name

R E A D Y
BE

Challenges and Choices

A resilience approach
to drug education
TITLE: Challenges and Choices: A Resilience
Approach to Drug Education
Year 7 Be Ready

SCIS no: 1766637 School Drug Education and Road Aware

ISBN: 978-0-7307-4586-0
School Drug Education and Road Aware (SDERA)
is the WA State Government’s primary drug and
© Mental Health Commission,
road safety education strategy for all government
Government of Western Australia, 2016
and non- government schools, and early childhood
services. SDERA is a cross-sectoral initiative of the
Association of Independent Schools of WA (AISWA),
the Catholic Education WA (CEWA) and Department
of Education (DoE) and is funded by the Mental
Author
Health Commission and the Road Trauma Trust
Anne Miller, Resource Development, SDERA
Account.
Design & Production
SDERA aims to prevent road-related injuries and the
Fuse Design and Communication
harms from drug use in children and young people.

SDERA empowers early childhood and school-based

staff, parents and carers, and community groups to
implement effective resilience, drug and road safety
education approaches within their schools and
community, through the provision of professional
learning, evidence-based resources, and a state-wide
consultancy team.

School Drug Education & Road Aware

Statewide Services Centre
33 Giles Avenue
PADBURY WA 6025

P: 08 9402 6415
F: 08 9402 6399
E: [email protected]
W: www.sdera.wa.edu.au

Saving Lives Together

Build your
You can learn
to be more

n c e
resilient but just

e s i li e
because you are

r So how can
resilient doesn’t
you build your mean you won’t
own
resilience? Thin feel stressed
k
about these id or anxious
Have a sense of control eas.
Some will work sometimes.
• Some days it is really hard to get out of bed
better for you
and go to school. than
• Try setting yourself some small goals and others.
working towards these each day.
• It can help you feel more in control.

Look after yourself

• Not just physically but mentally and
Take a reality check and keep spiritually.
things in perspective • Get enough sleep, eat well and do some
• Be realistic. things that you really enjoy.
• Put your situation into perspective. It may • Listen to some music, go for a walk or
seem ‘hard’ at the moment but in a few days try a few relaxation techniques – yoga,
or weeks mean nothing.

Get connected with

friends, peers, family
Walk away
and your community
• If you’re feeling stressed or angry with someone,
end the conversation and take yourself away from • Build positive relationships.
the situation.
• Connect with friends and families.
• Take time to calm down.
• Breathe deeply.
• When you’re ready, work out what the problem
was with the situation, what you can or can’t Use positive thoughts
change, and decide what you need to do. • The way you think influences how you feel
and what you do and say.
• Challenge any negative thoughts. “It’s going
to be okay. I can do this. Other people have
been through the same thing as me.”
Be grateful
• Try to focus on the positive, not the
negative.
• Focus on what you have and be grateful Talk. A problem shared
for this. is a problem halved
• Choose to do things that make you feel • Ask someone you trust – a friend or even
good about who you are, eg reading, your parents – to listen to what you are
talking to friends, listening to music. worried about.
• Show appreciation to those around you • Keep a journal or diary each day.
who care for you. • Do something creative to let your feelings
flow such as painting or dance.

In the book Oh the places you’ll go by Dr Seuss, what resilience skills are introduced?

1
 ng strategies?
Have you tried these copi
Ring a helpline
Call a friend or relative

Do some exercise – go
Talk to your teacher, or
Tell someone how you for a run, do a dance
doctor or school nurse
feel fitness class
Read a book or watch
lk Have a cry then pick
Take the dog for a wa television
yourself up and get on
with it
n
Sit quietly on your ow
Sleep on it and then
for a while
make a plan

Use positive self-talk

Get a hug from
So you’re feeling terrible someone you love
Ask someone you tru
st
Do something you like h
and you’re trying to cope Make a list of goals
- play an instrument,
how they would deal wit
for the week (month/ the sit uat ion
write in your diary or
but it’s not working. Why? year) and how you wil
l
listen to your favourite
achieve these
music
Think about how you
Take a reality check.
have handled similar
Coping strategies don’t always Is it really as big a
situations before
work. It may simply be because problem as you think?
you’re not using the right ones for
you and the situation or problem.

