Peterborough Youth Substance Use Prevention (PYSUP)

Youth in Peterborough face significant substance use challenges, including high rates of vaping, tobacco use, cannabis-related emergency visits, underage drinking, and increasing opioid-related deaths, often exceeding provincial averages. The Peterborough Youth Substance Use Prevention (PYSUP) initiative targets school-aged children and youth in select local secondary schools and their feeder schools, starting with pilot neighbourhoods and eventually scaling up to the whole community. PYSUP engages youth voices and embraces their perspectives to address the root causes of challenges and meet their specific needs. The initiative engages community members in a range of prevention efforts to create an environment where youth feel a greater sense of belonging and connection in Peterborough. Their Community Coordinating Table (CCT) is a steering committee composed of 14 youth-serving partners that mobilizes community members to proactively address risk and protective factors associated with substance use. By collaborating with key community members, PYSUP seeks to enhance social environments and increase protective factors for youth.

Lakelands Public Health serves residents throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes, the County of Haliburton, Northumberland County, the City and County of Peterborough as well as Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations. While it serves as the lead organization for local work, this initiative aims to be a community driven effort. A key focus will be collaborating with local agencies, particularly schools, to highlight the interconnectedness of health and education. Strong partnerships exist with various organizations addressing substance use, contributing to initiatives like the Peterborough Drug Strategy (PDS). These partnerships provide a solid foundation for implementing the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM).

Lead organization: Lakelands Public Health

Contact: Martha Faulkner, Emily Taylor