Classroom Ideas To Prevent Drug and Alcohol Abuse

by Arielle Bhumitra

Overview

Drug and alcohol abuse is a serious issue that adversely affects our society. Teachers are in a unique position to educate their students about the negative effects of drug and alcohol abuse, deterring this harmful behavior in the process. In order to exert the most influence over their students' choices regarding drugs and alcohol, teachers should use classroom methods that will have the most impact.
Presentation by a Former User

In a classroom setting, nothing may be more powerful in discouraging drug and alcohol abuse than testimony from a former user or addict. Rehabilitated users who are now sober can relay their history to students, starting with the initial experimentation through the downward spiral of addiction. No doubt they will also discuss how their addiction affected their loved ones and adversely influenced their hopes and dreams. Hearing in person the stories of someone who has actually lived through drug and alcohol abuse is extraordinarily powerful and can serve as a powerful deterrent to students contemplating using drugs and alcohol.

Reading Memoirs

Although less powerful than in-person testimony, reading the memoirs of former addicts is also effective in conveying to students the dangers of excessive drug and alcohol use. There are a number of memoirs documenting such destructive behavior in print. Some of these books are written by young people who have only recently recovered from their abuse while others document a lifetime of negative behavior. Reading these memoirs in a classroom setting and providing time to discuss the narrative is a good way to provoke thought and analysis among students.
Educational Videos

Educational videos that depict the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse may be effective in deterring students, but they may also lack the impact that personal narratives have. Informative films that document statistics and information about drugs and alcohol can still be useful in conveying the negative impact of substance abuse. If using this method to teach students, it is better to use current videos with updated statistics and information rather than films that are several decades old.

Overview