Substance Use and Harm Reduction | Huron Perth Public Health

Education about substance use is essential to help students develop the necessary skills and knowledge to make healthier choices. Successful substance misuse prevention education for young people provides age-appropriate, factual and non-judgmental information and helps students develop social competence, relationship and communication skills.

If you are looking for tips on how to address certain issues or topics, reach out to the school health team using our request form.

Educator resources

Smoking and vaping

Consider the Consequences of Vaping from Health Canada includes a vaping education online module, awareness and prevention resources, and activities that aim to inform youth about vaping health risks and consequences.
Not an Experiment is a website that provides youth and educators with information about the health effects of vaping, industry influences, and more. Educator resources for lessons and classroom activities, including an Escape Room game, are available.
Students Together Moving to Reduce Tobacco Use (STOMP) is a multi-year pilot project (2021-2024) from PHE Canada. It takes a comprehensive approach to curb commercial tobacco use by targeting the student population and its unique characteristics, norms and needs directly. Resources include student and school kits.
Tobacco Prevention Toolkit from Stanford University contains theory-based and evidence-informed resources created by educators, parents and researchers aimed at preventing middle and high school students' use of tobacco and nicotine. It includes modules and resources for vaping as well as commercial tobacco projects.
Quash is an app to help people quit smoking or vaping. A free certificate training (self-guided, online) equips adults to deliver the Quash smoking and vaping cessation program to youth in their communities.
Vaping Education Resources (grades 4-8) from Ophea provide educators with capacity building tools and conversation starter prompts to support students in developing the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being. Resources include Instructional Moments videos and Educator Guide, Conversation Starter videos, and tip sheets.

Substance use

Cannabis Education Resources (grade 1-12) from Ophea provide educators and administrators access to evidence-informed information on substance use (specifically cannabis) to help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being. Resources include Cannabis Education Activity Plans for elementary and secondary students, a Q&A column series, and a resource database.
iMinds is a free health literacy resource for grades 4 to 12. It aims to help students maximize their drug literacy, by building knowledge and skills needed to survive and thrive in a world where drug use is common. This resource has been designed by the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research to support BC Ministry of Education curricula, but is adaptable and available for use in Canadian schools.