There isn’t necessarily one ‘right’ Think of all the good

coping strategy for any particular things happening in
situation and some are probably your life right now
Work out how the
going to be more (or less) effective Tell yourself that it’s
Stop, count to 10 and situation happened
at certain times than others. So.... going to take time to
take a deep breath
how do you know which coping sor t it out
strategy to use? It is all about practice can
Tell yourself that you
and trying different coping strategies Look for information
Stay calm and work do it
for different situations. There are so from a reliable website
through the bits of the
many to choose from. r
situation that are you
problem

Other strategies

Sometimes you may be tempted to

use unhealthy coping choices such
as: avoiding someone, eating junk
food, drinking energy drinks or even
alcohol, or just give up on coping
strategies altogether.
Write the names of three people you could talk to if you were trying to cope with a problem.
Don’t!
Stop and ask yourself – What do I 1
need right now? If you can do this,
you’re much more likely to find that 2
coping strategies really can work
when you’re having a tough time! 3
2
 It’s very easy to look at a situation and think

h
T gso u g h t s the worst. It’s also normal to sometimes fee
unhappy, worried, anxious or angry. l

feelin !
What happens next, what you do We can
’t alwa
and say, is because of the way you c o
in our
n trol wh
at happ
ys

action
ens
are thinking and feeling. have s
lives b
ome co
ut we c
an
the wa ntr ol over
y we t
about t hink
hese e
vents.

Event or situation Thoughts Feelings Actions or behaviour

Billy is in Billy uses negative self-talk Billy feels worried, Billy treats the other students
Year 7 and has I don’t want to be in this angry and anxious. disrespectfully, stares at the
moved into a class. Why me? Everyone else teacher a lot, and is often late
new form class stayed in their same form. I’m to class and gets detention.
with not one going to hate school this year.
friend

Bobby is in
Year 7 and has Bobby uses positive self-talk Bobby feels excited, Bobby makes conversations
moved into a This is a bit scary but it’s exciting energised, and just with other students, finds
new form class too. I wonder if anyone in this slightly anxious. others in the class with
with not one class likes surfing. Great, now I similar interests, and greets
friend can make friends with some other the teacher.
people at my school.

What might be the consequences of Billy’s behaviour?

What might be the consequences of Bobby’s behaviour?

Are you a negative or positive self-talker?

Event or situation Thoughts (self talk) Feelings Actions or behaviour

Negative self-talk

Positive self-talk

3
 O N
TUR N
H A N N E L
C if ts of o u r m ind is t
im
ll o w s us to
hat it a situation bein
ur
agine o lready be.
t u r n on our
g b e t
own
ter, hea
lthier,

n y g c a n a e you
the ma nel. Here we gs may an mak d.
One of a n t h in O It c
hannel
.
istic Ch
o d
how go r worrie
Optim ier no matter n your C eling down o
r is o uldn’t
and ha
pp g humou y o u are fe that you sho re
g h and u s in
p e f u l wh e n
a w a y or r a n d be mo
la u h o o t t e
Having
a ic and m will g ou to feel be
o re o ptimist at the proble h e lp y o r h elp. Accept that
feel m m e a n th
b u t it can e t o a sk f you sometimes
esn’t ngs urag
This do dge your feeli to, find the co need to talk to
le d
acknow nd if you nee others to get the
l, a
hopefu facts right. Don’t
Stay try to read other
hopeful people’s minds or
even in guess.
Accept that unhappy
everyone will times.
feel rejected,
lonely or sad Expect
at some stage in things to get
their life. better.
Accept that Stay tuned to
unhappy or bad your Optimistic
things can happen Channel and use
to anyone. You positive self-talk
can’t change to help you manage
these things and your emotions and
they don’t last bounce back from
forever. difficult times
Don’t think
the worst
straight
away.
Think of
Be grateful happy Take credit
for all the memories for your own
good things – have a successes, no
in your life. laugh. matter how
small.

You are your own stress, your own anger, your

own sadness and frustration. If you let things
OPTIMISM IS KEY bother you, they will - so don’t let them. Just
be HAPPY! :) NOTHING in life is easy, so make the
best of all of it. Don’t dwell on the negatives.

4
 man. To stumble

look for the

To make mistakes is hu
able to
is commonplace. To be

funnys
urity.
laugh at yourself is mat Williiam Arthur Ward

thing
At the end of each day, write down one thing
that made you laugh and explain why.
How do you feel when you look back at the things

in life
that made you laugh each day? What did you
learn about yourself from keeping this diary?
How could you use humour to help you get over a
mistake or something embarrassing?

How did you feel?

Why did it make What did you do?
What happened? you laugh?

Mon

Tues

Laughter helps us to feel good.

Laughing at your mistakes or
laughing with others can help
you to put your problems into Wed
perspective. It can also help you
to remember that there are good
things going on for you too.

Thurs

Extension

Complete one of the
following tasks Fri

1. Research the role of ‘clown

doctors’. Present your research
in a format that can easily be
viewed by the class.
Sat
2. Research the physical and
emotional effects of laughter on
the human body. Present your
research in a format that can
easily be viewed by the class.

Sun

Spending time with

people who make you laugh
is a good way to relax
5
 Read the examples for each
ability and character strength.
Remember, you probably won’t
have all of these strengths,
and that’s okay.

