Alcohol & Cannabis
Overview
The clinically proven OurFutures Alcohol & Cannabis prevention program is an education course that empowers high school students and teens to navigate real-life situations they may encounter involving alcohol and cannabis – safely and responsibly.
Co-designed with students and teachers and based on the principles of effective drug education, this course uses realistic cartoon stories to give youth the facts, understanding, and skills they need to prevent or reduce alcohol and cannabis-related harms. This program is designed to delivered 6-12 months after delivery of the OurFutures Alcohol prevention program.
How it works
- Highly relatable cartoon storylines based on young people’s experiences.
- Interactive activities encourage teens to apply the skills they learn in preparation for future experiences.
- Information worksheets, class discussion, role plays, and homework activities ignite conversations and deepen topic understanding.
What students learn about
- Alcohol and the law.
- The side effects of alcohol consumption and strategies to minimise harm.
- What is cannabis, why do people use it?
- What are the side effects of cannabis use?
- Consequences of alcohol and cannabis use.
- Seeking help.
What students say
We asked high school students why they liked the OurFutures Alcohol & Cannabis Education Course.
Highly relatable characters and storylines
“The characters are around our age, and it shows us how to deal with some things that happen around us or could happen around us in the future. It is portrayed in a realistic way.”
“Kids your age teach you rather than adults who you may not want to listen to.”
Helping yourself and others
“Different strategies on how you or someone you know can get help if struggling with addiction.”
“Shows and tells how to be safe with alcohol and cannabis and get help.”
Informative and factual
“The story tells us that drinking and smoking aren’t that common at my age.”
“Shows the side effects of drinking alcohol and cannabis.”
Recommended years
Years 8 and 9.
*For the greatest impact, we recommend delivering this program 6-12 months after delivery of the OurFutures Alcohol prevention program.
Lessons
Six 40-minute lessons, including a 20-minute cartoon story and teacher-facilitated activities.
*This course was designed to be delivered with the OurFutures Alcohol module.
Evidence rating
Platinum
This resource is supported by several randomised controlled trials and a systematic review.
Curriculum-mapped
The online OurFutures Alcohol & Cannabis Education Course is mapped to national and state-based Health and Physical Education curricula. Visit our insights to view the curriculum mapping for your state.
Student benefits
When delivered with the Alcohol module, students had:
- Increased knowledge about alcohol and cannabis.
- Reduced frequency of cannabis use.
- Reduced alcohol consumption and binge drinking.
- Reduced truancy.
- Reduced psychological distress.
- Slowed progression of anxiety symptoms*
- Reduced odds of alcohol-related harms, binge drinking & hazardous alcohol use up to seven years later
- The beneficial effects from the Alcohol & Cannabis program are some of the longest and most robust in the drug prevention literature.
*When the OurFutures Alcohol, Alcohol & Cannabis and Mental Health programs are delivered together.
