Refusal Skills Classroom Activities
This resource was developed to be used by educators for grades 4 to 8 to teach refusal skills to use when students face peer pressure.
Substance Use
Main Page Content
Substance Use Trivia and Jenga Game
Download this resource for schools in English and French
Opioids
As the opioid crisis in Canada continues to escalate, youth need information to make informed decisions about harm-reduction substance use strategies versus an abstinence only approach.
Resources & Information for:
- Substance Use and Addiction – School Mental Health Ontario – Information about the continuum of substance abuse, how to help students, and resources for educators.
- 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 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.
- Opioids 101- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – 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. (PDF) (French)
- Fact Sheet: Dispelling Myths About Opioids- CMHA – A fact sheet from CMHA Carry It Toolkit clarifying common misconceptions about opioids, users, and administering Naloxone. (French)
Lessons and Activities
- Substance Use- Interactive Jenga Trivia Game: Students remove the blocks and answer questions about substance use. Have students play 1:1 or in teams to earn points.
- Refusal skills Activity: Classroom activities which allow students to practice their refusal skills when being faced with challenging situations related to substance use.
- OPHEA Healthy Schools Certification- (French Version) Certification is a way to help promote the health and well-being of students, staff, and the school community. Contact your schools nurse for more information on how they can support your school in achieving a Healthy Schools Certification.
- 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 policy 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 they can develop individual school policies.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- 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 the number above.
- 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.
- Youth Wellness Hub – 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 and Leamington locations.
- SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
- WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex.
- ConnexOntario – 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.
- Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
- Pozitive Pathways – Serves Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent, which ‘provides support, education and outreach services.
- Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat.
- Youth and Prescription Pain Killers: What parents need to know- CAMH- 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 ACT Foundation – Offering CPR, AED, and Opioid Response Training free to high schools across Canada.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- 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 the number above.
- 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.
- Youth Wellness Hub – 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 and Leamington locations.
- SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
- WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex.
- ConnexOntario – 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.
- Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
- Pozitive Pathways – Serves Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent, which ‘provides support, education and outreach services.
- Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat.
- Youth and Prescription Pain Killers: What parents need to know- CAMH- 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 ACT Foundation – Offering CPR, AED, and Opioid Response Training free to high schools across Canada.
- 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.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- 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 the number above.
- 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.
- Youth Wellness Hub – 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 and Leamington locations.
- SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
- WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex.
- ConnexOntario – 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.
- Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
- Pozitive Pathways – Serves Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent, which ‘provides support, education and outreach services.
- Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat.
- Youth and Prescription Pain Killers: What parents need to know- CAMH- 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 ACT Foundation – Offering CPR, AED, and Opioid Response Training free to high schools across Canada.
Alcohol
It is important for youth to be informed of what is known about the harms alcohol use during adolescence can increase the risk of negative health outcomes and social harm.
Resources & Information for:
- Alcohol- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: information on alcohol including research, regulations, and news stories from around Canada involving alcohol.
- Understanding Substance Use: Educator's Guide- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: Designed for educators working with youth from grades 6–12 to gain knowledge, tools, and resources on substance use, stigma, cannabis vaping, alcohol, and impaired driving.
- Rethink Your Drinking: this Canadian site outlines the health effects of alcohol, the safe drinking guidelines and when abstinence should be mandatory.
- Youth and Alcohol- Drug Free Kids Canada: information on youth and alcohol, risks and how to get the conversation started with your child.
- Youth and Alcohol - The Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines Summary from Canadian Centre of Substance abuse.
- Alcohol Use- Health Canada: Information about alcohol; risks, trends, guidelines, and how to reduce risks.
Lessons and Activities
- Addiction and Substance Misuse Prevention- OPHEA: different activities for grades 6 to 12 on addiction and substance misuse prevention.
- Smart Wheels-Educators Guide- MADD: SmartWheels experience to educate your students about making smart choices to prevent driving while impaired with alcohol and/or drugs. Includes fives lessons plans for grades 4-6.
- Impaired Driving Lesson Plan (Grades 11 & 12)- Royal Canadian Mounted Police: lesson plan includes 5 activities geared for grade 11-12.
- Substance Use- Interactive Jenga Trivia Game: Students remove the blocks and answer questions about substance use. Have students play 1:1 or in teams to earn points.
- Refusal skills Activity: Classroom activities which allow students to practice their refusal skills when being faced with challenging situations related to substance use.
OPHEA Healthy Schools Certification- (French Version) Certification is a way to help promote the health and well-being of students, staff, and the school community. Contact your schools nurse for more information on how they can support your school
- 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.
- How young adults can reduce risks related to alcohol use- Health Canada: tips on how to reduce risks when drinking.
- Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines: If you choose to drink, these guidelines can help you decide when, where, why, and how.
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.
- SmartWheels- MADD Canada: Mobile classroom interactive presentation for grades 7 & 8 students about the risks of experimenting with alcohol and drugs. It also includes information about how they can avoid becoming passengers in vehicles with impaired drivers. Teaching resources are available for download prior to presentation for classroom use. Currently only available in English.
- Project Red Ribbon- MADD Canada: campaign committing to driving sober. Campaign runs yearly from November 1st to January 3rd.
- Final Play- MADD Canada: School presentation from MADD Canada bringing awareness to impaired driving (alcohol and drug) and risk reduction messaging for students in grades 7 through 12. Teaching resources available for download prior to presentation for classroom use. Available in French.
