Attitudes about drugs and alcohol are initially formed in the home and are later strongly influenced by teachers and peers. Education paired with skill building can have a role in delaying onset of first use by providing students with credible information about drugs and alcohol and building skills to manage the many influences placed on young people. 

Research demonstrates delayed onset of drug and alcohol use is vital to healthy brain development and good mental health. Education on drug and alcohol prevention ideally begins just prior to the average age of onset of use (shown to be between Grade 7 and 9).

Educating students on why they should delay the onset of substance use is imperative for the developing brain. The teen brain continues to be ‘rewired’ and as a result is more vulnerable to the negative effects of drugs and alcohol. Teenagers are more likely to act impulsively when faced with stressful or emotional decisions sometimes resulting in risky behaviour. Educators play a key role in healthy student development.

Youth identify that they use drugs and alcohol for the same reasons that adults do: to enhance their social experience, and to cope with stress and mental health issues.

For stats and details on Ontario Student Drug Use – Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS)

Whole School Approaches 

A healthy school includes activities that aim to prevent the early onset of substance use. Consider the following activities as part of your health and well-being action plan:

Create a Substance Use Prevention Policy

• Raise awareness with staff, students, and families about policies and/or codes of conduct related to substance use.

Raise Awareness:

• Plan and participate in activities to raise awareness about substance use and addictions such as National Addictions Awareness Week (3rd Week of November).

Promote a Supportive School Environment

• Take an asset-building approach to promote thriving behaviours and reduce risk-taking behaviours (such as substance use) among students, using the Developmental Assets ® and Developmental Relationships ® frameworks. 

Enlist the Support of Community Partners:

• Enlist the support of your Public Health Nurse and other community partners (such as police, community mental health agencies, etc.) in planning and implementing Healthy Schools initiatives.

Refer to these resources for more ideas to help with creating your school action plan:

• Cannabis School Action Plan
• Opioids and Other Drugs School Action Plan

Teaching and Learning 

Using credible resources and activities that align with Ontario curriculum can help students develop age-appropriate knowledge, learn new skills and make informed decisions to improve their health. Below are some examples that can help with teaching and learning related to substance use prevention including alcohol cannabis, opioids, and other drugs:

• Ophea H&PE Curriculum Lesson Plans - Grades 1 - 8 and Grades 9-12. Includes lesson plans, supplements and activities designed to reflect the requirements of the Ontario Health and Physical Education curriculum. 
• School Mental Health Ontario - Youth Substance Use Resources for Educators 
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) - Grades 1 - 8 and Grades 9-12. CAMH provides information and a variety of resources and teaching strategies related to substance use. (CAMH).
• Cannabis School Action Plan
• Opioids and Other Drugs School Action Plan

Student Engagement 

There are many ways for students to engage in substance use prevention, such as:

• Establish a student-led committee to plan and organize school-wide initiatives.
• Help students build skills to recognize alcohol/substance-related influences and develop healthy decision-making and refusal skills (e.g. role play various scenarios).
• Create opportunities for  developing school connectedness by implementing programs similar to the ‘Come As You Are’ program based in Thunder Bay, ON. 
• Facilitate student learning about local community supports and services and involve students in planning creative approaches for sharing this information with the broader school community. 
• Start a student support group to raise awareness about the risks of impaired driving, such as Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID). 
• Encourage and organize activities that promote healthy living, including student leadership programs, intramurals, and clubs that appeal to a variety of interests.

Parent and Family Engagement

There are many ways for schools to engage parents, caregivers, and families in substance use prevention. Fore example, consider offering a parent education night to teach strategies for supporting youth with healthy decision making.

Visit Drug Free Kids Canada for a variety of parent resources and our Talk with Your Kids page.

Additional Resources:

• Connex Ontario
• Kids Help Phone
• Youth-VAST
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)

Contact Us