Week 5: Adolescent Health

1. Week 5: Adolescent Health Deanna Bryson Renee Gordon Emily Howarth KerryAnn Suteu

2. Lesson One: Drugs Target Age Group: grade 9-10

3. Objectives 1. Explore the dangers of substance abuse 2. Promote substance abuse control and prevention 3.Promote working in groups to complete specified tasks

4. Method • Ask the class what different types of drugs are being used by young people these days and make a list on the board • Make sure that the list includes: cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, hallucinogens, heroin and ecstasy

5. Method • Discuss the following questions with the class: -What does this drug look like? -What does it do to you (your mind/body, short and long term affects)?-Why do people use drugs?-Who uses drugs?-Are there other names for this drug?-Where do people get drugs?-What do young people generally think of others who do drugs?-What are the laws against young people using these drugs?-Where can you go for help when using drugs?

6. Method • Divide the class into 6 groups and designate a drug to each group • Ask them to answer the previously discussed questions as homework for their drug • When due they will be asked to present the information in a creative way • Suggest making a pamphlet, performing a skit or writing a song

7. Method • Hand out each of these facts individually cut out and ask the class to read out the fact that they receive and then discuss as a class: 1. Inhalants are more popular with younger students than older ones and provide an increased danger due to unknown personal reactions based on the amounts of substance inhaled and the users’ health 2. Prevention must occur drug-by-drug, because knowing the adverse affects of one drug will not necessarily generalize to the use of other drugs. Students’ beliefs and attitudes are specific to each drug 3. Over half (55%) of young teens have tried an illicit drug by the time they have finished high school. 4. More then one third (37%) who have tried an inhalant have done so as early as the 8th grade.

8. Facts continued 5. Males have somewhat higher rates of illicit drug use then females. 6. Many drugs are “cut” or contain other drugs in them. These combinations increase the danger for an adverse reaction. This is especially true with Ecstasy. 7. Mixing alcohol with drugs most often increases the risk of harmful or adverse effects of that drug. 8. In 1999, over 500,000 serious drug-related emergency room episodes were reported. 52, 783 were students, ages 12-17, representing over 10% of the illnesses or deaths recorded

9. Facts continued 9. According to the 2005 Northwestern Ontario Student Drug Use Survey, youth in Northwestern Ontario use marijuana more than youth in other parts of the province. 32% of students in our area use marijuana, as compared to 26.5% for the rest of the province.

10. Lesson 2: A l c o h o l Grade 9/10 Age Group

11. O b j e c t i v e s • To discuss the dangers of alcohol • Promote safe drinking • To achieve goals through interactive group and classroom learning environment C H E E R S ! !

12. Method • Must create an open atmosphere with students; therefore suggest that majority of class has already TRIED an alcoholic beverage • Divide the students into small groups that would discuss the following points in the lesson plan • It’s ok if students tell personal stories as long as they are related to the topic of alcohol and its use • Give students about 10-20 minutes to discuss the points of focus (the length of time depends on their concentration on the subject relevancy in their groups) • Record group thoughts on the board in note form • Encourage comments and questions on all points made by other students

13. Lesson Start with asking students to define alcohol • (it is a drug that alters one’s mood by slowing down the brain’s nervous system) • Brainstorm about perceptions/reasoning: • what do the students associate/think of when they hear the word “drink” • Their perceptions of their first alcoholic drink • Cultural differences? • Hospitality • Binge drinking • ‘fitting in’ • Dangers • Blacking out • Over drinking resulting in hospital trip • Impairs decision making processes • Alcohol poisoning • Can lead to hypothermia • Makes you feel like you’re Superman • long term use: ulcers, liver disease, malnutrition, heart disease, various cancers, social problems • Why people drink • ‘fitting in’/ peer pressure • Thought is was fun • Enjoy blacking out • Enjoy over drinking to extent of nausea

14. Lesson (Cont’d) • How does alcohol’s affect change according to/between people physically? • Size, gender, metabolism • Amount of food eaten before alcoholic consumption • Amount of alcoholic intake at one time • What happens when: • 1-2 drinks in one hour? • Become relaxed and socialize easier • 3 + drinks in one hour? • Skin may redden, senses functioning poorly, poor coordination, decrease memory • Blurred vision, mood swings, staggering, may pass out • Very extreme consumption? • Breathing and heart may stop, may choke on vomit when passed out • Define alcoholism • When a person depends on excessive alcoholic use regularly

15. Lesson (cont’d) • Can alcohol be included in a healthy lifestyle? • Yes • How? • Maximum 2 drinks a day • Women maximum 9 drinks a week • Men maximum 14 drinks a week • One drink contains 13.6g of alcohol • Ie) 12oz beer, 5oz glass of wine • Wait one hour before drinks, and stop before you get drunk • Never drink on an empty stomach • Do not mix alcohol and drugs

16. Lesson (cont’d) • Who should not drink? • People with liver disease or mental illnesses • People taking medications • People with genetic history of drinking problems • Women how are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or nursing their baby • People who are driving