Not at all like me (0)

A little like me (2)
A lot like me (3)

Score
ABILITY STRENGTHS Tick your answer

I like doing things that involve

running, jumping or moving my
Body body.
Movement
in the
a t y o urself e or
I am good at making and doing

n y o u look y s a y positiv u things with my hands.

Whe usuall elf? Yo
ir r o r , do you about yours ative’.
m s
e thing aid ‘neg oing
I like listening to music in my
negativ alone if you s ’s g
k what
spare time.
e
won’t b s we overloo e strengths Music
e h
Sometim our life and t s unique and
I am good at singing or playing
u
right in ies that make d positive
a musical instrument.
al it a n
and qu t o f e e l happy
help us ife.
about l
I like watching nature shows
on TV.
o your
t o r fair? D
s Do you
Nature
n e
kind, ho dvice?
I like planting vegetables and
A r e y o u f o r a
o you ork is
flowers and watching them
come t homew
friends y o u r
These
grow.
ns o
o a pla n time?
stick t an d in o or
y s r e a dy to h l it y q ualities I like organising to do things
alwa a
person ortant
. Next
er and
with other people.
a r a c t a r e im p
ch have nd
smile a
People
ths you irror,
streng h e m rs lf.
e
I am good at getting along with
in t
im e y o u look iv e a b out you lots of different people.
t posit
ething
say som I like setting goals and know
Not at all like me (0)
A little like me (2)
A lot like me (3)

how to go about achieving

them.
Score

Self
I am good at working out what
sort of mood I am in.

ABILITY STRENGTHS Tick your answer

CHARACTER STRENGTHS Tick your answer
I like word puzzles, writing
stories and reading. I like making things.
Word
Creativity
I am good at spelling and I think of new ways to do
reading. things.

I like solving maths problems I like learning new things.

and playing games like chess.
Logic and
Maths Curiosity I watch shows about
I am good at learning new inventions, history or other
maths. things about the world around
me.
I am good at remembering
things that I have seen and I appreciate the good things
drawing them. in my life.
Space and
Vision Thankfulness
I am good at imagining how I take time to thank my family
things will look before I draw or and friends when they do
make them. things for me.
6
 Not at all like me (0)
I know what to do when

A little like me (2)

A lot like me (3)
other people don’t look
happy or comfortable.

Score
Empathy
I tell others that I
understand and accept
how they are feeling.
CHARACTER STRENGTHS Tick your answer
I like to look at all the
I often give people options and I am able to
second chances if they do change my mind if I need
something mean to me. Open- to.
Forgiveness mindedness
I don’t dwell on the bad I usually weigh up the
things that other people facts fairly.
might do to me.
I like doing favours and
I don’t get distracted. good deeds for other
Perseverance Kindness people.
I start what I finish on time.
I show other people I care.
I speak up for what I think
is right and fair. I always expect the best
things to happen.
Bravery
I do something if I see Hope
others being treating I feel like I am in control of
badly. what happens to me.

I like to laugh and I see I am good at organising

the funny side in lots of activities and helping
situations. people to make things
Humour happen.
I like to share a laugh with Leadership
others and often make I encourage others to get
them laugh. things done and at the
same time maintain good
I always do my fair share to relations within the group.
get a group task finished.
Teamwork I act appropriately even
I like working with others when I am angry.
and playing team sports Self-discipline
or games. I don’t let my emotions be
the boss of me.
I like to know I have done
a good job and let my
accomplishments speak
for themselves rather than
Modesty getting praise from others.

I don’t regard myself as

more special than I am. Were you surprised by
the abilities and strengths
I play by the rules and let that you have? Why?
everyone have a fair turn.
How could you use your strengths more often in
Fairness I treat all people the same
and don’t let my personal
the class, at school, at home, and in the community?
feelings influence my
decisions about others. How would knowing your strengths help you
when you are feeling down or a bit bored?
I usually tell the truth and
get upset if I tell a white How could you use your strengths
Honesty
lie. to help someone else?
I take responsibility for my
own feelings and actions.
 L e a d e r s A leader is a person who

ce re n
sees something that needs to be

d i ff e done, knows that they can help make

m ake a
it happen, and does it - with the help
of others. A leader has initiative. Too
many people sit around waiting for
things to happen. A leader doesn’t
wait. A leader ‘does’

Choose one and takes action.

of these...
STRENGTH LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES

Word Read a book that has a theme about friendship or persistence to a buddy class group
or younger friend and teach them some key language concepts.
Make a big book about being resilient or coping with difficult situations for a buddy
class or a younger friend.

Logic and Organise a chess or board game tournament.

Maths
Teach a small group of students in a buddy class or a group of friends a new maths
concept.

Space and Teach a small group of students from a buddy class how to draw faces that show
Vision different emotions.

