New resources for preventing substance-related harms among youth are now available. The Public Health Agency of Canada developed The Blueprint for Action: Preventing substance-related harms among youth through a Comprehensive School Approachand accompanying policy paper for administrators, school board officials, teachers, guidance counsellors, healthcare professionals and community organizations that support youth.
The Blueprint combines evidence-based prevention and intervention approaches with the Comprehensive School Health framework, an internationally recognized approach to building healthy school communities. It includes:
Interactive training workshops to help school community members implement the Blueprint locally are offered through a partnership with PHAC and the Students Commission of Canada. Email info@studentscommission.ca for more information or to register for these workshops.
The Blueprint and policy paper were informed by work done at the School Matters: Building a Blueprint for Action for School Communities to Help Prevent Substance Use Harms forum. Organized by PHAC, it was co-hosted with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Joint Consortium for School Health.