- Health Canada has created posters with alcohol messaging that can be downloaded and used in your school:
- Drinking is up to you- Tips if you do not want to drink and how to reduce risks when drinking. Also available in French.
- Drinking tonight? - Tips for reducing risks when drinking. Also available in French.
- Hey are you ok?- What to do in an alcohol-related emergency. Also available in French.
Visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation - Impaired Driving website to learn more about the laws. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is dangerous and illegal. Know what counts as impaired driving – and the penalties you could face for it – before you get behind the wheel.
School Board Policies
School boards can set policy 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 alcohol and substance use for further information. Individual schools should speak to their school boards about whether they can develop individual school policies.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- High school 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 the number above.
- Get Help with Drug, Alcohol and Other Addictions in Windsor Essex County: list of local and provincial resources.
- Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: provides contact information to local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
- Youth Wellness Hub – 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 and Leamington locations.
- WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex. It is a free, confidential mental health service for children, youth, and families who live in Windsor-Essex.
- SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
- ConnexOntario – 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.
- Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
- Information for Parents Impaired Driving- MADD Canada: information on how to talk to child about alcohol and impaired driving.
- Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat.
- Saying When App: an app created by the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health that provides step-by-step directions for youth to take charge of their drinking. It is available for free download for iPhone and Android phone users.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- High school 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 the number above.
- Get Help with Drug, Alcohol and Other Addictions in Windsor Essex County: list of local and provincial resources.
- Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: provides contact information to local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
- Youth Wellness Hub – 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 and Leamington locations.
- WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex. It is a free, confidential mental health service for children, youth, and families who live in Windsor-Essex.
- SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
- ConnexOntario – 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.
- Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
- Information for Parents Impaired Driving- MADD Canada: information on how to talk to child about alcohol and impaired driving.
- Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat.
- Saying When App: an app created by the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health that provides step-by-step directions for youth to take charge of their drinking. It is available for free download for iPhone and Android phone users.
- 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.
- How young adults can reduce risks related to alcohol use- Health Canada: tips on how to reduce risks when drinking.
- Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines: If you choose to drink, these guidelines can help you decide when, where, why, and how.
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.
- SmartWheels- MADD Canada: Mobile classroom interactive presentation for grades 7 & 8 students about the risks of experimenting with alcohol and drugs. It also includes information about how they can avoid becoming passengers in vehicles with impaired drivers. Teaching resources are available for download prior to presentation for classroom use. Currently only available in English.
- Project Red Ribbon- MADD Canada: campaign committing to driving sober. Campaign runs yearly from November 1st to January 3rd.
- Final Play- MADD Canada: School presentation from MADD Canada bringing awareness to impaired driving (alcohol and drug) and risk reduction messaging for students in grades 7 through 12. Teaching resources available for download prior to presentation for classroom use. Available in French.
- Health Canada has created posters with alcohol messaging that can be downloaded and used in your school:
- Drinking is up to you- Tips if you do not want to drink and how to reduce risks when drinking. Also available in French.
- Drinking tonight? - Tips for reducing risks when drinking. Also available in French.
- Hey are you ok?- What to do in an alcohol-related emergency. Also available in French.
- Mental Health and Addiction Nurse: 519-258-8211 or 1-888-447-4468- High school 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 the number above.
- Get Help with Drug, Alcohol and Other Addictions in Windsor Essex County: list of local and provincial resources.
- Windsor-Essex County Youth Services Card: provides contact information to local services for youth in Windsor-Essex County.
- Youth Wellness Hub – 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 and Leamington locations.
- WEConnectKids: a partnership between the five core service providers for child and youth mental health and addiction services in Windsor/Essex. It is a free, confidential mental health service for children, youth, and families who live in Windsor-Essex.
- SAPACCY Program- The Substance Abuse Program for African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian Youth: Mental health and substance use services for individuals who identify as black and between 12-29 years of age. Call 519-253-8481 or visit wechc.org.
- ConnexOntario – 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.
- Kids Help Phone at 1 800 668-6868. 24 hours/7 days a week telephone or web chat service for children and youth. *Services in English and French.
- Information for Parents Impaired Driving- MADD Canada: information on how to talk to child about alcohol and impaired driving.
- Drug Free Canada- Parent Support Hub: 24/7 access to support from Drug Free Kids Canada to help you prevent/address/overcome a young persons problematic substance use by phone or online chat.
- Saying When App: an app created by the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health that provides step-by-step directions for youth to take charge of their drinking. It is available for free download for iPhone and Android phone users.
Substance Use
Substance Use Dashboard
Population Health Status Indicators
Windsor-Essex Health Status Indicator
(WE-HSI) Dashboard
Opioids
Opioids
News Release: Churches, Mosques, and Synagogues Come Together on Naloxone Distribution
Published:
Wednesday, June 29
This past weekend, 363 free naloxone kits were distributed to the congregations at a number of places of worship across Windsor and Essex County.
News Release: New Substance Supports Outreach Strategy to Launch
Published:
Wednesday, June 22
Program to enhance supports in the City of Windsor and Town of Amherstburg.
What effects does alcohol have on health?
Alcohol is a depressant drug, which can slow down the parts of the brain that affect thinking, behaviour, breathing, and heart rate. Like the body, the human brain is still developing throughout adolescence and early adulthood, generally until about 25 years of age.