Body Teach a buddy class group a new sports game, dance or skill.
movement Create a dance and teach a small group of students from a buddy class.

Music Organise a lunchtime music concert to raise awareness about being respectful towards
others.
Teach a new song about friendship to a small group of younger students.

Nature Teach a small group of students from a buddy class some amazing facts about an
insect, plant or animal.

People Develop a treasure hunt for a class party.

Organise a lunchtime concert of dancing, singing, rapping, or poetry reading.

Self Teach a small group of students how to be organised, or cope with stress or anger, or
what to do if they are bullied or see someone else being bullied.

8
discipline. A good leader has a positive attitude, and is passionate and enthusiastic.

A good leader identifies the gifts, strengths and limitations of others.

You can do it!
Good leaders are made - not
born. You may say - its
impossible for me to learn
all these skills, I’m not super
Using my leadership skills
human. Well you don’t have
Tick the explantion that best reflects how you used your to develop all of these skills

leadership skills during the leadership activity. at once to be a good leader,
Yes Some- Not but you have to be willing to
times enough
learn and develop new skills.
Did you clearly explain your thoughts?
If you have the desire and
Did you listen to others’ thoughts and
willpower, you can become
ideas? a leader by learning and
Did you give others a chance to show their practising skills such as
strengths or talents? empathy, communication,
Did you give positive feedback to other decision-making and
group members? problem-solving. Challenge
Did you use humour to relieve tension? yourself, believe in yourself.

Did you respond calmly to any changes? Leadership is about

Did you help sort out any disagreements
potential - your
and discourage put-downs?
potential.
Did you make your decisions on what was
best for your group not what would make

A good leader has confidence in their abilities.

you more popular?
Did you predict any of the problems that
your group had to face?

Did you ‘think outside the box’ in any way?

Did you organise things well?

Did you delegate to others well?

Were you enthusiastic?

Did you learn from any mistakes?

Did you consider your strengths and

limitations when planning your activity?

can motivate others. A good leader is kind and patient, tolerant and considerate.
9
 Setting go
but achie
T h
als is eas
ving t h
at’s why
e m
y
KICK A SMART
isn’t . is
ART goals
setting SM king
step in ma
the first .
a reality
your goal
ea
o you writ
But how d al?
SMART go

S Sp ecif ic Say exactly what you are going to do and what you
want to achieve? (Who? What? Where? Why)

M Measurable How will you know when you have reached your
goal? Set a date and put a timeframe to it.

A
ACT I ON List the steps that you need to take to reach
ORIEN TAT ED your goal.

R REALIST IC Choose a goal where there is a real chance you will

be successful. State why you believe it’s realistic.

T T IME FRAME What must you do each day to make it happen?

Be realistic and keep the end-by date in mind.

Your task
1. Choose a leadership activity on Leaders make a difference (page 8)

S
to demonstrate your strengths.
2. Write a SMART goal that will help you to plan and conduct the
leadership activity you have chosen.
3. Tell your teacher your SMART goal and listen to their feedback.

M
4. Put your SMART goal into action.

reflect
After you have completed your leadership activity, answer the following

1. What is one thing you learnt about goal setting?

A

R
2. Did you achieve your goal? Why?

3. What is one thing you might do differently next time?

T
10
 T a l k i n g
D r u g s
A drug is
any subst
except fo ance,
Drugs which affect someone’s central nervous od and w
which, w ater
system (CNS) and alter their mood or thinking or hen taken ,
the body, into
behaviours are called psychoactive drugs. These drugs changes t
way the b he
can be grouped under four headings – depressant, ody work
stimulant, hallucinogen and multi-action.
s.
World Health Organisation
g.
(WHO) definition of a dru
Write the names (or street names) of drugs for each group.

Tick the drugs you have listed in

Depressants Stimulants
the boxes to the left that are legal
for anyone under 18 years of age
to use.

What have you learnt from this

activity?

Multi-action
Hallucinogens

Some drugs are

legal such as alcohol,
analgesics and tobacco. Others
are classified as illegal or
illicit which means buying,
possessing, using or selling
these drugs is against the law.

11
 alcohol
Using the list below, write the name of the drugs that fit each
statement. Some drugs may fit into more than one. For example,

&
alcohol is a legal drug and is also a depressant.

other drugs
synthetic alcohol
cough syrup caffeine cannabis
(with codeine) guarana
tranquillisers (valium)
ventolin (asthma puffers)
tobacco (nicotine) LSD
analgesics
(Panadol, Nurofen) Answer these questions
cannabis (marijuana) ecstasy
1. Why do you think your guess about student drug use was
incorrect?
Drugs that are legal alcohol

Drugs that are illegal

2. How might knowing the real student drug use statistics
change the way a young person your age feels about these
Drugs that are only illegal drugs or how they behave around these drugs?
to sell to people under 18
years old
Drugs that can be used as a
medicine
3. Do you think a young person might experiment with
cannabis if they believe that most young people use
Drugs that can cause harm
cannabis? Why?

