Health & Wellness

Program that helps prevent youth substance use to expand in B.C.

PreVenture is a school program for students ages 12-16 that's been proven effective in delaying or preventing substance use. Thanks to a partnership with Foundry, the program will be available to more schools across the IH region.

A program designed to help students ages 12-16 develop skills to manage stress, peer pressure and conflict is set to expand to more schools across the Interior region and B.C.

PreVenture is a research-backed program developed by University of Montreal’s Dr. Patricia Conrod that helps students recognize their own responses to challenges. Through two short, personality-focused in-school workshops, students develop adaptive coping skills, set long-term goals, and channel their unique personality towards achieving those goals.

PreVenture to expand across the IH region

Two young people sit casually together. The photo is taken outside with blurred trees in the background.
PreVenture aims to equip youth with strategies and goal-setting skills to help them cope with common challenges such as stress, peer pressure, interpersonal conflict and identity development.

Interior Health (IH) was an early adopter of the program and facilitated the first workshops in 2019. In 2024/25, workshops were held in eight school districts, one independent school and two First Nations schools in the Interior region.

"Implementation of the PreVenture program has been a great success in connecting to and supporting our students and schools in IH," says Dr. Fatemeh Sabet, medical health officer at IH. "Considering the socioeconomic, political and environmental changes in our society, it's more important than ever to equip our young population to respond to stressors in their lives. Promoting mental wellness among youth is on top of our list, and PreVenture is one of the programs we implemented at IH to make it happen."

Going forward, IH will partner with Foundry, a province-wide network of integrated health and wellness services for young people ages 12-24, to support the delivery and expansion of PreVenture with school districts in the region. Foundry provides schools with comprehensive support, including training for school staff, coaching, and implementation resources to deliver the PreVenture program, at no cost to schools. IH provides overall program coordination and reporting, and hosts communities of practice.

Julie Zimmerman is provincial director, Primary Care and Virtual Services of Foundry. "We’re thrilled to be partnering with Interior Health to bring the PreVenture program to even more schools and young people across the region!" says Julie. "This exciting collaboration reflects our shared commitment to breaking down barriers and making mental health and substance use support more accessible for youth throughout B.C. Together, we’re creating meaningful change and empowering young people to thrive." 

A proven, research-backed program

Three students sit on the steps of a school, smiling and laughing as they look at a laptop and digital notepad.
Evidence shows prevention and early intervention can help with addressing smaller concerns before they grow into larger ones.

Several studies have shown the PreVenture program has been proven effective at delaying and reducing alcohol and drug use by 30 to 80 per cent. Students report feeling less anxious and depressed after taking the program and delay the first time they try substances.

Although the program was developed as a substance use prevention program, the materials and scenarios in the workshops focus on teaching youth to recognize their own responses to adversity. It does not promote substance use. Rather, it equips youth with tools and skills to make healthy choices.

 

We saw a number of benefits within our school, including common language used within the student population. The knowledge that other students are going through similar experiences meant they were not isolated, and that the program also provided skills and tools to support youth to deal with hard choices and provided connection to more trusted adults.

-- PreVenture workshop facilitator & school educator

Learn more about PreVenture

If your school or district is interested in participating in the PreVenture program, and is in the IH region, please reach out to healthyschools@interiorhealth.ca. For schools and districts outside the IH region, reach out to the Foundry team directly at prevention@foundrybc.ca or visit the Foundry website.

Supporting youth mental health

IH offers a range of services and supports for youth substance use, as well as connections to youth mental health supports. Call 310-MHSU (6478) to get connected to services in your region.

Learn more about IH mental health and substance use resources

About Foundry BC
Foundry offers free and confidential supports for young people ages 12 to 24—mental health care, substance use services, physical and sexual healthcare, youth, and family peer supports, and social services—both online and in-person in communities across B.C. Within the IH region, Foundry centres can be found in Kelowna, Penticton, Cariboo Chilcotin (Williams Lake) and coming soon to the North Okanagan (Vernon) and Kamloops.

Across B.C., there are 18 Foundry centres open (including the provincial virtual service) across B.C., with 17 more in development. Since October 2018, more than 56,000 unique youth have accessed Foundry services.

Learn more about Foundry

Integrated Child and Youth Teams (ICYT)
Integrated Child and Youth Teams operate or are being implemented in 20 school districts around the province, making it easier for young people and their families to connect to the care they need when and where they need it, at school and in the community.

Learn more about ICYTs

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