Cannabis use in Canadian youth is prevalent. In fact, youth between the ages of 15-24 have a rate of cannabis use that is twice that of adults. The developing brain is particularly vulnerable to cannabis use.

Cannabis was legalized in Canada on October 17, 2018 for adults over the age of 19. There is a need for more education for school aged children and their families. Through youth engagement, we hope to explore individual values and beliefs, and create open dialogue about the science and risks of cannabis and coping with peer pressure. Ultimately, we want students to have the knowledge and confidence to make healthy decisions and choices.

Our goal, is to develop a toolkit for teachers and parents. The REACH (Real Education About Cannabis and Health) program will consist of educational videos and materials about cannabis use. One module will be geared for a middle-school audience, while the other will be aimed for high school students. Although these resources will be created locally in Saskatoon, they will be generic enough that they can be shared widely.

These resources will be created by students and for students. The Safe School Health Improvement Project (Safe SHIP) and the School Health Initiative with Nursing Education (SHINE) programs are community-based partnerships between the College of Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan and two elementary schools and two high schools in Saskatoon (St. Luke, North Park Wilson, Bishop James Mahoney, and Tommy Douglas). Through these programs, university students from the College of Nursing and the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition will collaborate with youth from participating schools.

By involving youth in all aspects of the development process, we hope to create educational materials that are engaging, informative and relatable.

Thank you for your support ! We invite you to follow our progress on the timeline and progress tab.