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Substance use prevention and decision-making

Aligned to NHES 5 — SHAPE America National Standards.

What this lesson teaches

Alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and other drugs carry physical, legal, and social consequences, and impaired driving can be deadly for you and others. As access and pressure increase in these years, understanding the real consequences and having solid decision-making and refusal skills reduces risky use. Having a plan, like a safe ride home, protects you in the moment.

Worked example

Agreeing with your family on a no-questions-asked plan, like a text code that means come get me, means you can leave any situation with drinking or drugs safely rather than riding with an impaired driver.

Practice questions

  1. Name a legal and a physical risk of substance use.
  2. Why is having a safe-ride plan important?
  3. Practice a confident way to decline and exit a risky situation.

Watch the lesson

Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.

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En español

Prevención del uso de sustancias y toma de decisiones

El alcohol, la nicotina, el cannabis y otras drogas tienen consecuencias físicas, legales y sociales, y manejar en estado de ebriedad puede ser mortal para ti y para los demás. A medida que el acceso y la presión aumentan en estos años, entender las consecuencias reales y contar con habilidades sólidas para tomar decisiones y rechazar situaciones reduce el uso riesgoso de sustancias. Tener un plan, como conseguir un aventón seguro para regresar a casa, te protege en el momento.

Ejemplo: Acordar con tu familia un plan sin preguntas, como un código por mensaje de texto que signifique 'ven por mí', te permite salir de cualquier situación con alcohol o drogas de forma segura en lugar de subir al coche con un conductor en estado de ebriedad.

More Health lessons

Nutrition and food choices for independent livingNHES 1Mental health, stress management, and help-seekingNHES 7Healthy relationships, consent, and sexual healthNHES 4Accessing health care and self-advocacyNHES 3Personal health, sleep, and disease preventionNHES 1Communication, conflict resolution, and advocacyNHES 4

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