Activities for Teens on Drug & Alcohol Issues

Discussion Groups

• Starting, or joining, a discussion group can help teens to learn the facts on substance use and abuse. Before jumping to the conclusion that drug and alcohol groups are all support organizations for kids who already have a problem, keep in mind that some schools and communities may have discussion-oriented programs. This isn't to say that the teens who join in on these group activities haven't ever tried drugs or alcohol, but they may not have a problem or are addicted. Instead, these groups can inform teens on the consequences of using substances and provide peer support when it comes to issues such as saying "no" to the pressure to use. Help the teen group to find an adult expert discussion leader such as a community substance abuse counselor to provide facts about the consequences of using drugs and alcohol. This person, or even yourself, can also facilitate a peer discussion that provides the teens with the opportunities to state their own views and offer support. For example, ask the kids if they have ever been in a situation in which other teens are pressuring them to use drugs.

Movie Activities

• Movies don't just provide a relaxing alternative to school or work pursuits. You can use topical films as a jumping off point for discussing drug and alcohol use and abuse. Depictions of young people using drugs and alcohol in the movies are abundant. In a study looking at substance use in 40 films made in the mid 1990s, Temple University professor of communications Dr. George Gerbner found 6.3 scenes featuring alcohol, tobacco or drug use per hour, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics' Healthy Children website. But instead of hiding your teen's eyes or simply shaking your head and saying, "That's bad," use these images as a way to talk to your child openly about substances. Ask her what she thinks of the drug- or alcohol-using characters and if she believes that their behaviors are acceptable. For example, the teen flick "Superbad" features a cast of characters who are constantly in search of, our drinking, alcohol. Use a film such as this to talk about the negative consequences of alcohol -- such as making poor decisions, engaging in risky sexual behaviors or just acting foolish -- and what activities could replace drinking or drug use.

Learn the Facts

• Some teens, especially younger ones, may have little or no idea what the real-life consequences of drug and alcohol use are. Separate the truths from the myths, and avoid having your teen learn all that he knows about substances from his peers, by having a parent-child discussion activity. Before starting this activity, gather the facts and make sure that you know the truths too. Avoid spouting off misinformation or ideas that you think might possibly be right. If you don't know the facts, visit an authoritative website such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, abovetheinfluence.com or ask your child's pediatrician for help. Alcohol can decrease coordination and reaction times in the short-term and have long-term physical consequences such as kidney or liver damage, according to abovetheinfluence.com.

Poster Making

• If you're looking for a project to help your teen learn about the consequences of using drugs and alcohol, or need an activity that will help him to get the word out, poster making is an artsy option. A poster-making project works well within a school group or community discussion group setting. Your teen can display his posters at school -- with the administration's permission -- to help his peers better understand the facts of substance use and abuse or to advertise for a support group meeting. For example, your teen can make a poster that highlights facts and stats in bright, bold letters such as, "If you're under 21, alcohol is illegal" along with a picture or drawing of a teen behind bars. Teens who are focusing on a drug-related theme can create a poster that also features the perils of abusing substances such as a picture of an enraged, acne-covered exaggerated body-builder and a logo that reads, "Steroids are illegal drugs too."