Assessing drug use by rural youth in East Central Saskatchewan

Last Updated: February 3, 2014

  (Principal Investigator)

This project, also known as Rural Youth Risk Behaviours and Healthy Lifestyles Project, was funded by Health Canada through the Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund. The project took place between September 2005 and March 31, 2008. 

It involved a number of initiatives, including: forming a steering committee with key community partners from health, education, social services and justice sectors; interviews with key informants, such as professionals working as service providers for rural youth dealing with substance abuse issues (tobacco, drugs and alcohol); a classroom survey of 954 youth in grades 7 to 12 in 34 schools in rural Saskatchewan; focus groups with 25 rural youth in three high schools that had participated in the questionnaire; information nights in communities to present the results of the key informant interviews, questionnaires and focus groups and to discuss the issues with community members; and planning sessions with communities interested in developing strategies to encourage healthy lifestyles and reduce risky behaviours for rural youth.

Goals / Outcomes: The overall goal of this project was to assess healthy lifestyles and risk behaviours of youth in rural Saskatchewan. The information was to help health and education professionals, community organizations and policy makers in their efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles and reduce risk behaviours, including drug use in the region.

Four reports were produced surrounding the interviews, focus groups and youth survey, as well as one with recommendations. As well, a series of fact sheets and posters examine a number of related topics from the projects, such as alcohol use, tobacco, gambling, sexual activity, drug use and perceptions of weight.

Funder: Health Canada, Saskatoon Health Region, Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence, University of Saskatchewan and St. Peter’s College

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