Bell Ringer Open your student workbook to page 67. Under the heading titled Journal Entry, write a few sentences about a time you felt pressured to do something you didn’t want to do. Who was pressuring you? What did you do? Did you say no? Was there any back-and-forth discussion?

Unit 5: Tobacco, Alcohol & Other Drug Prevention Lesson 14: Saying NO to Drugs

Healthy Behavior Outcomes Avoid the use of illegal drugs. Support others to be alcohol- and other drug- free.

Lesson Objectives By the end of this lesson, you should be able to: Demonstrate effective refusal skills that can be used to say NO to pressure to use tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

What are some ways that peer might pressure someone to experiment with or use tobacco, alcohol and other drugs? What are some negative things that can happen if teens give in to peer pressure?

Summary Peers might tell you that “everyone” does it. They might make fun of you if you say no, or imply that you will not fit in. They might offer you a cigarette, drink or other type of drug. Even if peers do not pressure you directly, their use of alcohol or other drugs at a party or social setting might encourage drug use. Teens who give in to peer pressure to use tobacco, alcohol or other drugs risk getting addicted and all the other negative consequences of drug use.

What are some ways teens can counter peer pressure to use drugs and support themselves and others in being drug free?

Summary Teens can counter peer pressure by hanging out with friends who do not use drugs, supporting each other to be drug free, sharing their choice to be drug free with others, remembering their reasons for choosing to be drug free, finding other things to do besides using drugs, and leaving or avoiding situations where tobacco, alcohol or other drugs are being used. They can also refuse to go along with peer pressure to use drugs. Today you are going to practice refusal skills.

When might it be easy to say NO? When might it be more difficult?

Summary When you feel strongly about something, it can make it easier to stand up for what you believe or to say NO to pressure to do something you don’t want to do. It can be hard to say NO to a friend or someone you like or look up to. Hard to say NO if you are unsure of your feelings or what you want.

You can also say NO without words Body Language Your face, body movements and actions all help someone who’s pressuring you see that you mean what you say. What are some actions or body language you could use to reinforce your refusal of drugs?

What are some actions or body language you could use to reinforce your refusal to use drugs?

Summary Crossing arms and turning away Moving away Shaking your head Pretending not to hear the offer Standing up tall while strongly communicating NO Looking directly at the person while strongly communicating NO If your words are saying one thing, but your body is saying another, your message won’t be as clear. Reinforcing a verbal NO with body language that supports that refusal is very important.

Practice saying NO Find a partner and practice some of the words and body language you can use to resist pressure to use drugs. Take turns saying NO in different ways. Be sure to use body language that will reinforce your refusal.

Turn to page 43 in your student workbook. Read the situation, then write a response to each of the 5 pressure lines. Be sure to use at least 2 of the ways to say NO that you learned about and describe at least 1 action that reinforces your refusal. Make sure your responses are real and would work with the people you know.

Today, you practiced saying NO to pressure to use tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. The skills you are learning will help you stay in control and support your choice to be drug free. What are some of the skills you observed and practiced in the roleplays today?