Improving school district substance use response policies.

Victoria – 2023

Victoria Agenda Gap youth identified the lack of substance-use and harm reduction education in B.C. as a critical issue. They expressed concern that this gap was causing youth to make poorly informed and risky decisions around how they use substances – contributing to the ongoing overdose crisis. They also took issue with zero-tolerance school policies, noting that punitive approaches often harm youth by isolating them, causing them to spend more time in unsafe home environments, and discouraging them from confiding in trusted adults.

To deepen their understanding of this issue, Victoria youth connected with experts from Island Health’s Healthy Schools team and the Indigenous Perspectives Society. These conversations provided additional insight on youth-led advocacy, decolonizing harm reduction, culturally responsive practices, and non-punitive, community-based solutions.

Following their engagement with these adult allies, the group chose to focus their efforts on their local school district (SD61). They developed and delivered a compelling presentation to the SD61 Operations Policy and Planning Committee, urging the district to adopt a non-punitive response framework and integrate harm reduction principles into school curricula. Their message was well received, and their advocacy prompted meaningful discussion among district leaders.