SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE By: Emma Widman

Case Study 10 ( Tobacco) My friends have asked me to give them a pack of cigarettes. I don’t know what to say. I have easy access to the cigarettes because my whole family smokes. They probably would not miss one pack of cigarettes. If I was caught, I would be in BIG trouble, but if I don’t give my friends the cigarettes I could lose my friendship with them. I don’t want to take the cigarettes to my friends because it does not feel right stealing from my family and smoking underage, but I know it would make them trust me more, before I tell my friends no I think of the outcomes.  If I were to say yes, and bring my friends the cigarettes, my family would be disappointed in me if they were to find out and feel that they can not trust me anymore. For sure if I get caught they will ground me for at least 3 months with no electronics and no friends. My friends would be proud that I did what they asked and trust me more.  If I were to tell my friends no, I would hope that they would understand and not be mad at me. I don’t want to lose my friends, but I am kind of mad that they would put me in this situation. I also don’t want to feel its my fault that they got addicted to smoking.  Overall I still think the consequence would be worse if I were to give my friends the cigarettes, my family would be mad and disappointed in me and I would be grounded. I will talk to my friends and hopefully they will understand.

Case Study 2 (Tobacco) My best friend has been talking about her weight lately, and when I came to her house we were looking at a magazine. In the magazine there was a beautiful model advertising ultra-thin cigarettes. I tell my friend that it would be great to look like the model. My best friend goes and opens the cupboard and takes out a package of her mom's cigarettes. She offers me one. I think of what I should do, I don’t want to hurt her feelings by saying no, but I do want to take the cigarettes to make me skinnier. I think I will say yes but before I answer I think of the outcomes of saying yes an no and the consequence of underage smoking.  If I say yes, the cigarettes will make me skinnier and my friend won’t be mad at me. If my parents find out they probably wouldn’t be very mad, my brother smokes and he doesn’t get into trouble. I also would have to worry about becoming addicted to the cigarettes.  If I say no, my friend will feel betrayed because we have been talking about our weight a lot lately and she was only trying to help. I could also lose my friend.  I think in this scenario but not in real life I would still take the cigarette. My friend will be happy, and I wont get into to much trouble with my parents if they find out.

Case Study 4 (Tobacco) My best friend’s father drives me to soccer practice every Monday and Wednesday night, and I really appreciate it because my parents aren't available to drive and I would have to take the bus otherwise. He always smokes in the car and I don’t like it because I know the negative effects of Second hand smoking. I want to tell my parents and ask them to maybe talk to my friends dad, but I don’t want to be to bother him or hurt his feelings because it is so nice of him to drive me to soccer. Before I tell my parents this I think of the outcomes.  If I tell my parents or talk to my friends dad myself I could risk hurting my friends and her dads feelings after they have been so nice to me. It would also become very awkward in the car ride. I would probably have to start taking the bus.  If I don’t tell my parents and don’t talk to my friends dad I can risk getting lung cancer from inhaling to much second hand smoke. If I start taking the bus because I can not take staying in the car with him while he smokes my friend might be upset and think I don’t like her.  After thinking it through I will still talk to my parents and see what they think, if they think it’s a good idea to talk to him then my parents or I will say something to him. I hope this does not ruin my friendship with my friend

Tobacco

Case Study 11 (Alcohol) I often go to my friends house to work on homework. This week there is a big test that we are all studying for. One of my friends has brought beer, she tells me it will relax me and make me feel less stressed about the test. I think I will say yes the beer I know it would make me less stressed about the test, before I answer I think it through because I don't know if I want to face the consequences of drinking underage.  If I said yes I would be less stressed about the test and I could maybe focus better. My friends wont be mad at me because I did not take the alcohol. If I get drunk my parents would for sure find out and I would be in lots of trouble, I would most likely not be aloud to hang out with my friends after school or use electronics. But for the next two days my parents will be away on a trip so they wont find out.  If I said no my friends would be disappointed in me. I would still be really stressed out about the test. The only good thing would be I would not have to worry about my parents coming home early and seeing me drunk, and grounding me.  Thinking this through I will still take the beer, but in real life I would not. I think this is the best decision because my parents wont find out, my friends would be happy that I had the beer and I will be less stressed about the test.

Case Study 6 (Alcohol) My friend and I are at a party. Before we left her house, my friend arranges with her parents to get a ride home for us both at the end of the evening. When it is time to leave, her brother and a friend arrive to come pick us up instead of her parents. I notice that both boys have been drinking and there is even a open bottle of beer in the car. I am not sure if I should get in the car with them and if I don’t it is ok because it isn't very far to my house from here. I think about what I should do. I don’t want to put my self in risk of getting in trouble with the police of getting in a car accident and being in a car with a person who is drinking and driving, but I don’t want to hurt my friends feelings by not letting them drive me home. I think I will tell my friend no but first I think through the outcomes.  If I say yes to taking the car ride, my friend would not be embarrassed by her brother and his friend, but I am putting myself in a potentially dangerous situation. The police could pull the car over and get the boys in trouble. My parents might not let me go to parties any more after that. We could also get in a car accident.  If I say no to the car ride, my friend could be upset, mad and embarrassed. I would have to walk home, but I don't want anything to happen to my friend and her brother because I would feel its my fault I did not stop them. IF my parents were to find out they would be proud of my decision.  In the end I would still say no and walk home and tell my friend that I think her brother and his friend have been drinking and it would be all right for her to stay at my house over night. I hope my friend would understand and respect my decision.

Alcohol