Cannabis is a common drug used worldwide amongst youth. Cannabis use can cause functional and structural changes to the developing brain, impact academic performance and potentially cause other physical and psychological harms, and the development of cannabis education for youth is of critical importance. Following a youth cannabis education literature review evaluating evidence based cannabis education initiatives, YMCA of Greater Toronto designed and implemented Youth Cannabis Education and Awareness Program, YCAP, across Canada. Informed by protective factors contributing to youth mental health, YCAP provides a multi-faceted and innovative approach to youth cannabis education incorporating community education and youth engagement activities including peer to peer education, media contests and experiential learning/student placement opportunities. Additionally, YCAP’s knowledge hub and curriculum design increase knowledge/skills supporting resilience and positive youth development. This presentation provides an overview of YCAP program, cover success and challenges, highlight the role of peer intervention model in cannabis awareness, engage participants in an honest dialogue around youth cannabis use, and discuss strategies to incorporate cannabis literacy into secondary and post-secondary education. It is important to note that peer-based educational programs have been successfully used in a range of contexts, including substance use, sexual risk behaviours, and HIV prevention amongst youth. Youth-driven engagement initiatives give youth a voice to identify their priorities related to cannabis use education and lead community-driven initiatives to support those priorities. They can both change behaviour and improve comprehension as by engaging youth, the messaging is relatable and consistent with youth’s experiences, culture and norms.

Authors:
Mina Hazar, YMCA of Greater Toronto, Canada
Adela Colhon, YMCA of Greater Toronto, Canada

About the Presenter(s)
Mina Hazar is Manager of National and Provincial Programs at YMCA of Greater Toronto. Mina has designed and implemented evidence-based prevention/education interventions and collaborated on research.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mina-hazar-54469a1ab/?originalSubdomain=ca

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