Students, Substance Use and Vaping

If someone is in immediate need of support for a suspected overdose or emergency substance services, call 911.

Substance use can impact students' academic performance, health and relationships. Educators are key to helping students make informed decisions and supporting those affected. This page provides practical tools, resources and programs to create a supportive and healthy school environment.

How can we help you?

We’re here to help you address substance use in schools with age-appropriate lessons, prevention programs, and strategies for early intervention. Our approach is rooted in trauma-informed care, ensuring education is supportive, inclusive, and empowering.

If you are looking for support with enforcement of the Smoke Free Ontario Act of 2017 on school property (i.e. students smoking or vaping on school property), please fill out the form on our enforcement page.

How can we work together to address substance use?

Our Healthy School Team works directly with schools in St. Thomas as well as Oxford and Elgin counties to provide workshops, school-wide initiatives, and tailored support for educators, parents, and students. Contact us at 1-800-922-0096 to learn more.

General information on substance use and vaping

The Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) has three resources below on vaping for students to help their friends and educators to help students in elementary and secondary school:

Vaping: What you and your friends need to know

Vaping: What elementary educators need to know

Vaping: What secondary educators need to know

This page below from Not an Experiment can help with everything from general information to posters to announcements to full-on lesson plans and educational games to help address vaping in your school: EDUCATORS - Not An Experiment

We also have general fact pages on Alcohol, Cannabis, Opioids, smoking, and vaping: Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco | Southwestern Public Health

Are you looking for an approach that prevents substance use with Social-Emotional learning principles?

The Healthy Relationships Plus Program from the Centre for School Mental Health at Western University is a 14-session program helps Grade 7 and 8 students strengthen their communication and relationship skills. It’s offered in collaboration with school staff and boards.

Get resources for the Healthy Relationships Plus Program

Are you looking for advice on how to help your student(s) quit vaping?

The Quash Brief Conversations Toolkit is designed to be used by parents, teachers and other caring adults to help you work with your student(s) to start their vaping quit journey. The Quash app is designed for youth and young adults aged 14–30 who want to quit smoking or vaping. It lets you create a personalized plan to help you quit and stay smoke-free for good.

Are you looking for resources by grade?

  • Educators and Student Support Staff Information - School Mental Health Ontario
    • Grades 4-12
    • This page provides educators with an overview of youth substance use, the continuum of use, and practical resources and strategies to support students’ well‑being and address substance-related concerns in school settings.
  • Understanding Substance Use: Educator's Guide - Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
    • Grades 6-12
    • Downloadable Educator’s Guide and video modules with facts, tools and resources on substance use, stigma, cannabis vaping, alcohol and impaired driving.

All Substances

  • Get the Facts - Health Canada

    • Grades 4-6

    • Online presentation for students with important information about the impacts and risks associated with alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and vaping products and strategies for handling peer pressure.
  • iMinds - University of Victoria

    • Grades K-12

    • Lesson plans using stories and games to spark conversation and critical thinking about substance use and gambling.
  • Unfiltered Facts Resource Hub - Hamilton Public Health

    • Grades 5-8

    • Password: UUFHAMONT24
    • Grade-specific lesson plans on substances, aligned with Ontario curriculum.
  • Grade 6 : Substance Use and Digital Safety Modules for Grade 6 - Ministry of Health
    • Grade 6
    • Teacher-led modules co-developed with School Mental Health Ontario.
    • Addictions and Related Behaviours, Safe and Healthy Personal Choices.
    • Structured lessons to help students build health literacy and develop skills related to the effects of substance use and digital safety.

Vaping

  • Not an Experiment - Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
    • Grades 7-12
    • Easy-to-use lesson plans, resources, and downloadable materials to support educators in preventing harms from vaping.
  • Vaping Conversation Starter Videos - Ophea
    • Grades 4-8
    • Videos for elementary students that initiate conversations about vaping.

Alcohol

  • Factors of Intoxication - Ophea
    • Grade 5
    • Helps students understand the factors that influence how alcohol affects the body.
  • Kids, Alcohol and Advertising - Media Smarts
    • Grades 5-8
    • Explore how alcohol advertising targets youth and shapes their attitudes toward drinking.

Cannabis

All Substances

  • Unfiltered Facts - Hamilton Public Health

    • Grades 5-8
    • Password: UUFHAMONT24
    • Grade- specific lesson plans on substances, aligned with Ontario curriculum.
  • iMinds - University of Victoria
    • Grades K-12
    • Lesson plans using stories and games to spark conversation and critical thinking about substance use and gambling.

Vaping

Alcohol

  • Kids, Alcohol and Advertising - Media Smarts
    • Grade 4-8
    • Explore how alcohol advertising targets youth and shapes their attitudes toward drinking.

Cannabis

  • Pursue Your Passion - Health Canada
    • Grades 7-8
    • Online Online teacher-led module to help students understand the risks of cannabis use on their mental health and to encourage the pursuit of activities without the use of substances
  • Cannabis Elementary Action Plans - Ophea
    • Grades 5-8
    • Inquiry-based activities to address the topic of cannabis

All Substances

  • iMinds - University of Victoria
    • Grades K-12
    • Lesson plans using stories and games to spark conversation and critical thinking about substance use and gambling.
  • Grade 10: Mental Health and Substance Curriculum and Resources - Ministry of Education
    • Grade 10
    • Teacher-led modules co-developed with School Mental Health Ontario
    • Strategies for managing stress and navigating balance; Knowing when, where and how to seek support.

Vaping

  • Not an Experiment - Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
    • Grades 7-12
    • Easy to-use lesson plans, resources, and downloadable materials to support educators in preventing harms from vaping.
  • Consider the Consequences of Vaping - Health Canada
    • Grades 9-12
    • Self-directed learning modules and teacher’s resource on the harms and risks of vaping.

Cannabis

  • Cannabis Activity Plans for Secondary Students - Ophea
    • Grades 9-12
    • Inquiry-based activities to address the topic of cannabis.
  • Cannabis and Mental Health
    • Grades 9-12
    • Created by youth for youth
    • Online self-led modules for students looking to learn more about cannabis, its effects, and how to help their friends if they are struggling with negative use patterns

Contact Us

Southwestern Public Health (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday)

St. Thomas Site
(Administrative office)
1230 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 1G9

Woodstock Site
410 Buller Street
Woodstock, ON N4S 4N2

Call us toll free: 1-800-922-0096
Email us

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