Substances and TM(U)
We are inviting you to participate in our new substance use awareness campaign called Substances and TM(U).
This campaign aims to create a supportive and non-judgmental space where you can engage in meaningful conversations and discourse around substance use and your relationship with it.
We want to emphasize the importance of staying safe(r) and informed when it comes to substance use, and hope to provide you with the information you need to make safe(r) decisions regarding drug and alcohol use.
You can:
- Tell us about your substance use experiences
- Ask any questions you might have
- Connect with our experts
- Obtain information and resources on alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, opioids and more...
- Find out how to get support for yourself or for someone else
Substances and TM(U) runs from Monday, March 27 - Friday, March 31.
Come partake in our multiple in-person events across the campus and engage with us online through Instagram @tmustudentwellbeing (external link, opens in new window) .
We are kicking off the week with a Graffiti Wall Activity, and ending the week with our Campus Community Fair.
Don’t miss it! Come for the swag and stay for the fun!
Substance and TM(U) March 27-31 Calendar.
27 - Kick Off: We want to hear from you! Come have your say.
28 - Alcohol: Let’s talk about alcohol and responsible consumption.
29 - Cannabis and Nicotine: Learn more about making informed decisions about Cannabis and Nicotine use.
30 - Opioids: Let’s talk about opioids and its impact on us and our communities.
31 - Community Fair: Information and resources.
Scroll below to see each of the different events that are happening everyday in March!
Note: these are subject to change.
We want to hear from you! Come have your say. We’re kicking off substance use awareness week by talking about stigma and your relationship with drugs and alcohol.
Graffiti Wall
We want to hear from you! Come express your thoughts and ideas on our Graffiti Wall and tell us about your relationship with substances.
Pitman Hall
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM (In-Person)
SLC Amphitheatre
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (In-Person)
Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM)
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (In-Person)
‘Stigma, Did you know?’
Check out our @tmustudentwellbeing (external link, opens in new window) Instagram to learn more about stigma, how to help reduce it and resources for more information.
Alcohol is commonplace in our communities and often acts as a social lubricant or means of celebration. It’s important to remember it can also have impacts on our health and wellbeing if not consumed responsibly.
Fatal Vision Glasses and Standard Pour
Community Safety and Security will be talking to students about safe(r) use of alcohol and wellbeing measures to consider when using alcohol.
Stop by and try on a pair of Fatal Vision Goggles to see how alcohol might affect you! Students will be prompted to complete a challenge while wearing the goggles to simulate the effects of alcohol.
SLC Bridge, 2nd Floor of the SLC
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM (In-Person)
Dry Mixology
As part of this week’s Substances and TM(U) programming, we’re inviting all students to stop by the 2nd Floor of the SLC to pick up some fun drinks and new skills as we practice dry mixology. Students will get the opportunity to enjoy the drinks they create, such as Pineapple Mint Punch, Strawberry Lemon Soda, and a Cranberry Lime Refresher!
SLC Bridge, 2nd Floor of the SLC
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (In-Person)
‘Alcohol, Did you know?’
Check out our ‘Alcohol, Did you know?’ Instagram posts @tmustudentwellbeing (external link, opens in new window) to learn more about alcohol consumption and safe(r) drinking guidelines.
Cannabis and Nicotine are frequently used by young adults, with 52.5% of TMU students reporting trying Cannabis (NCHA, 2019). Learn more about our campaign and how you can make informed decisions about Cannabis and Nicotine use.
Cannabis + You
We are inviting you to come and talk to us about cannabis and all of the associations with it. If you are curious, using recreationally or want to make changes to your cannabis use, we aim to give you information that will minimize the risks associated with cannabis use by providing you with the most accurate and unbiased information.
Bridge, 2nd Floor of the SLC
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM (In-Person)
Cannabis and Mental Health
Join us at our tabling event to chat: let's have a conversation about cannabis and mental health.
Bridge, 2nd Floor of the SLC
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM (In-Person)
Drop-in Healing Space
At times, substance use can be connected to healing from harm and gender based violence. Whether you are interested in exploring alternative methods of healing, have questions, or are looking for a place to unwind, this time is for you. A specialist from the Consent Comes First team will be sharing space for anyone interested in learning about healing, sharing their story, or just doing some arts and crafts together. All are welcome.
Please note, this is a trauma informed space. Discrimination, misogyny, put downs, and judgments will not be tolerated.
DMZ Sandbox, 3rd Floor of the SLC
11:00 am - 4:00 pm (In-Person)
‘Cannabis and Nicotine, Did you know?'
Check out our Instagram post @tmustudentwellbeing (external link) for information about low risk guidelines for cannabis use, the impact of nicotine use, as well as resources you can use.
