Weekly D.A.R.E. Lessons

Lesson 1

Introducing D.A.R.E.

In lesson 1 the students will become acquainted with the D.A.R.E. Officer assigned to the school and will be able to define their roles and responsibilities as D.A.R.E. students

Lesson 2

Understanding the effects of mind-altering drugs

Definitions:

Drug

Any substance other than a food that can affect the way your mind and body work.

Abuse

The mis-use of something.

Drug Abuse

The mis-use of drugs.

In lesson 2 the students will watch a video that will take them through the Land of Choices and Decisions.They will Learn that drugs are substances that can change the way the mind and body work and that drugs that act on the brain and nervous system to change (alter) feelings and behavior are called mind-altering drugs. We will help the students develop knowledge of basic drug facts and the harmful effects of mind-altering drugs if misused.

Lesson 3:

Considering Consequences

Definitions:

Consequences

The results of something you do or choose not to do.

In lesson 3 the students will consider the consequences that may result from the use of drugs. They will be able to identify consequences of using and choosing not to use tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. The students will begin to learn that knowing what the consequences are is important in making GOOD decisions.

Lesson 4:

Changing Beliefs About Drug Use

Definitions:

Pressure

Is a force or influence that acts on you to do something.

Peer Pressure

Is a force or influence on you from others who are about your age.

In lesson 4 we will help the students identify the major sources and kinds of pressure and compare their estimates of the extent of drug use among adolescents with estimates reported in national surveys.

Lesson 5

Learning Resistance Techniques - Ways To Say No

In Lesson 5 students will learn there are effective ways and will demonstrate these ways to say no in response to different kinds of peer pressure to use drugs.

These include:

SAY NO THANKS

GIVE REASON OR EXCUSE

REPEATED REFUSAL

WALK AWAY

CHANGE THE SUBJECT

AVOIDING THE SITUATION

COLD SHOULDER

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

Lesson 6

Building Self - Esteem

Definitions:

Self - Esteem

A way you feel about yourself, self worth

In Lesson 6 we will help the students understand that self-esteem, the way a person feels about himself or herself, results from positive and negative feelings and experiences. They will also recognize positive qualities about themselves.

Lesson 7

Learning Assertiveness-- A Response Style

In lesson 7 students learn that Assertiveness (standing up for yourself) is a response style that enables a person to state his or her own rights without loss of self-esteem. They will learn that the best way to say no to drugs is in a confident, assertive style.

Lesson 8

Managing Stress Without Taking Drugs

Definitions

Stress

Any strain, pressure, or excitement felt about a situation or an event

Stressors

Situations or events that produce stress

In lesson 8 the students will learn that stress refers to physical and mental strain felt about a situation or an event. They will learn to recognize the stress encountered in their daily living and ways to deal with it other than by taking drugs.

Lesson 9

Reducing Violence

Definitions

Violence

A destructive action that is directed toward people and things, both living and non-living

In lesson 9 the students will learn that reducing violence involves finding mutually acceptable ways to resolve disagreements without resorting to destructive ways. We will help students to recognize that destructive acts of violence are inappropriate ways to deal with anger and disagreements. Students will be able to identify nonviolent ways to deal with anger and disagreements

Lesson 10

Combating Media Influences on Drug Use and Violence

Definitions

Media Pressure

Any means of communication that reaches or influences large numbers of people

In lesson 10 the students learn how the media influence the way people think, feel, and act about drug use and violence. We will help the students develop the understanding and skills needed to analyze how the media can influence the way people think, feel and act about drug use and violence. Students will be able to recognize media influence in presentations about tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs that encourage or discourage drug use or violence.

Lesson 11

Making Decisions About Risky Behaviors

Definitions

Risk

Taking a chance

In lesson 10 the students learn to apply the decision making process in evaluating the consequences of various kinds of risk-taking behavior, including that of using drugs, tagging, and using weapons, the choices available to them, and the consequences of these choices.

Lesson 12

Saying Yes to Positive Alternatives

Definitions

Alternatives

Different choices you have to help you stay drug-free and trouble-free

In lesson 12 the students will identify activities that are interesting and rewarding alternatives to drug use. They will identify and participate in positive alternative activities which they may find interesting and in which they can achieve success and meet their social needs.

Lesson 13

Having Positive Role Models

In lesson 13 High School Student Leaders who do not use drugs serve as positive role models in influencing the younger students not to use drugs. The role models clarify the misconception that drug users are in the majority. They will help the students identify ways that they can avoid the use of drugs by participating in a variety of positive activities.

Lesson 14

Resisting Gang and Group Violence

Definitions

Youth Gang

Any group of young people whose members take part in acts of violence and other activities that break the law

Intimidate

To scare or to make fearful by threats

In lesson 14 the students learn to recognize the negative consequences of gang and group violence and will suggest ways to avoid becoming involved and learn how it affects all members of their community.

Lesson 15

Summarizing D.A.R.E. Lessons

Drug Abuse Resistance Education involves learning about ways to say no to pressures or influences to use drugs and learning ways to avoid violence. In this lesson we help the students to summarize and assess what they have learned from participating in Project D.A.R.E.

Lesson 16

Taking A Stand

In Lesson 16 each student is asked to write and then read in front of their class an essay. This essay gives them time to think about all the things they have learned in D.A.R.E.. In this essay they can tell about their dreams of the future and how being drug free will help them reach their goals. They can make a pledge to themselves and to their family to stay drug and violence free.


