AADAC is committed to providing a range of addiction services to youth including information, prevention, early intervention, outpatient counselling and treatment services. Partnerships with schools are key to AADAC’s efforts to contribute to the optimal development of youth in Alberta.
AADAC’s school-based resources for youth are directly linked to the Alberta Education Curriculum Outcomes for Health and Life Skills, as well as English Language Arts, Social Studies and Drama. These resources can help you plan and deliver quality lessons supporting the Alberta curriculum for grades 3 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12, at the same time delivering effective prevention messages to youth.
Substance Use Prevention in the Classroom (PDF) is intended to provide teachers with a framework to develop common goals and implement consistent school-based addictions services in conjunction with the AADAC staff who work in Alberta schools. This increases the number of youth being reached and achieves greater benefits for Alberta students.
Prevention best practice tells us two things:
- Programs need to be progressive, sequential and cumulative
- Intervention is most relevant at key developmental transition points (grades 3 to 7, 9, 11) when kids are most vulnerable to experimentation and potential harmful involvement with alcohol, drugs, tobacco and gambling
AADAC’s school strategy incorporates these two principles.
The resources are easy to use, and are most effective when used in their entirety and sequentially, however they may also be adapted if time poses a constraint. Suggestions are given in each resource about how best to modify the lessons.
School Resources:
For more support or information, please contact your local AADAC office.
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