ALCOHOL & DRUGS
Drugs and alcohol are issues that go hand and hand with one another. When a person deals with an addiction, more than 75% of the time it has to do with one of these two. Those numbers rise even higher among teenagers, between the ages of 15-18, because they are particularly vulnerable to the influences of their environment. This susceptibility can harm their lives not only physically but also emotionally.
Many people wonder where teenagers get the idea that these substances are good and there is one outlet the glorifies these two things, the media. The lessons in our unit are designed to help students understand the correlation between the abuse of drugs and alcohol with how media is shaping their views. It is important to ensure that students are allowed to have open conversations about the issue and make sure they understand this classroom is a safe place to talk about these pressures.
To understand how much an issue this is, students will be shown the effects this abuse has on people through a documentary about drug and alcohol abuse and then hold a discussion on it. Coursework includes presenting a reference to drugs and alcohol in social media.
D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education. This program strives to demonstrate the reality of drug and alcohol abuse. A police officer is invited to speak to the teenagers about the consequences of the abuse. Students will participate in an activity involving drunk goggles to simulate the experience of being drunk.
The last part in addressing drugs and alcohol is learning how to say no when peer pressure is present. Students will be taught how to help not only themselves but also others to stay clean. They will learn about resources that are available to everyone and are encouraged to commit to a drug-free life.
