Educating youth about substance use is important to help them gain knowledge and develop skills to make healthier choices. As the opioid crisis in Canada continues to escalate, youth need to be aware of information that can support informed decisions about harm-reduction substance use strategies versus an abstinence only approach.
What are opioids?
Opioids are drugs that can affect your mind, mood, and mental processes. Opioids can cause euphoria or a feeling of being “high”. This can create the potential for opioids to be used improperly. (Government of Canada, 2023)
Why are youth using opioids?
Reasons youth may start using opioids include:
- getting a prescription for opioids from a doctor for pain
- for fun
- social reasons
- to cope with stress or emotional pain
As a result, youth who use opioids are at increased risk for social and emotional problems, addiction, mental health disorders, and physical problems, as well as chronic diseases in adulthood (Preventing Problematic Substance Use in Youth, 2018).
What do the stats say about youth and opioids?
According to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS, 2023), over one fifth (21.8%) of students in grades 7 to 12 reported the non-medical use of prescription opioid pain relievers in the past year. This represents a significant increase in non-medical opioid use within the last two years (OSDUHS, 2023). Also noted, females are more likely to report using prescription opioid pain relievers compared to their self-identifying male counterparts (OSDUHS, 2023). Many students (67%) who use prescription painkillers reported getting them from home (CAMH, 2022).
Youth represent a significant number of opioid emergencies in Windsor-Essex. In 2024, there were six opioid-related emergency department visits and 39 suspected opioid-related overdose calls to EMS among youth age 15 to 24 (WECHU, 2024). Among youth in this age group, men represented a higher rate of opioid-related emergency department visits (122.6 visits per 100,000) compared to women (50.7 visits per 100,000) (WECHU, 2024).
In addition to opioids, students are exploring other medication and substances. Almost 10% of grade 7 to 12 students report taking cough and cold medication for non-medical use (to get “high”), representing a significant increase compared to two years ago (OSDUHS, 2023). This figure is highest among grade seven students – 13.4% of grade seven students have used cough and cold medication for non-medical use (OSDUHS, 2023). Therefore, it is important to begin talking to youth about safer substance use at a young age before they begin using.
A healthy school is created when schools, parents and community partners work together to build school environments that promote and support student well-being. Below you will find informational and community resources for educators, parents/caregivers, and students. Educator’s resources are organized using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School Framework.
Resources & Information for:
Background Resources
- Substance Use and Addiction – School Mental Health Ontario
Information about the continuum of substance abuse, how to help students, and resources for educators. (French) - Opioid and the Opioid Crisis – Get the Facts – Health Canada
Information about opioids, fentanyl, overdose, stigma, naloxone, talking about drugs, and getting help. (French) - Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act- Government of Canada
Information around the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act. The act is part of the Federal Government’s comprehensive approach to addressing the opioid crisis. It encourages Canadians to save a life during an overdose situation. (French) - Opioids 101- What You Should Know – Canadian Mental Health Association
A fact sheet from the CMHA Carry It Toolkit, discussing opioids obtained through prescription and illegally, common names for opioids, and signs of an overdose. (French) - Fact Sheet: Dispelling Myths About Opioids- Canadian Mental Health Association
A fact sheet from CMHA Carry It Toolkit clarifying common misconceptions about opioids, users, and administering Naloxone. (French)
Lessons and Activities
- Refusal Skills Activity- Windsor Essex County Health Unit
Grades 4-8
A classroom activity that allows students to practice their refusal skills when being faced with challenging situations related to substance use. (French) - Substance Use- Jenga Trivia Game- Windsor Essex County Health Unit
Grades 8-12
Students remove the blocks and answer questions about substance use. Have students play 1:1 or in teams to earn points. Contact your school’s Public Health Nurse or the Healthy School’s Department to book, or for more information on this resource. Healthy School hotline: (519) 258-2146, ext. 1555. (French)
- Healthy School Recognition Program-
Certification is a way to help promote the health and well-being of students, staff, and the school community. Contact your school’s Public Health Nurse for more information on how they can support your school in achieving a Healthy Schools Certification. (French) - Youth Mental Health & Addiction Champion Toolkit - Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO)
