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Community Partners Explore a New Approach to Prevent Youth Substance Use

Timmins, Ontario — On February 21st, community partners from the health, education, social and recreational sectors came together to explore a new approach to preventing youth substance use in Timmins. This approach is based on the Icelandic Prevention Model, an evidence- and community-based process which has been proven to lower substance use in Iceland and has since been adapted in more than 16 countries.

The Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) hosted an event in Timmins where community leaders came together to hear Jón Sigfússon, Chairman of Planet Youth, an Icelandic research consultancy and Robin Katrick, Community Development Advisor present how the Icelandic Prevention Model has reduced youth substance use from 42% in 1997 to 5% in 2022 in Iceland.

“The substance use rates in Northern Ontario are higher than the provincial average,” said Laurie Dagg-Labine, Manager of Healthy Families, Substance Use and Mental Health at the PHU. “We do believe a new approach is required to improve outcomes. By decreasing substance use in youth, we also may be able to alter patterns of substance use into adulthood.”

Dagg-Labine adds that prevention is about creating an environment where everyone feels safe, cared for and valued. The goals are to strengthen protective factors, mitigate risk factors and build healthy community environments by focusing on things such as family, peer groups, extracurricular activities and school well-being. Community and health promotion partners would work together to find solutions that are unique to our community’s specific needs.

The Porcupine Health Unit is located in Northeastern Ontario, serving the entire Cochrane District and Hornepayne, in Algoma District. The main office is located in Timmins, Ontario, with branch offices in Cochrane, Hearst, Hornepayne, Iroquois Falls, Kapuskasing, Matheson, Moosonee and Smooth Rock Falls.