Elementary School Toolkit: Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction

The purpose of this resource is to link educators with information and evidence informed activities aimed at preventing and delaying substance use among elementary school aged children and youth. Strategies target multiple levels of influence including students’ and parents’ attitudes and knowledge, classroom and school level social and physical environments as well as school policies..

Curriculum, Teaching and Learning

• Before You Teach Substance Use Prevention PPT (français)
• Alcohol Presentation - Grade 5-8 (français)
• Cannabis Presentation - Grade 5-8 (français)
• Classroom Online Game - Grade 4-8 (français)
• Fact Sheets, Infographics and Resources - Grade 7-8 (français)
• Media Literacy - Grade 5-6 (français)
• Ophea Resources - Grade 2-8 (français)
• Popcorn Pressure Game - Grade 4-8 (français)
• Social Influence Scenarios - Grade 4-8 (français)
• Substance Use MYTH or FACT - Grade 4-8 (français)
• Substance Use Trivia - Grade 4-8 (français)
• Three Boxes Discussed (Racing Against Drugs) - Grade 5 (français)
• Vaping Presentation - Grade 4-8 (français)

School and Classroom Leadership

• Student Created Resources on Substance Use (PDF) (français)
• Student Driven Campaigns (PDF) (français)

Student Engagement

• Brainstorming (PDF) (français)
• Student-Driven Committee (PDF) (français)

Social and Physical Environments

• Smoke-Free Ontario Act SFOA (français)
• Substance Free Movies (français)

Home, School & Community Partnerships

• After School Activities (PDF) (français)
• Parent/Caregiver Presentation or Event (français)
• Parent/Caregiver Resources (PDF) (français)
• Smoke-Free Movie Nights Smoke-Free Movies (français)

 Helpful Resources

• School Mental Health Ontario: School Mental Health Ontario, Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario (YWHO) and the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) team at CAMH have collaborated to develop resources for educators that provide insights and recommendations regarding having conversations about substance use with students and providing support to students experiencing substance use and/or mental health challenges https://smho-smso.ca/online-resources/youth-substance-use-resources-for-educators/
• Fact Sheets, Infographics and Resources - provides a list of links to educational materials for staff to support student’s awareness and knowledge, and health effects related to various substances.