Drugs that cannot cause harm

4. Why do you think the number of people who smoke, for all
The drug that was used by
age groups, has reduced so much over the last 60 years?
1.3% of 12-17 year old WA
students in the last week
The drug that was used by
14% of 12-17 year old WA
students in the last week
5. What have you learnt from this activity
The drug that was used by
5.6% of 12-17 year old WA
students in the last week
The drug that was used by
4.8% of 12-17 year old WA
6. Where do you usually find out information about drugs?
students in the last week
The two drugs that cause the
most drug related deaths in
our community.
Drugs that are psychoactive
drugs 7. Are all of these sources reliable? Why?

Drugs that are depressants alcohol

Drugs that are stimulants There are many Australian websites with reliable
information about drugs and their effects. Find at
least three and write down their URL.
Drugs that are hallucinogens
1.

2.
Drugs that are multi-action
3.

12
 The Drug Use Tria
how the effects an
ngle shows
d harms of drug us
rely on the combi e
nation of three fa
ctors:
1. the person
2. the drug
3. the environmen
t.

Age? Experience? Male or female?

Body size? Mood? Personality?
Expectation of the drug? Food intake?

Person

rs
cto
The drug use

l fa
triangle
Dr

a
Type of drug? Where used?
nt
ug

me
How much With whom?
fa
cto

on

taken?
On what occasion?
vir
rs

Over what time ?

Supervision?
En

Other drugs used?

Time of day/
Strength of drug?
week?
Purity of the drug?
Activities before
or after taking the
drug?

Using the blank triangle,

write down the factors
that will affect the drug
use experience for the
girl in this scenario.

A boy who is feeling

upset after breaking up
with his girlfriend, is
on his own at the beach
late at night. He has
never used cannabis
before and is smoking
a bong after drinking
some vodka.

For information on any drugs,

legal or illegal, visit the Australian
Drug Foundation www.adf.org.au

13
 Clued up on Amounts of caffeine in food and drinks

F E I N E
Size / amount Caffeine

CAF
content
Chocolate, Dark 100mg 59mg
Chocolate Bar
Chocolate, Milk 55mg 3-20mg
Chocolate Bar
Chocolate, Milk 200mls 2-7mgs

Coffee, teas, soft drinks and energy drinks are popular and found on Coca Cola 375ml 49mg
the shelves of nearly every supermarket. Consuming small amounts of Cocoa, Hot Chocolate 150ml 30-60 mg
caffeine daily is thought to be safe but like any stimulant drug it affects
Coffee, Cappuccino 100ml 101.9
your body and can make your heart beat faster or you might find yourself
going to the toilet more often. Coffee, Decaffeinated 150ml 2-4mg
Coffee, Flat White 100ml 87mg
How much caffeine did you
Your caffeine consumption Coffee, Instant 250 ml 60 (12-169)mg
consume yesterday? Think about
what you ate and drank yesterday Coffee, Long Black 100ml 75mg
Food/drink consumed Caffeine
and fill in your caffeine intake. content Coffee, Short Black 1 std serve 107 (25-214)mg
Person Brody Coke Zero 473ml 45mg

Breakfast 1 cup of choc milk 7mg

Dare Double Espresso® 500ml 177mg
Dare Espresso ®
500ml 80mg
Diet Coke 100ml 9.7mg
Morning Energy drink 80mg,
Energy chocolate bar 50mg
tea Diet Coke, Caffeine Free 250 ml 2mg
Kopiko Coffee Sweets One sweet 25mg
Lunch Choc milk 7mg
Mother Energy Drink 500ml 160mg
Mountain Dew 100ml 15mg
Afternoon Viking bar 50 mg
tea Pepsi Cola 375ml 40mg
Red Bull 100ml 32mg
Dinner Can coke 40 mg
Red Bull 250ml 80mg
Rockstar Energy Drink 473ml 151mg
Before Milo 30mg
bed Tea, Brewed black 250ml 27 (9-51)mg
Tea, Brewed green tea 100ml 12mg
Total 264mg
(mg) V Energy Drink 250ml 50mg

There are no recommendations for caffeine intake for young people but the most
adults should have a day is 300mg which is about 4 cups of coffee.
Reflections
How do you feel about the amount of caffeine you have in your diet?
Write three interesting facts about caffeine.

Do you think you need to cut back the amount of caffeine you eat or drink?
Write three immediate effects that caffeine can have on your body. Why?

Why might drinking energy drinks that contain high caffeine and guarana How will you continue to maintain no caffeine in your diet or cut down
content affect your body in a long distance race or a game of football? your caffeine?

