Decision Making & Refusal Skills

Decision Making Warm Up: When was the last time you made an important decision? Warm Up: When was the last time you made an important decision? How did you make it? How did you make it? What happened? What happened? What alternatives did you think about? What alternatives did you think about? What decision did you ultimately make? Why? What decision did you ultimately make? Why? Were you happy with the decision you made? Were you happy with the decision you made?

Steps to the decision-making process: Brainstorm Brainstorm Weigh pros and cons Weigh pros and cons Select the best option Select the best option Follow through Follow through

Re-Evaluate What does it mean to re-evaluate a decision? What does it mean to re-evaluate a decision? To change your mind = you can think about the effect the decision is having on your life and change your mind To change your mind = you can think about the effect the decision is having on your life and change your mind

Commitment Making an agreement and following through with it. Making an agreement and following through with it. Drug use = a result of a poor decision made in the PAST! Making a commitment to change that takes conscious planning. Drug use = a result of a poor decision made in the PAST! Making a commitment to change that takes conscious planning. Any little thing one is willing to do to make a change regarding past choices is a positive step! Any little thing one is willing to do to make a change regarding past choices is a positive step!

Refusal Skills HAVE A PLAN!!! HAVE A PLAN!!! Picture a situation where you are asked to do something that compromises your values or that you know is wrong and/or unhealthy. Picture a situation where you are asked to do something that compromises your values or that you know is wrong and/or unhealthy. Refusal skills are techniques that can help you refuse to participate in unsafe or unhealthy behaviors. Refusal skills are techniques that can help you refuse to participate in unsafe or unhealthy behaviors.

Three Step Refusal Technique 1. Give information = Calmly state that you are not going to participate (ex: “Sorry, I don’t want to.”) 1. Give information = Calmly state that you are not going to participate (ex: “Sorry, I don’t want to.”) 2. Show you understand/Explain = Give a reason why you don’t want to participate (ex: “Our school nurse showed us the amount of tar and phlegm your lungs take in from one pack of cigarettes…it was disgusting!!!”) 2. Show you understand/Explain = Give a reason why you don’t want to participate (ex: “Our school nurse showed us the amount of tar and phlegm your lungs take in from one pack of cigarettes…it was disgusting!!!”) 3. Repeat your position/suggest and alternative = Firmly state that you aren’t interested (ex: I really have no interest in smoking. Let’s go grab something to eat instead.”) 3. Repeat your position/suggest and alternative = Firmly state that you aren’t interested (ex: I really have no interest in smoking. Let’s go grab something to eat instead.”)

Re-visiting Self-Esteem Definition: Definition: The confidence and worth you feel about yourself. The confidence and worth you feel about yourself. Strategies for improving: Strategies for improving: Examine the messages you send yourself Examine the messages you send yourself Focus on things you do well Focus on things you do well Surround yourself with people who build up your self esteem!!! Surround yourself with people who build up your self esteem!!! Remember your health triangle and be PRO- ACTIVE about improving its balance! Remember your health triangle and be PRO- ACTIVE about improving its balance!

Describe how choosing to use drugs, alcohol and tobacco will negatively impact your health triangle: Mental/EmotionalSocialPhysical