Examine the effects and role of peer influence on decision making and problem solving regarding the use and misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs

Standards Alignment

• TEKS.115.27.G7.18A primary
  examine the effects and role of peer influence on decision making and problem solving regarding the use and misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs;
• TEKS.115.27.G7.18B primary
  examine physical and social influences on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use behaviors;

Lesson Overview

This lesson helps Grade 7 students understand how peer influence affects their decisions and problem-solving related to the use and misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Students will explore physical and social factors that influence substance use behaviors and practice strategies to make healthy choices.

Learning Objectives

• Explain how peers can influence decisions about using or misusing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
• Identify physical and social factors that affect behaviors related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.
• Demonstrate problem-solving and refusal skills to resist peer pressure involving substance use.

Success Criteria

• Students can describe examples of peer influence on substance use decisions.
• Students can identify physical and social influences on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use behaviors.
• Students can role-play refusal skills to avoid using substances when pressured by peers.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should understand basic concepts of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and recognize that these substances can affect health and well-being.

Key Vocabulary

• Peer influence
• Decision making
• Problem solving
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Other drugs
• Refusal skills
• Physical influences
• Social influences
• Substance use

Materials and Resources

• Scenario cards describing peer pressure situations
• Role-play instruction sheets
• Whiteboard or chart paper
• Markers

Teacher Preparation

• Prepare scenario cards illustrating peer pressure related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
• Review refusal skill strategies to model for students.
• Set up space for role-playing activities.

Detailed Lesson Notes

Understanding Peer Influence

Peer influence refers to the ways that friends, classmates, or social groups can affect an individual's choices and behaviors. In the context of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, peers can encourage or discourage use. This influence can be direct, such as friends offering substances, or indirect, such as wanting to fit in with a group that uses substances. Recognizing peer influence helps students become aware of how their social environment impacts their decisions.

Physical and Social Influences on Substance Use

Physical influences include the availability of substances, advertising, and the physical environment where students spend time. Social influences include family attitudes, cultural norms, and peer behaviors. Both types of influences shape how young people view and engage with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Understanding these influences helps students identify risk factors and protective factors in their lives.

Decision Making and Problem Solving in Substance Use Situations

Decision making involves choosing between options, such as whether to accept or refuse a substance. Problem solving involves identifying challenges, considering consequences, and selecting healthy responses. When faced with peer pressure, students can use problem-solving steps to make safe choices, such as saying no, suggesting alternative activities, or seeking help from trusted adults.

Refusal Skills and Strategies

Refusal skills are techniques to resist peer pressure effectively. Examples include saying no firmly, giving reasons for refusal, changing the subject, or walking away. Practicing these skills through role play helps students feel confident to handle real-life situations involving substance use pressure.

Modeling and Practicing Healthy Choices

Teachers should model respectful and healthy decision making by demonstrating refusal skills and discussing the benefits of avoiding substance use. Guided practice through role-playing scenarios allows students to apply what they have learned and reflect on their feelings and responses. This builds their ability to make positive choices in social situations.

Worked Examples

Classroom Activity

In groups, students read scenarios and talk about possible choices and consequences.

Guided Practice

Independent Practice

1. Foundational: What does 'peer influence' mean?
2. Developing: Name two social influences that can affect whether someone uses alcohol or tobacco.
3. Application: If a friend offers you alcohol and you want to say no, what is one refusal skill you could use?
4. Analysis: Explain how physical and social influences might work together to affect a student's decision to try tobacco.
5. Challenge: Describe a problem-solving approach a student can use when faced with peer pressure to misuse drugs, including at least three steps.

Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key

1. 1. Peer influence means the effect that friends or people your age have on the choices you make.
2. 2. Family attitudes and cultural norms are two social influences that can affect substance use.
3. 3. You could say no firmly and explain that you want to stay healthy.
4. 4. Physical influences like easy access to tobacco and social influences like friends who smoke can combine to make a student more likely to try tobacco.
5. 5. A student can identify the problem (peer pressure), consider the consequences of using drugs, and choose a healthy response like refusing and seeking support from a trusted adult.

Guiding Questions

• What is peer influence and how can it affect your choices?
• How do physical and social factors influence substance use behaviors?
• What are some ways to say no to peer pressure?
• How can problem solving help you make healthy decisions?
• Why is it important to recognize influences on your behavior?

Common Misconceptions

• Peer pressure always means negative influence; it can also be positive or neutral.
• Saying no to peers will always lead to losing friends.
• Only friends influence substance use decisions; family and media also have strong influences.

Differentiation

Assessment

• Observe student participation in role plays and group discussions.
• Ask students to explain refusal skills during class activities.
• Write a short paragraph describing how you would handle a situation where a friend offers you tobacco.
• List two physical and two social influences on substance use.
• Create a poster that shows positive ways to resist peer pressure related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Answer Guide

• What does 'peer influence' mean?
  Answer: Peer influence means the effect that friends or people your age have on the choices you make.
• Name two social influences that can affect whether someone uses alcohol or tobacco.
  Answer: Family attitudes and cultural norms are two social influences that can affect substance use.
• If a friend offers you alcohol and you want to say no, what is one refusal skill you could use?
  Answer: You could say no firmly and explain that you want to stay healthy.
• Explain how physical and social influences might work together to affect a student's decision to try tobacco.
  Answer: Physical influences like easy access to tobacco and social influences like friends who smoke can combine to make a student more likely to try tobacco.
• Describe a problem-solving approach a student can use when faced with peer pressure to misuse drugs, including at least three steps.
  Answer: A student can identify the problem (peer pressure), consider the consequences of using drugs, and choose a healthy response like refusing and seeking support from a trusted adult.

Real-Life Application

Encourage students to talk with family members about peer influence and substance use. Students can share what they learned about refusal skills and discuss ways their family supports healthy choices.

Homework or Home Connection

• Encourage students to talk with family members about peer influence and substance use. Students can share what they learned about refusal skills and discuss ways their family supports healthy choices.

Lesson Summary

Students learned how peers can influence decisions about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and identified physical and social factors affecting these behaviors. They practiced refusal skills through role play and reflected on problem-solving strategies to make healthy choices. Recognizing these influences and using refusal skills empowers students to resist peer pressure and protect their health.

Teacher Notes

Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.

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