Drug Education in Ontario Schools: Content and Processes

Abstract

Results from two large repeated surveys of Ontario (Canada) students, sampled from grades seven through thirteen, indicate that little time is allocated to drug education in schools. The most common focus is on alcohol, and on the harmful effects of alcohol or other drug use; most drug education is through the medium of teacher-led classes. Significant differences, as a function of demographic and drug use characteristics, were found in students' reported previous exposure to drug education and in their stated preferences for future drug education content and format. Discussion of the results focuses on their implications for more effective drug education.