Preventing Substance Abuse & Other Addictions - Lesson Plans, Webquests, Student Projects and More
This page provides an extensive list of lesson plans, teaching/learning resources, student projects, videos and other materials to prevent or reduce substance abuse and other addictions. (Please note that tobacco use is covered in another section of this web site because most curricula cover that issue separately from other substances. Gambling, misuse of medications and other addictions are covered here. In this listing, we simply provide the title of the resource, indicate its type, its publisher and provide a web link. Please note that almost all of these resources are published by other sources, so teachers should exercise their professional judgement when deciding to use or adapt them for their classes. The ISHN, its partners and sponsors have provided these links to published resources from credible resources for the convenience of teachers but hereby disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or effectiveness of the content. The teaching/learning materials have been organized by various learning objectives and by approximate grade/age levels. Teachers using these materials should ensure that they are in accordance with the curricula established by their educational authorities and that they are suitable for their students.
Notes:
This page provides an extensive list of lesson plans, teaching/learning resources, student projects, videos and other materials to prevent or reduce substance abuse and other addictions. (Please note that tobacco use is covered in another section of this web site because most curricula cover that issue separately from other substances. Gambling, misuse of medications and other addictions are covered here. In this listing, we simply provide the title of the resource, indicate its type, its publisher and provide a web link. Please note that almost all of these resources are published by other sources, so teachers should exercise their professional judgement when deciding to use or adapt them for their classes. The ISHN, its partners and sponsors have provided these links to published resources from credible resources for the convenience of teachers but hereby disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy or effectiveness of the content. The teaching/learning materials have been organized by various learning objectives and by approximate grade/age levels. Teachers using these materials should ensure that they are in accordance with the curricula established by their educational authorities and that they are suitable for their students.
Notes:
- 1. Some of the categories listed below overlap and some materials may cover more than one learning objective
- 2. Several instructional programs/curriculum supplements that include several lessons or cover several grade levels are listed in the final row of the table below.
Teaching/Learning Activities
- Lesson Plans (LP) - Webquests or Online Student Assignments (WQ) - Take home learning activities (THL) - Web Sites with activities for Students (WSS) - Student Journals/Workbooks & Reflection Activities (SJ) |
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Learning Objectives
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A. Prepare students to discuss substance abuse/addictions |
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1. Setting ground rules for class discussions
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2. Establishing a process for student disclosures
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B. Acquire functional or practical knowledge about substance abuse/addictions
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1. Recognize that harmful use can occur with legal substances or addictive behaviours as well as illegal substances
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2. Recognize signs of abuse
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3. Understand meaning of addiction, dependence, addictive behaviours
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4. Understand relationship between substance use, abuse and mental health
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5 Understand short-term, social, and school-related risks of substance abuse in age-appropriate terms
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6. Understand long-term risks to health
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7. Understand personal and societal economic costs of use and abuse
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8. Recognize and understand specific risks or consequences related to substance abuse and addictions
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a) drinking/cannabis use while driving or operating machinery
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b) other accidents and injuries
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c) making poor decisions about having sex or relationships
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d) participating in dares or contests
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9. Knowing and avoiding specific situations or behaviours
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a) Binge drinking
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b) Leaving drinks unattended in bars
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c) abuse of prescription drugs
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d) Using while depressed or lonely & suicide
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e) drinking while pregnant/FASD
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10. Knowing about legal rights and responsibilities
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a) Under-age drinking
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b) impaired driving
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c) possession of marijuana
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d) Search and seizure procedures in school, community and home
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11. Knowing the types, properties, street names, health risks, characteristics, and other behaviour relevant features of substances
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a) Non-prescription and prescription medicines
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b) alcohol
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c) cannabis
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d) hallucinogens (LSD, etc)
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e) Mixed action drugs (Meth, PCP)
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f) inhalants
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g) cocaine/heroin
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h) gambling
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i) Other addictive behaviours
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C. Develop general and specific skills
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1. General social and life skills
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a) Emotional intelligence skills (eye contact, group skills etc)
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b) Decision-making skills
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c) Assertiveness skills
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d) Critical thinking skills
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e) Stress management skills, coping skills, resiliency
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f) Conflict management/negotiation skills
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g) Emotion/anger management skills
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h) Media literacy skills
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2. Specific skills related to substance abuse/risk behaviours
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a) Avoiding risky situations
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b) Refusal skills
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c) Reading medication labels
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D. Develop health promoting attitudes, perceptions, normative beliefs
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1. Awareness of social influences
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a) Awareness, attitudes re media role
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b) Awareness, attitudes re corporate advertising to increase consumption of substances