14
Tar is great for roads. It’s a dark, thick
flammable liquid that contains resins,
alcohols, and other compounds and is
distilled from wood or coal. But did So what else is in a
you know that tar – that brown sticky cigarette and cigarette
substance – is also in cigarettes? smoke?
Really? Yes, really! Nicotine – the addictive
drug in tobacco

Hydrogen cyanide – the

poison used in gas chambers
during World War II

Metals – lead, nickel,

arsenic (used in ant poison),
cadmium (used in car
What a cocktail! batteries)
There’s actually around
Ammonia – used in floor
4000 chemicals in cigarette and window cleaner
smoke and 69 of these
are known to cause Acetone – used in paint
cancer. stripper and nail polish
remover

Write some of the possible short and long-term effects of smoking

EFFECTS POSSIBLE LONG-TERM

POSSIBLE SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

Write or draw the ingredients found

in cigarettes and cigarette smoke

Most teenagers in Australia are

choosing to not smoke.
Cigarettes will make your teeth and
fingers yellow.
Smoking makes your clothes smell.
Cigarettes damage nasal hairs causing
a loss of the sense of smell.
Cigarettes can make it harder to

ts to
breathe so you don’t feel as fit as

Need help? No - o n e wa n other people.

ay
kiss an ashtr
Cigarettes cause wrinkles to develop.
Quitline:
137 848
15
 Light up
c c
It can sometimes be tricky and difficult to say ‘no’
to a friend especially when you don’t want to lose
their friendship. So what would you do if your best
friend offered you a cigarette in front of some other

c
students? How would you manage this situation?

Write at least five things you could say

c
if offered a cigarette.

c
TIPS
Be polite and confident and reply
`I don’t smoke because...’
Using humour is always a good way to get
out of a tricky situation.
Change topics and talk about something else.
Be strong and just walk away – no excuses needed.
Use ‘I’ statements and say them like you mean it. I’m not going to
wreck all the hard work I’ve put in to get into the basketball team.

Event or situation Thoughts Feelings Actions or behaviour

Tania’s friend Ricky has pinched

some of her Mum’s cigarettes
and brought them to the party. He
offers one to Tania.

Reece has been invited to go to

the beach with some other kids
from his new school. One of the
kids offers Reece a cigarette.

Upsana loves playing netball but

when she joins a new team she
discovers that some of the girls
have a smoke behind the change
rooms before the game. They
offer Upsana a cigarette.

16
 Some of the short and
long term effects from
drinking alcohol
Slow reflexes

Coordination is affected
Drinking alcohol can have many short and long term effects on Can’t concentrate
you and your body.
Feel more relaxed and
Decide the physical effects that Jenni (16 years) might confident
experience for each drinking scenario.
Feel drowsy

Jenni drinks a small Jenni drinks a lot of Giggly

Jenni binge drinks
amount of alcohol alcohol every day
Reduced fertility

Increased risk of cancer

High blood pressure and

heart problems

Talk loudly

Inflamed pancreas
Nerve damage

Less inhibited

Blurry vision

Gets upset more easily

Gets aggressive

Feels sick and vomits

Hurt because of poor

coordination

Feels sleepy or goes to sleep

Can’t remember things

Unconscious
The brain
Stops breathing and dies
The brain has three critical periods of
Brain damage
development –
Problems with memory and
1 The Foetal period. thinking
2 Early childhood. Liver damage
3 Just after puberty. Slurred speech
The brain CAN be harmed
during any of these critical
periods of development.
The longer you delay drinking
Good news!
alcohol the BEST chance your Many young
brain has to fully develop and people are now
you have of reaching your
FULL potential.
choosing not to
drink alcohol
17
 c o h o l i s t h e
UNDER
no al
18 sa f e s t c h o i c e
Guideline 1
The Australian Guidelines For healthy men and women – drinking no more than
to Reduce Health Risks from two standard drinks on average on any day reduces the
lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury
Drinking Alcohol explain what (sometimes called long term harms).
adults should do to reduce the
potential short-term and long- Guideline 2
term health risks associated For healthy men and women – drinking no more than
with alcohol use. four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the
risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion
(sometimes called short term harms).

Guideline 3
For children and young people under 18 years of age –
not drinking alcohol is the safest option. Parents and carers
should be advised that children under 15 years of age are at
the greatest risk of harm from drinking and that for this age
group, not drinking alcohol is especially important.

Guideline 4
For women who are pregnant or planning a
pregnancy – not drinking alcohol is the safest option.
For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol
is the safest option.

Answer these questions

1. What specific types of health harm is each guideline 4. By 16 years of age, just under one-third of Western
trying to prevent? Australian students report consuming alcohol
unsupervised at risk levels1. What health advice
about alcohol would you give to young people
who are under 18 years of age?

