harm reduction

Some of the common reasons youth consume alcohol include:

• Peer pressure
• Social media influences
• To escape or self-medicate
• Boredom or curiosity
• Rebellion
• For fun
• Lack of confidence

In 2017, slightly less than half (43%) of students in Ontario report drinking more than just a few sips of alcohol during the past year.

Provincial and federal laws regulate the manufacture, distribution, importation, advertising, possession and consumption of alcohol. In Ontario, it is illegal for anyone under 19 years of age to possess, consume or purchase alcohol.

Pure (ethyl) alcohol is a clear, colourless liquid. Alcohol is produced by fermenting or distilling various fruits, vegetables, or grains. Fermented beverages include beer and wine, which have a maximum alcohol content of about 15%.

WECHU’s School Vaping Prevention Toolkit: In order to assist teachers and school administrators in providing students with credible and reliable information about the use of e-cigarettes and the associated health impacts, a toolkit has been created which can be provided by the WECHU Publ

If you’re looking for more information on vaping, the following links are recommended:

Please refer to your specific school’s policy on tobacco and substance use for further information. It is also important to familiarize yourself with your school board’s policies and regulations regarding a smoke free environment. 

We do know that vaping products have a negative impact on health – much like smoking cigarettes. In fact, studies suggest that vaping could lead to similar diseases as smoking, though at a reduced rate.

Even though vaping is considered to be less harmful than smoking, there are still consequences for youth to consider.

In Ontario, 11% of students in grades 7 to 12 report using more than just a few puffs of an electronic cigarette, with or without nicotine in the past year (OSDUHS, 2017).  Males are more likely than females to use electronic cigarettes.  Among the grades, students in the 11th and 12