The overall aims of this
Healthy Living 8 unit are to strengthen students’
understanding of the factors that influence substance-use
decisions and to help them make healthy substance-use
decisions. An important ingredient of sound decision making
is having a clear understanding of risks and harms linked
to substance use—those concerning alcohol and
cannabis mainly will be presented. The remainder of the
unit aims to increase knowledge and skills pertaining to
family and media influences.
The assumption here is that alcohol and/or cannabis will
still be the substances of choice and most easily
available. However, the Nova Scotia Student Drug Use Survey
2007 shows that hallucinogens (mescaline or psilocybin) are
the third most frequently used category of psychoactive
substances. The Healthy Living curriculum also identifies a
discussion of over-the-counter and prescription drug misuse
as required outcomes for grade 8 students. The best
knowledge available on junior high school–level drug
education advises that the program focus on the drugs that
are available to students rather than provide a broad
education on all substances. Yet, what is available and
what is in use can change at a faster pace than survey data
can report. This first lesson in grade 8 is designed to
help teachers identify what other substances are available
to their students to help them tailor the activity plans to
those specific substances.