Substance Use Health Curriculum Support Resources
Prevention toolkit
JK to grade 12
Introduction
This toolkit offers resources with links to the curriculum that educators can use to help prevent or delay student substance use. The toolkit also provides supports for educators and students. For additional guidance or to discuss how the EOHU School Health team can support your specific needs, send a message to schoolinfoecole@eohu.ca.
Prevention
Supporting the healthy physical, mental and emotional development of students can help prevent or delay substance use. Delaying substance use until age 25 can protect against an increased risk of harm.
It is no longer recommended to approach substance use prevention from a “just-say-no” or a risk-reduction approach alone. Focusing initiatives on the promotion of protective factors like the development of healthy relationships, a strong sense of self, and community connectedness show promise in preventing or delaying substance use.
“The best prevention measures often have nothing do with substance use at all.” - Blueprint for Action
Definitions
Substance use includes use of unregulated substances or regulated substances such as alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, or prescription medications.
Substance use health describes the reality that health effects related to substance use exist along a continuum ranging from no use to experiencing a substance use disorder.
Substance use continuum describes a tool to help a person reflect upon and communicate how they view their substance use. A continuum is not meant to diagnose substance use as problematic. Various interpretations of a continuum have been developed, including one from School Mental Health Ontario.
Toolkit contents
Resources With Links to the Curriculum
Support for Educators
Support for Students
Resources With Links to the Curriculum
| Target audience | Curriculum links ON Kindergarten Program ON Curriculum, Grades 1-8: HPE ON Curriculum, Grades 9-12: HPE |
Resource/support Note: An Ophea.net account is required to access some of Ophea’s resources. |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years | |||
| Kindergarten | Self-Regualtion and Well-Being Frame |
Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping |
|
| Thinking About Problem Solving and Innovating Frame |
Break the Fake: What's in the frame? |
||
| Primary | |||
| Grade 1 | A1.1, A1.2, D1.5, D3.3 |
Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping |
|
| A1.6 |
Break the Fake: What’s in the frame? |
||
| Grade 2 | A1.1, A1.2, D1.6, D2.5 |
Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping |
|
| A1.1, A1.4, A1.5, D1.6 |
Body & Brain Responses |
||
| A1.2, A1.3, D2.5 |
Identifying feelings and help seeking |
||
| A1.6 |
Break the Fake: What’s in the frame? |
||
| Grade 3 | A1.1, A1.2, D1.6, D3.4 |
Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping |
|
| A1.1, A1.4, A1.5, A1.6, D1.3, D2.2, D2.3 |
Making Healthy Choices (Lessons 1, 2 and 5) |
||
| A1.6 |
Break the Fake: What’s real online? |
||
| Junior | |||
| Grade 4 | A1.1, A1.2, D2.5, D3.3 |
Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping |
|
| A1.2, A1.4, A1.5, A1.6, D1.4, D2.2, D2.3, D3.2 |
Substance Use and Injury Prevention: Making Healthy Choices |
||
| A1.6, D1.4, D2.3, D3.2 |
Get the Facts (Alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and vaping) |
||
| A1.2, D1.4, D2.3, D3.2 |
Tobacco, Vaping, and Lung Health |
||
| D1.4, D2.3, D3.2 |
Inflating Awareness: Demonstrating the Health Impacts of Smoking (Video) |
||
| A1.6, D1.2 |
Break the Fake: What’s real online? |
||
| A1.6, D1.2 |
Kids, Alcohol and Advertising: Messages About Drinking |
||
| Grade 5 | A1.1, A1.2, D2.6, D3.4 | Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping (Ophea and SMHO) |
|
| A1.4, A1.5, A1.6, D2.3, D3.3 |
Healthy Decision Making |
||
| A1.2, A1.6, D3.3 | Factors that Affect My Healthy Choices (Ophea) |
||
| A1.6, D1.2, D2.3, D3.3 | Get the Facts (Alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and vaping) (Health Canada) |
||
| A1.2, D1.2, D2.3, D3.3 | Alcohol (Ottawa Public Health, available on School Health Online) |
||
| A1.6, D3.3 |
Break the Fake: What’s real online? |
