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Safety First Real Drug Education
The City of Beaumont has put together resources and sessions to help educate you and your kids on the topic of Drug Education. A full course work of material has been developed as well as educational resources to help you understand the cause and effect of different drug categories and how you can properly address the topic.
The Safety First: Real Drug Education for Teens curriculum was developed by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) to provide teens with honest and scientifically accurate information, and empower them to reduce drug-related harms. The curriculum aligns with the National Health Education Standards (NHES) and Common Core Learning Standards. Each lesson is 45-50 minutes long and includes teacher modifications, student worksheets and extension assignments for further learning. To assist educators in assessing student knowledge, each lesson includes a grading rubric.
This curriculum will help students:
- Use critical thinking skills to access and evaluate information about alcohol and other drugs.
- Learn decision-making and goal-setting skills that help them make healthy choices related to substance use.
- Develop personal and social strategies to manage the risks, benefits and harms of alcohol and other drug use.
- Understand the impact of drug policies on personal and community health.
- Learn how to advocate for restorative drug policies.
Regional Resources
Drug Policies
Cannabis Education
Responsible Use
Health Canada
Alberta Health Services
1. What is a Drug?
Overview: Students examine their own beliefs about alcohol and other drugs by answering the question “What is a drug?” They take a preclass survey to assess their prior knowledge and skills.
Date & Time: January 13, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
2. Introduction to Harm Reduction
Overview: Students learn about harm reduction concepts and strategies, including abstinence, that will empower them to make healthy choices for themselves and others regarding substance use.
Date & Time: January 20, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
3. How Drugs Work
Overview: Students learn how drugs affect the body and the brain, and specifically the teenage brain. They further discuss the factors that contribute to physical dependence.
Date & Time: January 27, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
4. Stimulants
Overview: Students learn about stimulant drugs, their effects, benefits and risks. They further discuss the harm reduction concepts particularly related to prescription stimulant drugs.
Date & Time: February 3, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
5. Cannabis - Part 1
Overview: Students play “Fact and Fiction About Cannabis” activity to see how much they know about the drug. They work in groups to research statements about cannabis, and use the CRAAP test to evaluate their sources’ credibility.
Date & Time: February 10, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
6. Cannabis - Part 2
Overview: Students learn about cannabis’ effects, potential risks and benefits, including the effects of edible cannabis. Student then share and evaluate each other’s research on statements about cannabis.
Date & Time: February 17, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
7. Vaping & E-Cigarettes
Overview: Students explore the inner workings of e-cigarettes in-depth. They conduct research to examine the health effects of vaping, using the CRAAP test to evaluate their sources’ credibility.
Date & Time: February 24, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
8. Alcohol & Other Depressants
Overview: Students learn about the effects of depressant drugs with a focus on alcohol. They learn how to perform the recovery position and give advice about how to reduce alcohol-related harms using practice scenarios.
Date & Time: March 3, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
9. Prescription & Other Opioids
Overview: Students take an in-depth look at opioid drugs, their effects, risks, and benefits. They will learn how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and respond appropriately.
Date & Time: March 10, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
10. Psychedelics
Overview: Students learn about psychedelic drugs, their effects, risks and benefits. They reflect on drug references in the media, specifically music, and how they influence teens. They also complete an activity that demonstrates the risks of illicit drug adulteration, and learn about the harm reduction practice of drug checking.
Date & Time: March 17, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
11. Mental Health and Coping
Overview: Students discuss how drug use can be a mechanism for dealing with mental health issues, specifically stress and anxiety. They learn how to locate resources that can help them cope.
Date & Time: March 24, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
12. Understanding Zero-Tolerance
Overview: Students learn about zero-tolerance drug policies and their impact on students’ health and well-being. Students also learn about restorative justice practices.
Date & Time: March 31, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
13. Health & Policy
Overview: Students learn about drug policies and America’s war on drugs. They discuss how drug policies impact health, and learn ways in which harm reduction-based drug policies can help improve health outcomes.
Date & Time: April 7, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
14. Looking Back, Looking Forward
Overview: Students review what they have learned by playing the “Just The Facts” Kahoot game. Students reflect on what they have learned by writing a letter to their future selves about drugs and drug use.
Date & Time: April 14, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)
15. A Healthy Future
Overview: Students discuss their advocacy assignment from Lesson 12. They take a post-test to assess their understanding of the content covered in the curriculum.
Date & Time: April 21, 2021
Registration: Email Brodie Stenhouse (brodie.stenhouse@beaumont.ab.ca)