Dissemination of the REACH (Real Education About Cannabis and Health) Program to Saskatchewan Youth

Youth between the ages of 15-24 have a rate of cannabis use that is twice that of adults. The prevalence of cannabis use in youth is concerning due to the vulnerability of the developing brain in this age group. With the legalization of cannabis, there is an urgent need for increased education for school-aged children, so that youth can have the knowledge and confidence to make healthy decisions about cannabis.

Our multidisciplinary team is developing the REACH (Real Education About Cannabis and Health) program, which is a toolkit for teachers, consisting of educational videos and materials about cannabis. The resources are being co-created with students from four schools in Saskatoon in grades 7-9 with support from the Cannabis Research Initiative of Saskatchewan (CRIS). Funds from the SHRF connections grant will be used to disseminate the toolkit, so that all schools in Saskatchewan can access these increasingly important resources.