||
| A1.6, D3.3 | Kids, Alcohol and Advertising: Messages About Drinking (Media Smarts) |
||
| A1.2, D2.2, D2.3 | Lungs are for Life! (Canadian Lung Association) |
||
| Grade 6 | A1.1, A1.2, D1.4, D1.5 | Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping (Ophea and SMHO) |
|
| A1.1, A1.2, A1.5, A1.6, D1.2, D1.4, D2.4 | Healthy Decision Making (Lessons 1 and 2) (Ophea) |
||
| A1.6, D1.2, D1.4 | Did You Know? (Cannabis) (Ophea) |
||
| A 1.4, A1.5, A1.6, D2.4 | What Would I Do? (Cannabis) (Ophea) |
||
| A1.1, A1.2, A1.6, D1.4 | Support Systems (Ophea and SMHO) |
||
| A1.6, D1.2, D2.4 | Get the Facts (Alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, and vaping) (Health Canada) |
||
| A1.2, D1.2, D2.4 | Cannabis (Ottawa Public Health, available on School Health Online) |
||
| A1.6 | Break the Fake Lesson Plan: Verifying information online (Media Smarts) |
||
| A1.6, D2.4 | Tobacco Labels (Media Smarts) |
||
| A1.6, D2.4 | Kids, Alcohol and Advertising: Messages About Drinking (Media Smarts) |
||
| A1.2, D2.3, D1.2, D2.4, D1.4 | Lungs are for Life! (Canadian Lung Association) |
||
| Intermediate | |||
| Grade 7 | A1.1, A1.2, D1.6 |
Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping |
|
| A1.2, A1.3, A1.4, A1.5, A1.6, D1.1, D1.2, D2.2, D2.3 | Making Choices for Personal Health Lessons 3, 4 and 5 (Ophea) |
||
| A1.6, D1.2, D3.2 | Cannabis Use and Health Effects (Ophea) |
||
| A1.6, D1.2, D3.2 | Vaping Prevention Lessons (Not An Experiment) |
||
| A1.2, A1.6 |
Refusal Skills Educator Resources |
||
| D3.2 | Escape the Experiment (Vaping) Online or in person (Not An Experiment) |
||
| A1.1, A1.2, A1.3, A1.6, D1.2, D3.2 | Not An Experiment (Vaping) (Not An Experiment – the website) |
||
| A1.6, D1.2, D3.2 | Consider the Consequences of Vaping self-led module (Health Canada) |
||
| A1.6, D1.2, D3.2 | Pursue Your Passion (Health Canada) |
||
| A1.6, D3.2 | Know More Opioids (Health Canada) |
||
| A1.6, D1.2, D3.2 | A playlist curated by the EOHU (Nicotine) (Arizona Department of Health Services) |
||
| A1.6, D1.1 | Break the Fake Lesson Plan: Verifying information online (Media Smarts) |
||
| A1.6, D3.2 | Tobacco Labels (Media Smarts) |
||
| A1.6, D1.1 | Kids, Alcohol and Advertising: Messages About Drinking (Media Smarts) |
||
| A1.2, D1.2, D2.3, D3.2 | Lungs are for Life! (Canadian Lung Association) |
||
| Grade 8 | A1.1, A1.2, D2.4 | Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping (Ophea and SMHO) |
|
| A1.1, A1.2, A1.3, A1.6, D2.4 | Routines & Habits for Mental Health (Ophea and SMHO) |
||
| A1.2, A1.4, A1.6, D1.3, D2.2 | Keep Yourself Safe Lessons 3 and 5 (Ophea) |
||
| A1.2, A1.6, D1.3, D2.2 | Cannabis and You – Making Safe Choices (Ophea) |
||
| A1.6, D1.3 | Vaping Prevention Lessons (Not An Experiment) |
||
| A1.2, A1.6 | Refusal Skills Educator Resources (Not An Experiment) |
||
| D1.3 | Escape the Experiment (Vaping) Online or in person (Not An Experiment) |
||
| A1.1, A1.2, A1.3, A1.6, D1.3 | Not An Experiment (Vaping) (Not An Experiment – the website) |
||
| A1.6, D1.3 | Consider the Consequences of Vaping self-led module (Health Canada) |
||
| A1.6, D1.3 |
Pursue Your Passion |
||
| A1.6, D1.3 | Know More Opioids (Health Canada) |
||
| A1.6, D1.3 | A playlist curated by the EOHU (Nicotine) (Arizona Department of Health Services) |
||
| A1.6 | Break the Fake Lesson Plan: Verifying information online (Media Smarts) |
||
| A1.6, D1.3 | Tobacco Labels (Media Smarts) |
||
| A1.6 | Kids, Alcohol and Advertising: Messages About Drinking (Media Smarts) |
||
| A1.2, D2.2, D1.3, D2.4 | Lungs are for Life! (Canadian Lung Association) |
||
| Secondary | |||
| Grade 9 (PPL10) |
AA1.1, AA1.2 | Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping (Ophea and SMHO) |
|
| AA1.1, C1.3 | My Factors, My Resilience, and My Choices (Ophea) |
||
| AA1.3, AA1.5, C3.4 | My Influences, My Skills, and My Choices (Ophea) |
||
| AA1.2, AA1.5, C1.3 | Not An Experiment (Vaping) (Not An Experiment – the website and its resources) |
||
