OurFutures: Cannabis & Psychostimulant Module

OurFutures was developed by researchers currently based at the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney, Australia, formerly based at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), School of Psychiatry, and the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use at UNSW Sydney.

This curriculum-aligned online program is designed to be administered by teachers within classrooms. The program involves 6 x 45-minute lessons, each with two components:

• A 20-minute computer-based component.
• Teacher facilitated activities.

No specialist teacher training is required. This module is ideally delivered 6 months to 1 year after the OurFutures: Alcohol and Cannabis Module.

The OurFutures: Cannabis and Psychostimulants Module was developed for 14-17 year olds and aims to prevent and reduce substance use and related harms. Designed to be implemented within the school health curriculum, OurFutures is based on a social influence approach to prevention and uses cartoon storylines to engage and maintain student interest and involvement.

Students follow six episodes of an online cartoon-based drama about teenagers and their experiences. Through the storyline, students learn different drug classifications and their effects, the short- and long-term consequences of cannabis and psychostimulants, how to identify drug-related risk and stay safe, communication styles and being assertive, problem-solving skills, legal implications of drug use, and how to get help. Stop & Think activities are embedded in the cartoons and each episode ends with a short quiz to assess and consolidate learning. The class and homework activities are designed to reinforce the material taught in the cartoon and encourage students to apply the preventative messages and practice skills. Feedback indicates that teachers and students enjoy the program, and implementation within the classroom environment is highly feasible.

Pricing is based on student enrolment numbers. Contact the OurFutures team for more information and pricing here.

• Increases knowledge of cannabis and psychostimulants.
• Decreases pro-drug attitudes.
• Reduces cannabis use frequency in female students.

The OurFutures program was evaluated, and the evidence was published, using the name Climate Schools. Benefits of the OurFutures: Cannabis & Psychostimulants Module have been demonstrated in Australia in one research study listed below. The OurFutures programs have also been endorsed by a number of organisations as listed below.