Substance Use & Addictions

• Alternatives for Youth provide presentations on a range of topics around substance use.
• Book a classroom presentation through Weed out the Risk to discuss road safety risks associated with driving while under the influence of marijuana
• The a to z: Substance Use module can be navigated individually or in groups by students aged 14-16, or facilitated in the classroom. Includes facilitator guide and activity ideas.
• Use interactive tools created in collaboration with youth from mindyourmind such as Getting High? A tool that guides students through questions to consider when choosing whether to take a substance and Be Safe, a tool that allows the user to create a digital safety plan.
• Use low–risk cannabis guidelines from CAMH to enhance understanding of how to reduce health risks associated with cannabis use
• Use the CPHA pot and driving toolkit with discussion guide and questions for teenagers
• Use low-risk drinking guidelines from CCSA to enhance understanding of how to reduce health risks associated with alcohol use
• Access lesson plans from:
  • iMinds to support drug literacy for grades 4 to 12
  • SACY Fentanyl-related resources and support for the classroom grades 6-11 
  • Project Alert to support grades 7 - 8, including online training for teachers, posters and videos.
  • RCMP Illegal Drugs to support grades 7-8 substance misuse curriculum.
  • Explore resources for teachers and parents from the Ministry of Education

Alcohol specific resources

• Access lesson plans from Media Smarts to support grades 4 - 11 alcohol misuse curriculum
• Use low-risk drinking guidelines from CCSA to enhance understanding of how to reduce health risks associated with alcohol use

Cannabis specific resources

• School Mental Health Ontario – Cannabis: What Educators Need to Know
• Book a classroom presentation through Weed out the Risk to discuss road safety risks associated with driving while under the influence of marijuana
• Use low–risk cannabis guidelines from CAMH to enhance understanding of how to reduce health risks associated with cannabis use
• Use the CPHA pot and driving toolkit with discussion guide and questions for teenagers

• Help students perform a needs assessment of their school to identify priority areas within the school.
• Review and update school policies about substance misuse. Advocate for including these policies in the school agenda and on the school website.
• Blueprint for Action: Preventing substance related harms among youth through a Comprehensive School Health approach a resource for members of school communities from the Public Health Agency of Canada (2021)
• Coordinate discussion groups consisting of students of diverse perspectives (related to age, gender, interests, etc.) to identify emerging trends and/or key issues related to substance use/misuse and identify the supports needed in the school

• Engage and encourage student groups to promote substance misuse prevention and school health.
• Encourage students ages 14 to 25 to join the Hamilton Youth Advisory Council, that enables students to start a program or project in the community based on their interests, such as substance misuse
• Suggest students initiate am OSAID Chapter in their school to raise awareness of impaired driving
• Create a Social Norms Campaign with students in grades 7 and 8. Use interactive activities to share the OSDUHS results or school data to influence substance misuse culture and norms.
• Use videos from the How Do You Like Your Selfie Now? social media campaign to engage students in discussion of the harmful effects of alcohol and binge drinking. Consider playing the videos during televised announcements/assembly along with OSDUHS data, and encourage self-reflection and peer-to-peer discussion. Consider a contest to engage students

• Establish a resource centre in the school to access information on substances and available community supports for students, parents, staff and community.
• Monitor school property and places youth may use or share substances.
• Encourage Health Action Teams or Positive School Climate Teams to create positive spaces for socializing, in collaboration with school administrators.

• Promote the importance of calling 911 for an overdose and about how the Good Samaritan Act can protect them. You are protected under the law if you report a drug overdose and are high or in simple possession of drugs.
• Alternatives for Youth offers substance use counselling for youth age 12 - 23 and their families. Call 905-527-4469.
• Learn how to respond to an overdose, including the administration of naloxone and where to get free naloxone kits.
• City of Hamilton Child & Adolescent Services offers family therapy, individual counselling, play therapy and psychotherapy. Make a referral through Contact Hamilton.
• John Howard Society of Hamilton offers substance misuse prevention programs for youth age 12-17. Call 905-522-4446.
• SNAP (also known as Stop Now and Plan), is a program for children under 12 years of age and their parents to help regulate feelings and prevent impulsive reactions. The program uses cognitive-behavioral principles and offers family counselling, parent education and supports groups.
• Review Youth and Alcohol Low Risk Drinking Guidelines for information on the risks and harms of alcohol consumption for youth.
• School Mental Health Ontario resources includes opioid information for parents, youth and educators
• Health Canada information about opioids with links to talking with your teen about drugs, opioid information, naloxone information and an opioids toolkit with infographics and other resources.
• Ask your public health nurse about substance misuse prevention or email [email protected].

Cannabis specific resources

• Cannabis talk kit
• CAMH – Cannabis: What Parents/Guardians and Caregivers Need to Know
• Cannabis Infographics Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction.
• Health Canada: Health Effects of Cannabis (for parents and educators)
• CCSA: Talking Pot with Youth - Cannabis Communication Guide for Youth Allies (2020)
• CSSPD: Sensible Cannabis Education: A toolkit for Educating Youth (available in English, French, Spanish, Punjabi and Mandarin)