Tailored sessions that spark curiosity and build critical thinking.

The Drug Overview provides an understanding of the commonly-used drugs amphetamine (adderall), alcohol, and cannabis. Students are first introduced to the brain and its normal function. Different parts of the brain are discussed, as well as the role of neurotransmitters in permitting communication. This provides a foundation on which to discuss the drugs’ effects on the brain.

The presentation is delivered through engaging videos, interactive activities and educational discussions of topics related to these drugs, such as the legalization of cannabis. Students are challenged in a final investigation activity where they study vital signs and symptoms to diagnose patients who have overdosed.

The Fentanyl presentation was developed in response to the opioid crisis in Alberta. The topic of fentanyl is first approached through a series of interactive questions relating to current statistics on this drug. Students are challenged to understand the realities of this opioid and its presence in the media.

Importantly, students then learn about the symptoms of overdose, naloxone kits, and the science behind how opioids work. Finally, students participate in a classroom discussion on the topic of supervised injection sites.

While cannabis was legalized in 2018, there remain many misconceptions about this drug. This presentation seeks to present accurate information about the use and effects of recreational and medical cannabis, and points to what remains unknown about the drug.

This information is especially important for this age group, as there is evidence that cannabis can have negative long-term effects on the developing brain. We finish with a case study activity in which students are put into the shoes of physicians and use their new-found knowledge to evaluate the prescription of cannabis to various patients.

The vaccine presentation was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to explain the whys and hows of COVID-19 and “the jab”. This presentation is intended to provide a basic understanding of immunology, our body’s defense mechanisms against foreign bodies, how vaccines work, and the history that has led to the development of the vaccines we have today.

The aim is to familiarize students with these concepts so they have the knowledge to recognize misinformation, as well as feel more confident in their medical decisions. Since this is probably only the first of many far-reaching global pandemics, such education is necessary for fast national and global action in the future. People fear what they do not know, and we hope this presentation changes that.

Addiction has always held a large stigma. As more research comes out and governments and science understand more about addiction, it is becoming more and more clear that we completely misunderstood addiction.

This presentation seeks to educate those on what addiction actually is, how it works, and potential resolutions for aspects of it at both the individual and societal level. Education on addiction is necessary to ensure that coming generations are more empathetic to others’ struggles and mitigate the mystery that often shrouds addiction.

Now more than ever, mental health is an increasingly relevant field, both in science and everyday life. This presentation, which is geared towards a general student audience, aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of the neurological bases behind common mental health disorders, specifically mood, anxiety, and addiction disorders.

Additionally, this presentation explores the science behind medications for mental disorders. By providing a more scientific lens through which to view mental health disorders and their treatments, we hope to reduce cases of stigma and/or myths in students, and motivate important but sometimes intimidating discussions about mental health.