Building capacity for effective drug education

Funding bodies: BC Ministry of Education

Background: The objective of this multi-year project was to develop a system by which a common understanding consistent with current provincial health and education policy and the skills necessary for effective implementation of drug education can be nurtured and sustained through structures and mechanisms within school districts, health authorities and communities.

The project recognized the existence of drug content expertise within the health system and education process expertise within the education system. Recognizing that education is largely relational and needs to promote inquiry and dialogue rather than didactic instruction, the project sought to maximize educational effectiveness by leveraging the capacity with health to support effective pedagogical efforts within education.

During the period of the project, a significant re-design of the BC curriculum was being undertaken by the BC Ministry of Education. This re-design, in many ways, was aligned with the efforts this project was pursuing relative to drug education (emphasis on inquiry and competency development).