	Drug Abuse Resistance Education
	Weekly D.A.R.E. Lessons Lesson 1 Introducing D.A.R.E. In lesson 1 the students will become acquainted with the D.A.R.E. Officer assigned to the school and will be able to define their roles and responsibilities as D.A.R.E. students Lesson 2 Understanding the effects of mind-altering drugs Definitions: Drug Any substance other than a food that can affect the way your mind and body work. Abuse The mis-use of something. Drug Abuse The mis-use of drugs. In lesson 2 the students will watch a video that will take them through the Land of Choices and Decisions.They will Learn that drugs are substances that can change the way the mind and body work and that drugs that act on the brain and nervous system to change (alter) feelings and behavior are called mind-altering drugs. We will help the students develop knowledge of basic drug facts and the harmful effects of mind-altering drugs if misused. Lesson 3: Considering Consequences Definitions: Consequences The results of something you do or choose not to do. In lesson 3 the students will consider the consequences that may result from the use of drugs. They will be able to identify consequences of using and choosing not to use tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. The students will begin to learn that knowing what the consequences are is important in making GOOD decisions. Lesson 4: Changing Beliefs About Drug Use Definitions: Pressure Is a force or influence that acts on you to do something. Peer Pressure Is a force or influence on you from others who are about your age. In lesson 4 we will help the students identify the major sources and kinds of pressure and compare their estimates of the extent of drug use among adolescents with estimates reported in national surveys. Lesson 5 Learning Resistance Techniques - Ways To Say No In Lesson 5 students will learn there are effective ways and will demonstrate these ways to say no in response to different kinds of peer pressure to use drugs. These include: SAY NO THANKS GIVE REASON OR EXCUSE REPEATED REFUSAL WALK AWAY CHANGE THE SUBJECT AVOIDING THE SITUATION COLD SHOULDER STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Lesson 6 Building Self - Esteem Definitions: Self - Esteem A way you feel about yourself, self worth In Lesson 6 we will help the students understand that self-esteem, the way a person feels about himself or herself, results from positive and negative feelings and experiences. They will also recognize positive qualities about themselves. Lesson 7 Learning Assertiveness-- A Response Style In lesson 7 students learn that Assertiveness (standing up for yourself) is a response style that enables a person to state his or her own rights without loss of self-esteem. They will learn that the best way to say no to drugs is in a confident, assertive style. Lesson 8 Managing Stress Without Taking Drugs Definitions Stress Any strain, pressure, or excitement felt about a situation or an event Stressors Situations or events that produce stress In lesson 8 the students will learn that stress refers to physical and mental strain felt about a situation or an event. They will learn to recognize the stress encountered in their daily living and ways to deal with it other than by taking drugs. Lesson 9 Reducing Violence Definitions Violence A destructive action that is directed toward people and things, both living and non-living In lesson 9 the students will learn that reducing violence involves finding mutually acceptable ways to resolve disagreements without resorting to destructive ways. We will help students to recognize that destructive acts of violence are inappropriate ways to deal with anger and disagreements. Students will be able to identify nonviolent ways to deal with anger and disagreements Lesson 10 Combating Media Influences on Drug Use and Violence Definitions Media Pressure Any means of communication that reaches or influences large numbers of people In lesson 10 the students learn how the media influence the way people think, feel, and act about drug use and violence. We will help the students develop the understanding and skills needed to analyze how the media can influence the way people think, feel and act about drug use and violence. Students will be able to recognize media influence in presentations about tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs that encourage or discourage drug use or violence. Lesson 11 Making Decisions About Risky Behaviors Definitions Risk Taking a chance In lesson 10 the students learn to apply the decision making process in evaluating the consequences of various kinds of risk-taking behavior, including that of using drugs, tagging, and using weapons, the choices available to them, and the consequences of these choices. Lesson 12 Saying Yes to Positive Alternatives Definitions Alternatives Different choices you have to help you stay drug-free and trouble-free In lesson 12 the students will identify activities that are interesting and rewarding alternatives to drug use. They will identify and participate in positive alternative activities which they may find interesting and in which they can achieve success and meet their social needs. Lesson 13 Having Positive Role Models In lesson 13 High School Student Leaders who do not use drugs serve as positive role models in influencing the younger students not to use drugs. The role models clarify the misconception that drug users are in the majority. They will help the students identify ways that they can avoid the use of drugs by participating in a variety of positive activities. Lesson 14 Resisting Gang and Group Violence Definitions Youth Gang Any group of young people whose members take part in acts of violence and other activities that break the law Intimidate To scare or to make fearful by threats In lesson 14 the students learn to recognize the negative consequences of gang and group violence and will suggest ways to avoid becoming involved and learn how it affects all members of their community. Lesson 15 Summarizing D.A.R.E. Lessons Drug Abuse Resistance Education involves learning about ways to say no to pressures or influences to use drugs and learning ways to avoid violence. In this lesson we help the students to summarize and assess what they have learned from participating in Project D.A.R.E. Lesson 16 Taking A Stand In Lesson 16 each student is asked to write and then read in front of their class an essay. This essay gives them time to think about all the things they have learned in D.A.R.E.. In this essay they can tell about their dreams of the future and how being drug free will help them reach their goals. They can make a pledge to themselves and to their family to stay drug and violence free.