2. Why do you think there is a guideline especially for

children and young people?

5. What else do you think the government could put

3. Why do you think there is a guideline especially for
in place to reduce alcohol consumption by young
women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy?
people under 18 years of age?

Mental Health Commission (2016a). Alcohol trends in Western Australia: 2014 Australian school students alcohol and drug survey, Government of Western Australia, Perth. Retrieved from
http://www.dao.health.wa.gov.au/Informationandresources/Publicationsandresources/Researchandstatistics/Statistics/AustralianSchoolStudentsAlcoholandDrugsurvey.aspx
18
 Clued up on

CA n n a b i s
Cannabis, marijuana, weed, pot, gunja, mull and grass – are
some of the names for a drug that comes from the Cannabis
Sativa plant. But what else is there to know about cannabis?

i s c a n n a b i s?
What How is What are some
cannabis used? What can be some other names
of the immediate for cannabis?
ect
physical effects of
3-2-1 Refl using cannabis?
r e t h e r e a n y o t h er
Write 3 facts about cannabis. A
long-term effeecs tosf
or consequencbis?
using canna
Write 2 facts about cannabis that were surprising to you.
So what do you kno
about synthetic cannw
It isn’t c
abis?
annabis. True
or False?
It is sprayed
with
Write 1 question that you still have about cannabis. chemicals. Tru unknown
e or False?
The long-term
effects aren’t
but we do kn known
ow some you
people have n g
had a heart a
died after usi ttack or
ng synthetic
True or False c annabis.
?

TRUE
Take a look at the National Cannabis
Prevention and Information Centre
website www.ncpic.org.au for more
information about cannabis.

19
 a b i s
n with your
Canmesses
body and your mind
Possible effects of Possible harms or consequences of
cannabis use for the this effect for the user and other
What happens when you smoke cannabis? Like any user people
drug, how a person is affected will depend on many factors
– their age, if they’ve tried it before, how much they use. Red eyes Discomfort for user. Might make other
Using cannabis may cause you to feel sick and vomit, and people suspect cannabis use.
can increase your feelings of anxiety, panic and paranoia. Feeling confident Might be able to talk to people more
easily but also might do embarrassing or
But the consequences aren’t only for you; others around regrettable things, or take risks that end in
you can be affected too. Using cannabis can affect your accidents.
ability to concentrate at school and work, your physical Feeling of relaxation Might be able to talk to people more
performance in sports and dance, and your relationships easily but also might do embarrassing or
with family and friends. regrettable things, or take risks that end in
accidents.
Coughing Might damage lungs and cause asthma
Answer these questions attacks in asthmatics.
Does a person’s cannabis use only harm or affect the Feeling hungry Might eat or waste too much money on
user or can they also affect other people? Explain your junk food.
answer. Slow to react to things Might hurt self or others or do things
(slow reaction time) that are dangerous because dangers in
and slow to problem situations are not thought about properly.
solve
Faster heart rate and Might put too much strain on heart.
blood pressure
Feeling sick and Might embarrass self or others.
vomiting
What effects would most likely cause young people Poor balance and Might hurt or injure self or others and
not to use cannabis? Why? coordination involve the police.
Poor concentration Might result in problems at school or work.
Feeling nervous, Might not be able to enjoy self as much as
anxious or paranoid normal. May need medical help.
No interest in other Might lose friends and hurt family. Might
things not do well at school or work.
See and hear things Might hurt or injure self or others and need
What effects might encourage a young person to that are not there medical help.
experiment with cannabis? Why? (hallucinations)
Difficulty with memory Might result in problems at school or work.
and processing of
information
Psychotic illness, such Might need ongoing medical support to
as schizophrenia lead a normal life.
Become dependent on Might result in problems at school or work
cannabis (physically or or with the law. Might lose friends and
psychologically) upset family. Might cause money problems.
What other ways can you achieve this same effect
without using cannabis?
Synthetic cannabis,
or plants sprayed
with unknown
chemicals, are dangerous

s h ow s t h at smoking and unpredictable.

Science ular basis can
a n a o n a r e g
mariju n t o f the teen bra
in To find out more and test what you think you

e lo p m e
impair dev
know about synthetic cannabis, take a look at
https://ncpic.org.au/cannabis-you/synthetic-cannabis/
synthetic-cannabis/

20
Ca n n a
We
b i
a
s
ll k n
n
o
o
w
w
th
th
at
e
cannabis is a d
law s
rug but
about possess
ing,
LEGAL? ILLEGAL?
do you k pplying canna
bis? Is
, se ll in g a n d su Cannabis is illegal in Australia.
using g?
abis a legal dru
synthetic cann People are breaking the law if they:

Possess cannabis
Test your knowledge
They can’t have it on them or in
TRUE FALSE their bag or locker
Is it illegal to grow two cannabis
plants in your backyard?

