Drug education centred on youth decision empowerment (DECYDE): a nixed-methods approach to harm reduction substance use education

There is an identified critical gap in substance use education for school-aged youth, a vulnerable population susceptible to the health and safety consequences of substances. This project is a sub-part of an initiative led by the Cannabis Health Evaluation & Research Partnership (CHERP) team at Memorial University compiled of youth, people with lived and living experience, educators, pharmacists, psychologists and social workers. With support from key collaborators, including the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Departments of Education and Health and Community Services, the NL Centre on Substance Use, Newfoundland and Labrador Schools, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teacher’s Association and our Youth Advisory panel, we aim to design, implement and evaluate a substance use education strategy for school-age youth titled Drug Education Centered on Youth Decision Empowerment (DECYDE). The current project aimed to support the development and evaluation of DECYDE through a citizen-engaged, interdisciplinary approach. The first study is a scoping review of evaluated harm reduction programs directed toward school-aged youth in Canada and the United States. The findings identified limited available harm reduction programs for school-aged youth. With this identified gap, the purpose of the second was to gain a better understanding of educators’ perspectives on substance use-related issues and to explore strategies for delivering and assessing effective drug education strategies to best support students’ substance use health literacy. Educators stressed the prominent societal concern of student substance use in the province and stressed a need for education that is universal, implemented early, easily accessible for youth, and engages families. Further, they emphasized key aspects that drug education should cover, including up-to-date resources, harm reduction strategies, and diverse and culturally sensitive content. Lastly, there was ambivalence on how to evaluate drug education, as the dire need was placed at the forefront, over assessment. Although, they did note the importance of student autonomy, ensuring they have choice in their evaluation as well as ensuring students are engaged. Findings from these projects will support the development, delivery and evaluation of DECYDE.