  Science-based recommendations to reduce health risks associated with cannabis use.
• Smoke-Free Ontario Act - Halton Region
  Information about the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) that regulates the sale, supply, display, promotion and smoking of tobacco and cannabis, as well the vaping of any substance.
• Substance Use - Government of Canada (external link)
  Information about substances, including tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and other drugs.
• Substance Use - Halton Region
  Information about substances, by-laws and smoking cessation.
• Substance Use Prevention and Teens - Halton Region
  Information about the effects of substances on teens, and helpful parenting strategies.

• Cannabis and Mental Health Mentor Guide (external link) Activities for educators that encourage conversation around mental health and substance use.
  • Mentor Guide Map (external link) – a list of activity resources including videos, songs, worksheets.
• Health Canada Experiences (external link)
  Resources that provide in-classroom experiences, modules and activities on substance use, vaping, cannabis and opioids.
  • Consider the Consequences of Vaping (external link)
    A self-led module, resources and activities to educate teens on the facts about vaping
  • Harms of Substance Use Stigma (external link)
    A stigma gallery to learn how stigma impacts people who use drugs
  • Know More Opioids (external link)
    In-class experience, resources and activities to provide teens and youth facts about opioid use
  • Pursue Your Passion (external link)
    In-class experience, lessons, and activities to increase awareness of the effects of cannabis use on the brain and mental health
• iMinds (external link)
  A resource developed for B.C.’s K-12 curriculum. Includes grade-specific teaching modules that develop drug and gambling literacy.
• Media Smarts - Canada’s Centre for Digital Media Literacy (external link)
  Lesson plans to support alcohol marketing curriculum.
• Not An Experiment (external link)
  A vaping prevention program with lesson plans, activities, announcements and posters for students in grades 7-12
• Ontario Road Safety Resource - CAA (external link)
  Lesson plans, laws and facts about impaired driving.
• Ophea (Ontario Physical Health Education Association) (external link):
  • Cannabis Education Resources (external link)
    Access to evidence-informed information on cannabis.
  • H&PE Elementary Resources (external link)
    Lesson plans, student templates and assessment tools to support the Ontario Health and Physical Education curriculum. Contact school board curriculum consultant for more information.
  • H&PE Secondary Resources (external link)
    Resource providing programs, services and articles related to tobacco, substance use and mental health. Teacher and student resources are available to support the Ontario Health and Physical Education curriculum. Contact school board curriculum consultant for more information.
  • Vaping Education Resources (external link)
    Capacity building tools to support students.
• Talking about… Series - Lung Health Foundation (external link)
  Educational activity guides that address cannabis, tobacco, and vaping.
• VIBED (Vaping Information for Better Educated Decisions) (external link)
  A youth-oriented vaping education workshop. The slides, materials, script, and interactive activities are provided to deliver the presentation.

• Blueprint for Action: Preventing substance-related harms among youth through a Comprehensive School Health approach (external link)
  Action plans and strategies at various levels of the Canadian education system to prevent substance-related harms among youth.
• Cannabis and schools - Ministry of Education (external link)
  Resources for educators related to cannabis and schools.
• Educators Guide – Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (external link)
  Guide and video modules to help educators understand substance use.
• Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act (external link)
  Information about some legal protection for individuals who seek emergency help during an overdose.
• MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) (external link)
  Support and educational programs to prevent drug and alcohol-related automobile crashes.
• Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) (external link)
  The longest running Canadian survey that shows trends in student substance use and mental and physical health.
• Pot + Driving Resource - Canadian Public Health Association (external link)
  A campaign to facilitate conversation and raise awareness about the risks associated with cannabis-impaired driving.
• Substance use and addiction - School Mental Health Ontario (external link)
  Substance use information for educators including resources, info sheets, and how to help students.
  • Youth Substance Use Resources for Educators (external link)
    Resources to support educators in their knowledge about substance use and the supports available for students.
• The Truth (external link)
  Facts and tools to make change related to smoking, vaping and opioids.
• Weed out the Risk (external link)
  An interactive educational program to inform youth about the risk associated with driving while under the influence of cannabis.
• Youth Advocates - Lung Health Foundation (external link)
  Digital Learning that introduces basic steps to creating effective health promotion campaigns.
• Youth Speak - Learn About Cannabis: For Youth By Youth (external link)
  Youth-led interactive presentation to help students understand the effects of cannabis.
• Youth Vaping Prevention Resources – Health Canada (external link)
  Posters, handouts, videos and social media images about vaping
• Vaping posters:
  • Hate to Burst Your Bubble: vape poster - Halton Region (PDF file)
  • Stop Vaping your way: poster - Not An Experiment (external PDF)
  • The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown: poster - Health Canada (external link)
  • Vaping can cause lung damage: poster - Health Canada (external link)
  • Vaping nicotine can alter teen brain development: poster - Health Canada (external link)
  • Vaping posters - Not An Experiment (external PDF)
  • Vaping - The Mechanics: infographic poster - Health Canada (external link)

For parents:

• Cannabis Talk Kit: Know How to Talk with your Teen (external link)
  Information for parents to help them know how to talk to their teens about cannabis.
• Drug Free Kids Canada (external link)
  Encourages and supports parents to prevent and reduce the harms of problematic drug use by youth.

• ADAPT (Halton Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Assessment Prevention and Treatment Services) (external link)
  Outpatient addiction, assessment and treatment services for people with drug, alcohol and gambling concerns.
• Alcoholics Anonymous (external link)
  Support services for individuals with an alcohol addiction.
• Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Halton and Hamilton (external link)
  Mentoring programs for children to meet the emotional, physical, and social needs of girls and boys in our community.
• CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) (external link)
  Information on mental health and addictions, substance use prevention programs, and clinical services.
• ConnexOntario (external link)
  Service information for people experiencing problems with gambling, drugs, alcohol, or mental health. System navigation specialists answer all calls, emails or web chat requests 24/7.
• Narcotics Anonymous (external link)
  Support services for people with substance addictions.
• Quash - Lung Health Foundation (external link)
  An app to help quit smoking or vaping.
• ROCK (Reach Out Centre for Kids) (external link)
  A child and youth mental health agency providing several programs and services to individuals and families, including walk-in clinics.