Brief Summaries - Substance Abuse Prevention Projects - Ontario

Introduction

When examining the pathways of young people, it has been established that early, persistent delinquent behaviour accompanied by substance abuse, is a strong predictor of adult criminal behaviour. When combined with increases in the rates of self-reported problem use of illegal substances and higher levels of acceptance of drug use among youth, concerns from a crime prevention perspective are warranted. (for more information, see http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/sclbsd-drgbs/index-eng.aspx)

As a result of these linkages, the NCPC supports projects that include addressing and preventing substance abuse.

The following brief project descriptions provide information on some of the projects funded by the NCPC in Ontario between 2009-2014 that, to varying degrees, worked to prevent substance abuse as a risk factor for criminal behaviour.

These projects may help inspire those concerned about these issues and provide a way to explore approaches to prevention that will be a good fit in communities.

Organization: John Howard Society of Hamilton, Burlington and Area
Project Title: Hamilton Project Towards No Drug Abuse Program
Duration: July 13, 2009 – October 13, 2013

The Hamilton Project Towards No Drug Abuse (Project TND) is an interactive, classroom-based, drug and substance abuse prevention program. It focuses on motivation, life skills and decision making. Project TND seeks to give youth the pro-social foundation to reduce delinquent and anti-social behaviour. The project works with high school youth aged 14 to 19 who are at high risk for drug and substance abuse problems and is delivered in high schools located in two school boards – Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth District Catholic School Board.

The program is delivered in schools that have been identified as high risk by the school boards' alternative education, expulsion and suspension programs. During each year of the four year program, 1280 students are expected to participate. In addition to the school-based program, a community-based program is being implemented. It is recognized that many youth at high risk for substance use and related criminal activity are not in the school system. Program activities for the community-based youth are the same as those for the classroom-based program, with the activities taking place in the John Howard Society or a community-based space. Project TND has a goal to involve 160 community youth annually during the four year project.

The program consists of 12 interactive group sessions that are 40-50 minutes in length. These sessions work towards the development of motivation and decision making skills to decrease use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and hard drugs and related incidence of violent behaviour. The program content includes the following workshops: Communication Skills; Stereotyping; Myths and Denials; Clinical Dependency; Consequences of Substance Use Talk Show, Marijuana Panel, Tobacco Use Cessation, and Life Skills (including stress, self-control, positive thought, goal setting and decision making).

John Howard Society of Hamilton, Burlington and Area
225 King William Street, Suite 201
Hamilton ON, L8R 1B1
Tel: 905-522-4446 ext. 230
Fax: 905-524 2223

Date modified:

2018-01-31