Young adults are the fastest growing group requiring hospitalization from opioid usage. Visit our website to learn more about the impact of opioid use on our bodies and how it shows up in our communities.
Destigmatizing Opioids
Opioids continue to be a growing crisis in our communities and lead to the stigmatization of people with opioid use problems. Health Promotions and the Counseling department are inviting students to learn about the impact that stigma has on individuals and our society at large. Join us on SLC Bridge to learn about safe(r) opioid usage and how you can contribute to the fight against stigma.
TMU’s Peer Support Specialist and Care Lead will be engaging students in educational conversations and activities, with the chance to win prizes!
SLC Bridge, 2nd Floor of the SLC
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (In-Person)
Naloxone Training with Toronto Public Health
Naloxone is a safe medication that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose when given correctly. Opioids include heroin, fentanyl, morphine, methadone, codeine, oxycodone and many others. Come learn about Naloxone and how to administer it. TPH staff will be handing out kits and providing students with training on how to use naloxone to help save someone’s life in an overdose situation.
SLC Bridge, 2nd Floor of SLC
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (In-Person)
Opioids Chat with YMCA
Come and engage with the YMCA Youth Opioids Awareness Program. They are running an interactive and engaging workshop, where you can learn more about opioids and how they work, as well as how the opioid crisis has come to be. Discover how stigma affects those who are trying to enter recovery and what we can do to destigmatize those who use.
The Beach, 6th Floor of the SLC
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM (In-Person)
Instagram Live
Join the conversation on our Instagram Live @studentlifetmu (external link) from 12:30PM-1:00PM to discuss nicotine and vaping with our special guest Dr. Trisha Tulloch, Adolescent Medicine Specialist at CAMH and Hospital for Sick Children.
12:30 PM - 1:00 PM (Virtual)
‘Opioids, Did you know?’
Check out our ‘Opioids, Did you know?’ Instagram posts @tmustudentwellbeing (external link, opens in new window)
Want more information about substance use, how you can support yourself, or how to support someone else?. Come check out our Substances and TM(U) Campus Community Fair.
We have invited members of our TMU community as well as organizations who are experts at supporting others with wide range of substance use and mental health mental concerns.
Come and engage with us, make connections, and pick up some swag…
SLC
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM (In-Person)
Check out who will be there:
Our Partners
- Student Integrated Health and Wellbeing (SHaW)
- Community Safety and Security
- Student Life and Campus Engagement
- Housing and Residence Life
- Consent Comes First (CCF)
Community Organizations
Pieces to Pathways (external link)
- Pieces to Pathways (P2P) is a peer-led initiative offering Canada’s first substance use support program for LGBTQIA2S+ youth ages 16-29.
Drink Smart
(external link)
- DrinkSmart is an alcohol awareness & education program created for Ontario Post-Secondary Students-by-Students.
YMCA - Cannabis, Gambling and Opioids (external link)
- Youth programs specifically designed to help you achieve your goals, or help you get your life back on track.
Substance Abuse Program for African Canadian and Caribbean Youth (SAPACCY) (external link)
- SAPACCY provides services to African and Caribbean Canadian youth and their families who are dealing with problem substance use and mental health concerns.
Courage to Change (external link) (external link)
- Courage to Change (C2C) is a mental health and addiction programming initiative that offers educational workshops, student ambassador projects, and individually tailored support groups for post-secondary students and staff.
St Joseph’s Health Care (external link)
- St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto is a Catholic community teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto and accredited with exemplary standing by Accreditation Canada. For over 100 years, St. Joseph’s has been serving the health-care needs of the diverse communities of southwest Toronto.
CAMH: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health - STOP (external link)
- The Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) Program is a province-wide initiative delivering smoking cessation treatment (up to 26 weeks of NRT) and counselling support to people who want to reduce/quit their tobacco use.
Cannabis and Mental Health (external link)
- The Cannabis and Mental Health Course is an online course created by youth and made for youth. This is a joint project with the Schizophrenia Society of Canada's project Cannabis & Psychosis (external link) , YouthREX, and The Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Centre for Safer Sex and Sexual Violence Support (external link)
- The Centre for Safer Sex and Sexual Violence Support is part of the Toronto Metropolitan University Students' Union's Equity Service Centres which include the Good Food Centre, The Access Collective, The Queer Space, the Centre for Women and Trans People, The Trans Collective, and the BIPOC Students' Collective.
‘Finding Support, Did you know?’
Check out our ‘Finding Support, Did you know?’ Instagram posts @tmustudentwellbeing (external link, opens in new window) to learn more about how to find support at TMU and across the GTA