RIPPLE

**RIPPLE COMMENT** According to CBC News (established source), some school boards in eastern Ontario are considering an earlier start to the academic year than usual due to the late Labour Day. This could lead to a ripple effect on school-based prevention programs for substance abuse and addiction, particularly those that rely on a traditional September start date. An earlier start might disrupt the planning and implementation of these programs, potentially impacting their effectiveness in preventing substance abuse among students. This is because program administrators may need to adjust their schedules, training sessions, and resource allocation to accommodate the new timeline. In the short-term (within 1-2 weeks), school boards may struggle to adapt to the changed schedule, leading to potential delays or cancellations of prevention programs. In the long-term (weeks/months), this could result in a lack of continuity and consistency in program delivery, which might undermine their overall impact on student well-being. The domains affected by this news event include Education, Health Promotion, and Community Development. **EVIDENCE TYPE**: Event report **UNCERTAITY**: Depending on the specific school boards' decisions and planning processes, the actual impact of an earlier start date on prevention programs may vary. If school boards are able to adapt quickly, the effects might be minimal. However, if they struggle to adjust, the consequences could be more significant. ---