17. Lesson Three: Drugs & Alcohol Target Age Group: Grades 9-10

18. Objectives • Learn the effects on the body from alcohol use • Learn the effects on the body from drug use • Learn about how to get help

19. What is Alcohol? A mood-altering drug Central Nervous System Depressant A “downer” - slows down the brain and nervous system Absorbed quickly into bloodstream Affects feelings and behavior

20. How will a person be affected by alcohol? Light Use (1-3 drinks over 1 hour): feel relaxed and social; easier to talk to others Moderate Use (3 or more drinks over 1 hour): face becomes red; balance and coordination are compromised; senses and memory are distorted Heavy Use: slurred speech; staggering while walking; see with double vision; mood shifts; may pass out Extreme Use: breathing and heart beat may stop; at risk of choking to death on your own vomit while passed out

21. What are the risks of alcohol consumption? • Impaired decision making, coordination and reaction time • Alcohol poisoning • Difficulty regulating body temperature • Less inhibited - leads to unprotected sex, fighting, impaired driving • Long term drinking can lead to brain damage, ulcers, liver disease, various cancers, family and social problems

22. What are types of Drugs? • Psychoactive: alter perception, thought, and mood; can create illusions in the user’s mind • Depressants: slow down the heart and breathing rates, lowers blood pressure, relaxes muscles, and relieves tension • Stimulants:increases heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate; makes user feel excited and alert • Hallucinogens:alters perception, thought and mood • Inhalants:enter the bloodstream directly from the lung

23. How will a person be affected by short term use of drugs? • Feelings of calm, relaxation or restlessness and irritability • Bloodshot, irritated eyes; blurred vision • Changed perception of senses • Difficulties concentrating and remembering • Change in blood pressure and heart rate • Increased appetite • Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea • Sneezing and coughing staggering • Slow reflexes • Paranoid delusions, hallucinations • Aggression

24. How will a person be affected by long term use of drugs? • Decreased motivation • Impaired judgement • Brain damage • Damage to respiratory system • Damage to internal organs • Irrational behaviour • Social and psychological problems • Addictions

25. Where can I get help? • National Kids Help Phone: 1-800-688-6868 • Drug and Alcohol Recovery Team: 1-800-565-8603 • Alcohol and Substance Use Helpline: 1-877-327-4636 • Alonon: www.alonon.com • Alcoholics Anonymous: www.alcoholics-anonymous.com • Thunder Bay District Health Unit • Thunder Bay Family Resource Center

26. Discussion Questions • 1) Alcohol Questionnaire • 2) What is a drug? • 3) Class discussion for and against recreational drug and alcohol use

27. Alcohol Questionnaire • 1) My average alcohol intake per week is… • More than 20; 13-20; 11-12; 8-10; 0-7 • 2) I drink more than four drinks on an occasion… • almost daily; fairly often, only occasionally; almost never; never • 3) I drive after drinking… • Sometimes; never • Modified from The Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness and Lifestyle Approach Manual

28. Alcohol Questionnaire • Scoring: • 1) 20+ (4 points); 13-20 (3 points); 11-12 (2 points); 8-10 (1 point); 0-7 (0 points) • 2) Almost daily (4 points); fairly often (3 points); only occasionally (2 points); almost never (1 point); never (0 points) • 3) Sometimes (4 points); never (0 points) • Add the points together • 0 points: excellent - extremely healthy behaviours • 1-3 points: very good - healthy behaviours • 4-6 points: good - average behaviours • 7-9 points: fair - high risk behaviours • 10-12 points: needs improvement - seek help from professional

29. Brainstorm: What is a drug? • Come up with definitions for the term ‘drug’ • What are the positives and negatives from using drugs? • *Daily Lesson Plan

30. Drug • According to Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary (http://www.m-w.com), a drug is "a substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body.” • *Daily Lesson Plan

31. Class Discussion • Split the class into two • One team brainstorms the positives of recreational drug and alcohol use • The other team brainstorms the negatives of recreational drug and alcohol use • Then the two teams will have a debate

32. Sources of Teaching Aid Material For Lesson Plans Thunder Bay District Health Unit Online Lesson Planning Resources Various Written Publications and Textual Articles

33. References Daily Lesson Plan (2001, March 13). Substance Use, or Abuse? Exploring Medicinal Benefits of Controlled Substances. Retrieved November 25, 2006, from http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/ 20010313tuesday.html. Teachnology (n.d.). Substance Abuse Lesson Plans: Drugs & Alcohol. Retrieved November 25,2006, from http://stpe.tamu.edu/LP%2010.htm. The Canadian Physical Activity, Fitness and Lifestyle Approach (2004). (3rd ed.). Fantastic Lifestyle Questionnaire. Thunder Bay District Health Unit (2006, May 7). Safety, Drugs & Alcohol. Retrieved November 25, 2006, from http://www.tbdhu.com/Safety/. Merriam-Webster Online. (2006). Drug and Alcohol: Definitions. Retrieved November 23, 2006, from http://www.m-w.com, The Online Teachers Resource (2006). Interactive Activities Related to Drugs and Alcohol. Retrieved November 23, 2006, from www.teach-nology.com.