RNAO partnered with public health units, School Boards, SMH ASSIST and provincial youth-based organizations to develop a peer-based youth mental health initiative. The toolkit supports the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based, youth-led mental health promotion and substance misuse prevention initiatives in school settings. The toolkit includes guiding frameworks, how to build your team, youth training content, event planning, and evaluation tips. - Jack.org –
Aims to improve the mental health of young people across Canada and to help youth recognize struggle in both themselves, their peers and how to support one another through mental health. Students can start a local Jack Chapter, host Jack Talk presentations at their school, and participate in Jack Summits. (French) - Be There – Jack.org
Learn how to support others through mental health struggles. Get certified through a free online course to learn how to recognize when someone is struggling, safely support them, and maintain your own mental health. Follow and learn about the 5 Golden Rules for responding to someone struggling with mental health and help them get the support they need. (French)
School Campaigns and Social Media
- Blueprint for Action: Preventing substance-related harms among youth through a Comprehensive School Health approach – Government of Canada
This toolkit is for school communities, those working in the education system, and those who support youth, in addition to Canadian school stakeholders. The Blueprint model supports school community members in planning and carrying out a wide range of strategies for preventing substance-related harms among youth. These strategies include upstream prevention, harm reduction, stigma reduction, and equity-oriented approaches. (French)
- RNAO’s-Youth Mental Health & Addiction Champion Toolkit - Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) partnered with public health units, School Boards, SMH ASSIST and provincial youth based organizations to develop a peer based youth mental health initiative. The partnership resulted in the development of the toolkit to support the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based, youth-led mental health promotion and substance misuse prevention initiatives in school settings. The toolkit, includes guiding frameworks, how to build your team, youth training content, event planning, and evaluation tips.
- Jack.org – Aims to improve the mental health of young people across Canada and to help youth recognize struggle in both themselves and their peers’ and how to support one another through mental health. Students can start a local Jack Chapter, host Jack Talk presentations at their school, and participate in Jack Summits.
- Be There – Learn how to support others through mental health struggles. Get certified through a ‘free online course to learn how to recognize when someone is struggling, safely support them, and maintain your own mental health.’ Follow and learn about the 5 Golden Rules for responding to someone struggling with mental health and help them get the support they need.
School Campaigns and Social Media
- Blueprint for Action: Preventing substance-related harms among youth through a Comprehensive School approach – This toolkit is for school communities, those working in the education system, and those who support youth, in addition to Canadian school stakeholders. The Blueprint model supports school community members in planning and carrying out a wide range of strategies for preventing substance-related harms among youth. These strategies include upstream prevention, harm reduction, stigma reduction, and equity-oriented approaches.
School Board Policies
- School boards can set policies that influence the social & environmental norms students’ experience. Please refer to your specific school board and/or school’s policies and code of conduct on substance use for further information. Individual schools should speak to their school boards about whether school board policies exist as well as if they can develop individual school policies.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse- Home and Community Care Support Services
Students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468. - Windsor-Essex Community Opioid and Substance Use Strategy (WECOSS)
Information about the local strategy to address opioid use can be found on this website. There is also information on where to get help in Windsor-Essex county, local statistics, fact sheets, videos, and where to find a free naloxone kit. - WEConnectKids - HDGH Regional Children’s Centre
A partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex. Servicing youth up until the age of 18 years. - Opioid Overdose Response Training – The ACT Foundation
Offering CPR, AED, and Opioid Response Training free to high schools across Canada. The opioid-associated emergency module enables teachers to provide the theory portion of the education in an eLearning format to students as a self-paced learning tool. Teachers then provide the practical training portion to students in the classroom.
