1. School Health
  2. Substance Use
  3. Opioids

Opioids

Educating youth about substance use is important to help them develop skills and knowledge to make healthier choices.

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. Youth might begin using opioids for many reasons such as: getting a prescription for opioids from a doctor for pain, for fun or social reasons, or 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).

According to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS, 2021), 1 in 8-in-eight (12.7%) students in grades 7 to 12 reported the non-medical use of prescription opioid pain relievers in the past year. Also noted, female are more likely to report using prescription opioid pain relievers compared to their self-identifying male counterparts (OSDUHS, 2021). Many students (67%) who use prescription painkillers reported getting them from home (CAMH, 2022).

In Windsor-Essex County in 2021, opioid-related Emergency Department (ED) visit rates for the age 1 to 14 year old age group was 22.2 visits per 100,000 and for the 15 to 24 year old age group it was 228.7 visits per 100,000. Among 15 to 24 year olds males represent a higher rate of opioid related ED visits (287.2 visits per 100,000) compared to females (168.2 visits per 100,000) (WECOSS website).

Using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework, schools, school boards, parents and community partners can work together to develop healthy school environments that promote and support student well-being.

Opioid resources and supports are organized below following this framework

Resources & Information for:

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.
  • Health811: 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, such as registered nurses, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online.

  • 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.
  • Health811: 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, such as registered nurses, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online.

  • 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.
  • Health811: 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, such as registered nurses, locate local health services. Can access resources or chat live online.