A new online guide is now available to help post-secondary institutions handle issues related to cannabis legalization.
Released by the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health, CMHA Ontario, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development, and the Provincial System Support Program at CAMH, Reducing Cannabis Harms: A Guide for Ontario Campuses provides readers with an overview of health approaches that can reduce the harms and risks associated with cannabis consumption. It is intended for any campus professional — whether faculty, academic advisor, counsellor, or student services professional — who work with students who use cannabis.
The guide is divided into three sections. The first section provides a better understanding of cannabis, the Ontario context, the substance use spectrum, as well as substance use disorders and problematic substance use.
Section two looks at the reasons why students use or don’t use cannabis, the effects of cannabis use on the brain in adolescents and young adults, the link between cannabis use and mental health, the effects of language and stigma, and strategies that campus professionals can use to reduce harms when directly engaging with students. Finally, section three provides concrete steps for developing a campus-wide cannabis-use framework to reduce harm.
Access to the online guide is free and available on the CICMH website.