| AA1.5, C3.4 | Consider the Consequences of Vaping self-led module (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.1, AA1.5, C1.3, C3.4 | Pursue Your Passion (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.5 | Know More Opioids (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.5, C3.4 | A playlist curated by the EOHU (Nicotine) (Arizona Department of Health Services) |
||
| AA1.5, C1.2 | Break the Fake Lesson Plan: Verifying information online (Media Smarts) |
||
| AA1.5, C3.4 | Tobacco Labels (Media Smarts) |
||
| C3.2, C1.3, C3.4 | Lungs are for Life! (Canadian Lung Association) |
||
| Grade 10 (PPL20) | AA1.1, AA1.2 | Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping (Ophea and SMHO) |
|
| AA1.1, AA1.2, AA1.5, C1.2, C2.3, C2.4 | Cannabis and You – Conflicts, Resolutions, and Well-being (Ophea) |
||
| AA1.5, C3.3 | Your Position about Cannabis in Your Community (Ophea) |
||
| AA1.2, AA1.4, AA1.5, C1.2, C2.4, C3.3 | Not An Experiment (Vaping) (Not An Experiment – the website and its resources) |
||
| AA1.5, C1.2, C2.4 | Consider the Consequences of Vaping self-led module (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.1, AA1.5, C1.2, C2.4 | Pursue Your Passion (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.5, C1.2, C2.4, C3.3 | Know More Opioids (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.5, C1.2 | A playlist curated by the EOHU (Nicotine) (Arizona Department of Health Services) |
||
| AA1.5 | Break the Fake: Becoming a Fact–Checker (Media Smarts) |
||
| C1.1, C2.3, C3.2, C1.2, C2.4, C3.3 | Lungs are for Life! (Canadian Lung Association) |
||
| Grade 11 (PPL30) | AA1.1, AA1.2 | Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping (Ophea and SMHO) |
|
| AA1.5, C2.2, C3.3 | Cannabis – Know the Facts (Ophea) |
||
| AA1.2, AA1.4, AA1.5, C2.1, C2.2, C3.3 | Not An Experiment (Vaping) (Not An Experiment – the website and its resources) |
||
| AA1.5, C2.2 | Consider the Consequences of Vaping self-led module (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.1, AA1.5, C2.2, C3.3 | Pursue Your Passion (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.5, C2.2, C3.3 | Know More Opioids (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.5, C2.2 | A playlist curated by the EOHU (Nicotine) (Arizona Department of Health Services) |
||
| AA1.5 | Break the Fake: Becoming a Fact–Checker (Media Smarts) |
||
| Grade 11 (PPZ3C) | C1.1 | Break the Fake: Becoming a Fact–Checker (Media Smarts) |
|
| A1.2, A1.3 | Pursue Your Passion (Health Canada) |
||
| Grade 12 (PPL40) | AA1.1, AA1.2 | Virtual Field Trips: Stress Management and Coping (Ophea and SMHO) |
|
| AA1.1, AA1.2, AA1.5, C1.2, C2.3 | Consequences of Cannabis Misuse – Your Choices (Ophea) |
||
| AA1.5, C3.3 | Cannabis – Issues, Trends, and Impacts (Ophea) |
||
| AA1.2, AA1.4, AA1.5, C1.2, C2.3 | Not An Experiment (Vaping) (Not An Experiment – the website and its resources) |
||
| AA1.5, C1.2, C2.3 | Consider the Consequences of Vaping self-led module (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.1, AA1.5, C1.2, C2.3 | Pursue Your Passion (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.5, C1.2, C3.3 | Know More Opioids (Health Canada) |
||
| AA1.5, C1.2 | A playlist curated by the EOHU (Nicotine) (Arizona Department of Health Services) |
||
| AA1.5, C1.2, C2.3, C2.5 | Party Safer Online Course (Ottawa Public Health, accessible through StopOverdoseOttawa.ca and through Olearn) |
||
| AA1.5 | Break the Fake: Becoming a Fact–Checker (Media Smarts) |
||
Support for Educators
- Eastern Ontario Health Unit: Building Healthy Schools
- School Mental Health Ontario: Substance use and addiction
- Lung Health Foundation and Ontario Public Health Units: Brief Conversations [about quitting vaping] Toolkit
- Lung Health Foundation: Quash [quit vaping or smoking] Facilitator Certificate Training
- Ophea: Cannabis Education Discussion Guides and Vaping Education Resources
- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: Resources useful to educators
- Health Canada: Substance Use
Support for Students
- Lung Health Foundation: Quash (quit vaping or smoking app)
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: Youth-VAST (services related to vaping, substance use, and/or technology use)
- School Mental Health Ontario: Learn about substance use prevention
- Kids Help Phone: Substance Use
- 1call1click.ca
