FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Primary Prevention and Harm Reduction

Harm reduction recognizes the inherent risks in all situations and seeks to find ways to reduce those risks. For example, using a helmet when riding a bike, taking the sidewalk when going out for a walk, and following the speed limit when driving a vehicle. When it comes to substance use, harm reduction recognizes that some young people may choose to use substances despite prevention efforts. Rather than ignoring or condemning this reality, harm reduction provides accurate, non-judgmental information, practical strategies to reduce risk, and supportive resources. Additionally, taking a harm reduction approach looks beyond the substance use itself to understand the underlying circumstances that lead youth to use, offering support that meets them where they are. 

No, harm reduction does not encourage or promote drug use. Avoiding substances is a key component of harm reduction, and emphasizes that not using substances is the best way to stay safer. A harm reduction approach encourages healthy decision-making to help youth understand the risks and consequences of drug use so they can make safer, more informed decisions.

Research shows that punitive or abstinence-only approaches are often less effective. These measures don’t work because they oversimplify complex decisions and can stop youth from reaching out for help. Effective drug education empowers young people to make informed choices, teaches them ways to reduce risks, and builds resilience through supportive relationships and skills. By focusing on open dialogue instead of punishment, we create safer, more meaningful learning that supports youth well-being.

Even though many substances are illegal for youth, curiosity and social influences can still lead some to experiment. Legal substances like alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis—though restricted by age—are often perceived by youth as less harmful. Many young people have told us that strict abstinence-only messages led to distrust and, in some cases, fueled their decision to try substances. Harm reduction recognizes this reality. Rather than ignoring the risks, it equips youth with accurate, non-judgemental information, helping them make safer, more informed choices and reduce the likelihood of harms.

DECYDE General Information

DECYDE is produced by an interdisciplinary team at Memorial University, in collaboration with youth and experts in education, health, and research. Content is developed with care, grounded in community input, evidence-based practices, and brings a youth-informed perspective.

DECYDE is grounded in several key principles. It is evidence-informed, ensuring content is accurate and balanced; trauma-informed, recognizing the impact of adversity and promoting safe, supportive learning; and built on harm reduction, which equips youth with strategies to make safer, informed choices. The program also emphasizes primary prevention, aiming to delay or reduce substance use by strengthening protective factors, and uses a skills-based health education approach to build resilience, coping, communication, and decision-making skills.

Yes. While DECYDE was developed in Newfoundland and Labrador, its evidence-based, trauma-informed approach to substance use education is relevant for youth across Canada and internationally. The program addresses universal risk and protective factors, while also allowing flexibility for schools and communities to adapt the lessons to their own environment. All materials are open access and can be used anywhere.

DECYDE goes beyond substance use—it also addresses mental health, coping strategies, and overall well-being. The program recognizes that substance use is often connected to stress, relationships, and other challenges youth face. By promoting resilience, decision-making skills, and healthy supports, DECYDE helps students strengthen both their mental health and their ability to make safer choices.

A trauma-informed approach recognizes that many young people may have experienced stress, adversity, or trauma, which can shape their health, behaviour, and learning. Rather than using fear or shame, DECYDE creates a safe and supportive learning environment where students feel respected and heard. This approach reduces stigma, builds trust, and ensures that substance use education supports both well-being and safer decision-making.

Substance Snapshots are short, easy-to-read fact sheets that provide clear, reliable information about different substances. They highlight key points such as common effects, risks, and harm reduction strategies, making them useful for youth, educators, parents, and community members. Designed as quick reference tools, they complement the DECYDE lesson plans while also being accessible on their own for anyone seeking trustworthy information.

Substance Snapshots provide easy-to-read, two-page overviews of different substances. Each snapshot includes key facts such as common effects, short- and long-term risks, and harm reduction strategies. They are designed to give youth, educators, guardians, and community members reliable information at a glance, and can be used to complement DECYDE lesson plans.

DECYDE’s educational resources are a series of two-page infographics that break down key topics related to substance use, mental health, and overall well-being. They cover areas such as harm reduction strategies, protective and risk factors, decision-making models, coping with stress, and understanding stigma. Each infographic is designed to be clear, concise, and practical—making complex information easier to understand and apply. While they are created to help teachers deliver skills-based, trauma-informed lessons in the classroom, they are equally valuable for parents, caregivers, and community members who want reliable, evidence-based information to support youth and encourage safer choices.

DECYDE Lesson Plans

DECYDE provides teachers with multiple lesson plans for each grade level, each containing several interactive learning activities. These fully developed resources are directly linked to curriculum outcomes in Newfoundland and Labrador and use a skills-based approach, making it easier to engage students in meaningful learning about substance use and well-being. By offering evidence-based, age-appropriate content that is ready to use, DECYDE reduces preparation time while supporting consistent and effective classroom teaching.

A skills-based approach goes beyond sharing facts—it equips students with practical tools to make safer, healthier choices in real life. Through interactive lessons and activities, youth build critical thinking, communication, refusal, and coping skills that prepare them for situations they may face around substance use. This method is evidence-based and proven to be more effective than information-only approaches, because it empowers students to apply what they learn in meaningful ways.

Each lesson comes with learning outcomes, step-by-step plans, activities, answer keys, discussion prompts, supplementary background info, and tools like substance snapshots and educational infographics. Together, they support seamless and confident delivery of substance use health education by teachers.

The FACE model—Feel, Assess, Choose, Evaluate—is a structured, scenario-based tool used consistently across DECYDE lessons to guide student discussions and decision-making. Educators use it to help youth think through real-life situations thoughtfully.

DECYDE offers lesson plans for students from Grade 4 through Grade 12. Each grade level includes multiple lessons with several interactive learning activities, all aligned with curriculum outcomes and tailored to be age-appropriate.

We start early because prevention works best before risky patterns develop—youth who begin using substances at a younger age are more likely to develop a substance use disorder later in life. Early education helps children build knowledge, confidence, and healthy coping skills before they face greater pressures in adolescence. We also recognize that some children may already be exposed to substances in their homes or communities, so it’s important to provide age-appropriate information that promotes both safety and well-being.