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c) Beliefs, awareness about families, parents, and their use of substances
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d) Awareness, beliefs about community norms related to substances
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e) Awareness of youth culture, peer group and role of close friends
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f) Awareness of societal or cultural norms, beliefs about substances
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g) Awareness of impact of part time work on consumption of substances
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2. View/perceptions about laws, government role, rules
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a) regulation/control of use
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b) regulation of advertising
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c) taxation/government use of taxes, gambling, etc
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d) enforcement and youth/privacy/rights
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e) substance use and society
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3. Beliefs, awareness of popular misconceptions and myths about substances
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E Develop self-knowledge, awareness
1. Anticipate, understand their adolescent challenges and transitions |
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a) Forming healthy peer relationships
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b) Taking risks
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c) Being recognized by peers
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d) Being recognized as an adult or for being responsible
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e) Dealing with boredom due to age restrictions or lack of resources for varied recreation, life pursuits
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f) Dealing with lack of disposable income or privacy
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2. Dealing with normal, life events specific to youth
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a) Family stress or divorce
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b) transition into high school, moving to a different school/neighbourhood
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c) Bereavement
d) Development of a sexual identify, love relationship, gender awareness and roles |
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3. General awareness of self
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a) knowing own strengths and weaknesses
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b) having life goals
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c) knowing when to get help
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4. Develop a personal action plan/behavioural intentions about substance use
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a) Using healthy alternatives to non-prescription medicines
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b) Careful use of prescription medicines
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c) Moderate or non-use of caffeine, energy drinks, other stimulants
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d) delay experimentation or abstain from alcohol use
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e) Avoiding situations that involve use of alcohol or drugs
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f) Reducing harm if using (eg don’t drink or use while driving)
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F Be aware of and know how to access to Social Support
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1. Seek or secure support from friends
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2. Seek or secure support from parents
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3. Seek or secure support from a trusted adult
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4. Participate in healthy social or sports activities/clubs
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5. Reduce or set aside stigma related to addiction (individual, family, school)
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G. Be aware of and know how to access health, addictions and other Services
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1. School or community peer helper programs
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2. In-school support services (guidance counsellor, social worker, psychologist, police officer, addictions worker)
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3. Family physicians or clinics
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4. Local addictions clinics
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5. Local mental health clinics or professionals
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6. Family counseling services
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7. Child Protection services
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8. Pastoral counselling
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9. Youth or family self-help groups
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10. Workplace assistance programs
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11. Awareness of availability of local services
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12. Awareness of on-line services
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13. Reducing stigma associated with use and seeking help
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H Increase willingness to help others
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1. Critical thinking/action on school policies (suspension, etc.)
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2. Critical thinking/action/willingness to support friends/siblings and peers
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3. Advocacy skills/knowledge/tips/ to organize health promoting projects
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4. Advocacy on improving school drug education programs/policies
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5. Participation in youth, school or neighbourhood activities
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6. Advocacy for improved health and treatment services for youth
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I. Lessons, activities for vulnerable, at-risk or special needs populations
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1. Children of alcoholics/addicts
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2. Children with FASD
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3. Students recovering from addictions
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4. Students in conflict with the law
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5. Students with intellectual, physical or learning disabilities
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6. Gay and lesbian youth
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7. Ethnic minority youth
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8. Aboriginal youth
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9. Students working part-time
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10. Youth living in rural communities
11. Children with chronic diseases or conditions |
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J. Cross-curricular Lesson Plans and Activities
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1. Language Arts
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2. Art/Literature/Creative Writing
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3. Communications/Media Studies
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4. Mathematics
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5. Science/Technology
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6. Music/Dance
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7. Physical Education
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8. Home Economics/Family Studies
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9. Technical-Vocational/Career Education
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a) Health related careers
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b) Automobile & Machinery/Industrial Shop
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c) Sports/Recreation
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d) Other
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