Too Good for Drugs Middle School Lesson Overview

MOPD’s Substance Use Prevention Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SUPPD) 

SUPPD is funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services – Substance Use Prevention and Recovery to provide prevention education to deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Illinois.  To this end, SUPPD incorporates the guiding principles from the Too Good for Drugs Curriculum, known for its strong social-emotional learning component (SEL), into its prevention education series.   

The first presentation discusses what is peer pressure and teaches different strategies on how to deal with peer pressure effectively and as a result, make healthier choices.  

The next 2-4 subsequent presentations address, “the effect of alcohol” and/or “the effect of THC and marijuana on the developing brain.”  Once students are armed with the knowledge of the dangers of these drugs, they practice newly acquired peer pressure refusal techniques to ‘’scripted” scenarios involving drugs and peers.  These presentations can be scheduled in the classroom or online.  Feel free to contact Jerod Lockhart, program supervisor, for additional information, to discuss your classroom’s unique learning needs or to schedule your presentation(s) at MOPDSUPPD@cityofchicago.org   

Too Good for Drugs –  Middle school Lesson Overview 

Length  

50 minutes to 1 hour/period presentations 

Presentation Topics 

 9 Peer Pressure Refusal Strategies Effects of Alcohol Use Effects of THC and Marijuana Use

Students learn and apply peer refusal strategies and peer selection skills to promote healthy bonding and connectedness.  

Students identify the benefits of belonging to positive peer groups as well as the effects of associating with negative peer groups. 

Students learn the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol use on the teenage brain and body as well as the social consequences of underage drinking.   

Students also analyze how media messages influence expectations about alcohol. 

Students examine the misperceptions of marijuana and its use. 

Students also learn the effects of THC on the teenage brain and body as well as its impact on reaching goals. 

Grade 6 

  • Define peer pressure  

  • Identify nine effective peer-pressure refusal strategies  

  • Demonstrate effective peer-pressure refusal techniques in a variety of situations  

  • Evaluate assertiveness in peer-pressure refusal demonstrations  

  • Identify the benefits of associating with peers who make positive decisions 

  • Name ways to influence others positively 

 
  • Compare the alcohol content of one serving of beer, wine, and liquor. 

  • Define “psychoactive”  

  • List the effects of alcohol on the brain and behavior   

  • Demonstrate effective peer-pressure refusal skills in situations involving alcohol  

  • Identify ways alcohol use can interfere with the ability to reach a goal  

  • Identify the various forms of media used to communicate to large populations  

  • Recognize that advertising messages are designed to sell a product, service, or an idea 

  • List of effects of marijuana on the body and on behavior. 

  • Determine the consequences of marijuana use on everyday activities   

  • Contrast perceived norms with the actual prevalence of marijuana use. 

  • Practice using peer-pressure refusal strategies in a variety of situations involving marijuana   

 

 

 

Grade 7 

  • Differentiate peer pressure and peer influence  

  • Identify the benefits of positive peer influence  

  • Articulate the benefits of associating with pro-social others   

  • Differentiate healthy friend qualities and unhealthy friend qualities 

  • Identify various peer-pressure refusal strategies and the peer-pressure situations to which they apply 

  • Describe the harmful short-term effects of underage alcohol use.  

  • Identify possible sources for the false expectations people have about alcohol.  

  • Define media literacy and discuss its potential influence on teen behavior.  

  • Differentiate the common misperception of alcohol as an energizing party drink and its actual effect as a depressant. 

  • Differentiate accurate and inaccurate sources of information about drugs.  

  • Differentiate myth and reality regarding marijuana.  

  • Identify the effects of marijuana on the body, particularly on brain function.  

  • Describe the impact of marijuana use on reaching goals.  

  • Describe the impact of marijuana use on everyday activities.

Grade 8 

  • Compare healthy and unhealthy relationships. 

  • Employ strategies to resist negative peer pressure and peer influence.  

  • Recognize the effects of positive peer pressure and peer influence.  

  • Recognize the benefits of belonging to a positive peer group.  

  • Identify and bond with a positive peer group.  

  • Recognize the role expectations play in decision making 

  • Discuss the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol use on the teenage brain and body.  

  • Evaluate the effects of alcohol use on reaching goals, decision-making, managing emotions, communication, and relationships. 

  • Predict the consequences of underage alcohol use.

  • Discuss the benefits of positive health behaviors and their effect on preventing alcohol use. 

  • Examine the misperceptions of marijuana and its use. 

  • Examine the effects of marijuana and THC use on the body, particularly on brain function.  

  • Discuss the impact of marijuana and THC use on reaching goals.  

  • Discuss the psychological addiction aspects of marijuana use.