Schools advised to start substance use education in kindergarten
New framework recommends early prevention as substance-related deaths become the leading cause of mortality for Canadian youth aged 10 to 18.
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A new framework dubbed Anchoring Change recommends schools begin substance use prevention and education as early as kindergarten, shifting away from punitive approaches toward supportive community-based strategies.
Developed by academics, addictions researchers, and school administrators, the framework addresses a growing need: substance-related deaths are the leading cause of mortality for people aged 10 to 18 across Canada. A recent national survey on alcohol and drug use among Canadian students showed a sharp rise in youth using multiple drugs simultaneously.
"By intervening or developing strategies to begin that early prevention around kindergarten, and then continuing through the primary and secondary school grades, we can help to shift some of those trajectories," said Emily Jenkins, scientific director of the Canadian Centre for Innovation in Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use.
A previous survey of school principals and vice-principals found they were spending more time dealing with substance use in K-12 settings but felt they lacked clear guidance to manage it effectively.
The framework emphasizes relationships and community connection as prevention tools from the start. "Belonging, community, connection, meaning — these are framed as really important components of prevention," said Danya Fast, research scientist with the B.C. Centre on Substance Use. "Those are things that we can start to build right from the very beginning of school, in kindergarten."
For older students, the guidelines recommend school administrators prioritize harm minimization and early warning-sign recognition rather than punitive discipline.
