Take Action in Secondary Schools
SECTION III:
Education and Instruction
Student Involvement and Peer-led Initiatives
Displays and Presentations
Invite community agencies (e.g., health, enforcement, addictions etc.) to set up displays and/or offer education sessions about drinking, driving, drug use and tobacco use.
Host a Wellness Day
Arrange displays that would be available for viewing while guestspeakers are booked for specific topics and students rotate through these classes. Topics can include drug and alcohol misuse, the risks of smoking, good nutrition, the importance of physical activity, etc.
Smart Risk/ No Regrets training
Students trained in Smart Risk bring messages to fellow students about staying healthy and safe and avoiding injury.
Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving
Chapters can be formed within the school community. Students can assist their peers in understanding the risks involved with alcohol and the use of motorized vehicles.
Dead Day
Developed on the premise that 38 people die every day in Ontario as a result of tobacco use. Black t-shirts are used to demonstrate these deaths by having an additional student wear these t-shirts every 6 minutes throughout the day. At the end of the day students will have a visual reminder of the impact of tobacco on their lives (should be approximately 38 students).
Substance Stunts
Large group re-creation of this game using contestants and a live audience. Students can make up "games" for contestants utilizing Fatal Vision Goggles, ear plugs, gloves, mittens etc. and having contestants perform "stunts" (e.g., drive a remote control car with thick mittens, eat "fake vomit" – mushed canned pasta with grapes or raisins, walk a line, or play darts with fatal vision goggles).
Trivia Game
Create questions about alcohol and drug use and involve teams of students to challenge each other.
Host a Mock Talk Show
With a student playing the part of a well known talk show host interview an individual addicted to drugs or alcohol and invite audience participation in finding solutions to their problems.
Preventing Alcohol Related Trauma in Youth
Program originated by Sunnybrook Hospital in which youth have the opportunity to visit the emergency department, intensive care, and rehabilitation department of the local hospital as well as the opportunity to hear from a survivor. Ask if your local hospital has a "P.A.R.T.Y." program or would be willing to develop one.
Safe Graduation and Safe Party Events
Host or attend activities for graduation party planners and graduating students. These activities can include a mocktail, grad dress fashion show, and education about the hazards of alcohol and drug misuse.
Check out www.camh.net for ideas on student drug use, information on drugs and addictions, or multilingual resources.
Host a Mocktail Event
Encourage students to create their own mocktails to be judged at an event.
Host a Mock Crash Event or Mock "Substance Issue related" Event
Combining the resources of health and enforcement staff, a "Mock crash" is enacted at the beginning or ending of a school day. Students witness the impact of such an event on the driver (being arrested), the victim (needing rescue), and workers. Have staff and counselors briefed to deal with the concerns of students.
Contests
Encourage students to take part in community contests that target alcohol or substance misuse. Create your own school contest (e.g., poster, slogan, musical performance or dramatic piece) with anti-alcohol and drug misuse messages. Prizes may be donated by community partners or local businesses.
Extra-curricular Athletics
- Have a guestspeaker talk about the effect of alcohol and/ or drugs on his/her sport or why he/she will not use substances
- Encourage a "No performance enhancing drugs" policy for all athletic groups
- Purchase signage or create posters discouraging performance enhancing drugs
- Have an athletic team wear "I do not do drugs" t-shirts for a day. Alternate messages include "I am substance free" or "I live free"
Drug Awareness Week
Take part in local Drug Awareness Week activities. Encourage teachers to highlight the issues surrounding alcohol and substance misuse for at least one class during this week. Host information displays. Have positive antidrinking or anti-drug use messages on the announcements such as: "I live free", "No substances for me thank you", "I do not need drugs or alcohol to have a good day".
National Non-Smoking Week
Participate in National Non-Smoking Week the third week in January. Profile smoking rates among adults and students in your community, and where to get help in quitting (e.g., smoker's helpline, www.quit4life.com, and public health units).