Background Resources
- Prescription Opioids, including Fentanyl: What Parents and Caregivers Need to Know- School Mental Health Ontario
An information sheet about opioids, including fentanyl, how to recognize and prevent problems, signs of an overdose, naloxone information and what to do in case of a suspected overdose. (French) - Youth and Prescription Pain Killers: What parents need to know- Canadian Mental Health Association
Information for parents about prescription opioids, how to prevent and recognize signs of problems, what to do if a parent has concerns and signs & symptoms of an overdose. - The Opioid Crisis –Substance Canada
Information for parents on the Opioid crisis in Canada, including stigma. - The Drug Free Kids Guide for Parents – comprehensive booklet with evidence-based drug information that includes drug descriptions, street names, their health impacts and risks, and what your teen might have heard about them to inform you and help support your conversations with your kids.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse- Home and Community Care Support Services
Students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468. - Health811- Government of Ontario
Call 8-1-1 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007), a free, secure, confidential service Ontarians can call or access online 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive health advice from qualified health professionals, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online. (French) - Substance Canada- Parent Support Hub
24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young person’s problematic substance use by phone or online chat. - ConnexOntario – Government of Ontario
Mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services. Call 1-866-531-2600, email, chat or search for services in your community. ConnexOntario can also provide basic education about mental health, drug, alcohol, and problem gambling treatment services. (French)
Background Resources
- Opioids: What You and Your Friends Need to Know- School Mental Health Ontario
An information sheet about opioids, including fentanyl, dangers and signs of opioid misuse, signs of an overdose, naloxone information and information on getting help. (French)
- Youth Mental Health & Addiction Champion Toolkit - Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO)
RNAO partnered with public health units, School Boards, SMH ASSIST and provincial youth-based organizations to develop a peer based youth mental health initiative. The toolkit supports the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based, youth-led mental health promotion and substance misuse prevention initiatives in school settings. The toolkit includes guiding frameworks, how to build your team, youth training content, event planning, and evaluation tips. - Jack.org
Aims to improve the mental health of young people across Canada and to help youth recognize struggle in both themselves, their peers and how to support one another through mental health. Students can start a local Jack Chapter, host Jack Talk presentations at their school, and participate in Jack Summits. (French) - Be There – Jack.org
Learn how to support others through mental health struggles. Get certified through a ‘free online course to learn how to recognize when someone is struggling, safely support them, and maintain your own mental health. Follow and learn about the 5 Golden Rules for responding to someone struggling with mental health and help them get the support they need. (French)
School Campaigns and Social Media
- Blueprint for Action: Preventing substance-related harms among youth through a Comprehensive School approach – Government of Canada
This toolkit is for school communities, those working in the education system, and those who support youth, in addition to Canadian school stakeholders. The Blueprint model supports school community members in planning and carrying out a wide range of strategies for preventing substance-related harms among youth. These strategies include upstream prevention, harm reduction, stigma reduction, and equity-oriented approaches. (French)
- Health811- Government of Ontario
Call 8-1-1 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007), a free, secure, confidential service Ontarians can call or access online 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive health advice from qualified health professionals, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online. (French) - Mental Health and Addiction Nurse- Home and Community Care Support Services
Students can call to talk about alcohol, cannabis, opioids, or other substances. A school, hospital, or community agency can also refer online or by calling 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468. - Youth Wellness Hub – Canadian mental Health Association
For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services available in Windsor, Amherstburg and Leamington locations. - AMANI Mental Health & Substance Use Program- Windsor Essex Community Health Centre
Offers culturally responsive and affirming mental health and substance use health support for Black, African, and Caribbean youth, ages 12–29, alongside their families and caregivers, throughout Windsor and Essex County. Call 519-962-2264 or email amani@wechc.org or visit the AMANI website. - Kids Help Phone
Call 1-800-668-6868 to access 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. (French) - Breaking Free Recovery Support Program- Government of Ontario
Is a free online support tool designed to help Ontarians ages 16 and up reduce or stop the use of over 70 substances, such as tobacco, alcohol and drugs, including opioids. It uses self-guided courses, positive coping skills and behaviour change techniques to support individuals with early intervention, prevention, or rehabilitation and engages people to manage addiction and decreases the chances of relapse. - ConnexOntario – Government of Ontario
Mental health, addiction, and problem gambling services. Call 1-866-531-2600, email, chat or search for services in your community. ConnexOntario can also provide basic education about mental health, drug, alcohol, and problem gambling treatment services. (French) - Pozitive Pathways
Serves Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent, which provides support, education, harm reduction and outreach services.