Vaping
This module is to be used along with the facilitator guide and provides the teacher or educator with a lesson that covers multiple areas related to vaping and its use, including youth marketing tactics and potential health risks. Recovery, harm reduction and stigma are also discussed.
Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum Expectations (2015):
- Grade 9: C3.4 - Social influences; decision-making, communication skills
- Grade 10:
- C1.2 - Effects on health and well-being
- C2.4 - Responding to challenges involving substance use or addictions – use of living skills
- Grade 11:
- C2.2 - Connections between substance use, addictive behaviour, and physical and mental health; making safer choices
- C3.3 - Risk factors and supports
- Grade 12: C1.2 - Consequences of substance misuse – short-term, long-term, legal
Youth Connections Ottawa
Youth Connections Ottawa (YCO) is a peer-to-peer program which aims to contribute to positive mental health and substance use health of Ottawa youth. YCO aims to meaningfully engage youth to enhance their knowledge of mental health and increase positive behaviours and strategies for wellbeing.
YCO uses a peer-to-peer approach, where peer leaders are supported by adult allies to learn about mental health and substance use health and then encouraged to develop activities, events and initiatives for their peers. This program recognizes that youth are often more receptive to messaging that comes from their peers. These peer leaders have their own knowledge based on lived and living experience and can help ensure that the program is delivered in a way other youth can relate to.
The YCO program has been designed so that it can be easily customized to the needs of Ottawa’s many diverse communities.
Party Safer Online Course
Free, bilingual course, accessible through StopOverdoseOttawa (and through Olearn). Participants need to create an account (if you don’t already have one). Takes 30 minutes to complete; will receive a certificate of completion (valid for 1 year), recommend taking this course annually. Participants can exit and re-open it without losing progress. Provides information that can help people party as safely as possible. Covers information on:
- Commonly used substances
- Party Safer tips and reducing harms related to substance use
- Identifying and responding to an opioid overdose
- Naloxone use and how to get no-cost kits
- Coping after a distressing event
- Resources related to mental health, violence prevention, addictions and substance use health
Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum Expectations (2015):
- Grade 12:
- C1.2 Consequences of substance use – short-term, long-term, legal. (PPL40)
- C2.3 Developing resilience, making healthy choices. (PPL40)
- C2.5 Maintaining health and well-being when independent. (PPL40)
Youth Education Modules - Focusing on commercial tobacco, e-cigarettes, cannabis and the Smoke-Free Ontario Act
This Olearn course for students covers: Commercial tobacco, vapour products and cannabis; health effects of smoking and vaping; information on resources and services related to mental health, addictions and substance use health as well as the federal, provincial (SFOA) and municipal smoke-free and vapour-free regulations. This course also includes a certificate of completion and will take approximately 45-60 minutes to complete.
Ontario Health and Physical Education Curriculum Expectations (2015):
- Grade 12:
- C1.2 Consequences of substance use – short-term, long-term, legal. (PPL40)
- C1.2 - Effects on health and well-being. (PPL20)
- C2.3 Developing resilience, making healthy choices. (PPL40)
- C2.5 Maintaining health and well-being when independent. (PPL40)
Nicotine Pouches Factsheet
Nicotine pouches are smokeless, spit-free products that deliver nicotine and are sometimes used as an alternative to smoking or vaping. While often marketed as “tobacco-free,” they can still cause oral health issues. This factsheet explains what’s approved in Canada, outlines potential harms, and offers practical guidance to support informed harm-reduction conversations.
Vaping: What's Really in That Cloud?
This quick-reference factsheet provides key information about vaping, including health risks, signs of vaping, and strategies to support informed decision-making. It’s designed to promote awareness and encourage conversations about vaping with youth.
Substance Use Health Infographic (OSDUHS 2023)
The Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) has been conducted every 2 years since 1977 by the Centre of Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). CAMH administered the survey to Ontario students in grades 7-12 during the 2022-2023 school year, and OPH’s Epidemiology team analyzed the local data.
Overall, the 2023 survey results showed small improvements in self-reported mental health and in students reporting feeling close to people at their school, but the results also highlighted areas of concern, including results on substance use, particularly opioids, stigma related to substance use, and thoughts of suicide. The data showcases that there is a vital need for continued and enhanced promotion, prevention and early intervention efforts, including stigma reduction, youth engagement and access to treatment.
This infographic, shows some of the key OSDUHS findings for youth in Ottawa. For more detailed OSDUHS results from 2023 or previous years, please visit our Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health (MHASUH) Community Dashboard.
Additional resources that are not grade-specific but still appropriate for this grade can be found in the Additional Resources section.