Is it illegal to try cannabis just Use cannabis

once at a party? They can’t smoke or eat it
Is it illegal to sell one joint to a
friend?
Supply cannabis
Is it illegal for an adult to give a They can’t give it or sell it to
young person a small amount of someone else
cannabis?

Is it against the law to drive while

stoned?
Grow cannabis
They can’t grow cannabis
Synthetic cannabis is legal in plants even in small
Western Australia? amounts
It is against the law to sell
smoking implements like a bong? Import cannabis
They can’t bring cannabis
into Australia from overseas
What are two goals you
will not achieve if you are Possess pipes and other
convicted of using cannabis? smoking implements containing
traces of cannabis
It is also illegal for shops to sell
or display cannabis smoking
implements

Drive or ride
while under the influence of
cannabis.

Useful websites
Download Cannabis laws in Western Australia www.dao.wa.gov.au
Cannabis is illegal in all
(Drug and Alcohol Office WA)
National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre
states and territories
http://ncpic.org.au
Drug Aware www.drugaware.com.au
in Australia.
Australian Drug Foundation http://www.adf.org.au/

Please note that the information on cannabis and the law given on this page does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon in this way. The information was correct at the time of publication.
Cannabis information and laws are available on the Drug and Alcohol Office WA website www.dao.health.wa.gov.au
21
 What is your

If someone is seriously injured or in need of urgent medical

help call Triple Zero – 000. Do you have an
It’s a free call that you can make to help save someone’s life. ICE number in
your phone?
Make your call Having ICE in your phone ma
y make it quicker
and easier for emergency serv
When you call Triple Zero (000) you will be asked – ‘Do you ices or a passer-
want police, fire or ambulance?’ Stay on the line while your by to get in touch with someon
e who knows
call is transferred. Stay calm, don’t shout, and speak clearly you and can help to make dec
isions if needed.
and slowly. Be ready to answer these questions. ICE stands for In Case of Em
ergency. An
ICE contact may also be helpfu
l not just in an
emergency but any time you
get into difficulty.
Where are you? • Enter the acronym ICE into
your mobile’s
Try to give the street number, street name, nearest main or contact list.
intersecting street and the area.
• Add the name and number
If you are in a rural area you will need to give the full address of the
person you want to be con
and distances from known landmarks and roads as well as the tacted in an
emergency. It could be you
property name. r mum or dad,
a close friend or even your
doctor. You
If you are calling from a mobile or satellite phone, the operator could also store your blood
type and any
may ask you for other location information. other relevant health informa
tion under
your ICE entry.
• If you have an iPhone and
Stay on the line and follow any your phone is
locked, your ICE number can
be accessed
instructions from the operator using Siri.
The operator may ask you to wait at a pre-arranged meeting
point to help emergency services to find the incident.
You will be given advice over the phone to assist the person or
your friend prior to the arrival of the ambulance. 3-2-1 Reflect
Stay on the line. Don’t hang up until the operator tells you Write 3 things you have learnt about the Triple
to do so. Zero service.

Other languages and text based 2

services 3
If you have a speech or hearing impairment call One Zero Six
(106) to use the text-based service.
If you can’t speak English, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for Write the name of 2 people who you will have in
your ICE list.
• Police
• Fire 1
• Ambulance.
2
Tell them you can’t speak English. Stay on the line and a
translator will be organised. Write 1 question that you have about calling the
Triple Zero service.

1
Save the app that could save your life
The Emergency+ app uses a mobile phone’s GPS
functionality so callers can provide emergency
call-takers with their location information as
determined by their smart phone.
Find out more www.triplezero.gov.au

22
 You’re at the beach with some friends. You notice a friend
lying face down in the sand you know your friend
was drinking hurry up, you need to do
something…but what? Knowing the answer to this
question can save your friend’s life.

Doing something
is better than
doing nothing.

Learning basic first aid is

as easy as DRS ABCD and
D Dangers Make sure that the area is
patient.
safe for you and then the

can help you cope with an

emergency. You may be able
Check the patient for resp
to keep a person breathing, onse – ask their name

reduce their pain or minimise R Response

– squeeze their shoulders.
make the patient comfort
and keep watching the pat
If there is a response –
able, check for injuries
ient. If there is no
the consequences of their response you need to sen
d for help.
medical emergency until an
ambulance arrives.
Call Triple Zero (000) or ask

S
another person to
Send for help make the call. Be ready to
answer the operator’s
questions as this will help
the ambulance get to you
Find out if there is a as quickly as possible.
defibrillator in your school
and who is trained to use it.

Open the patient’s mouth

A
and remove foreign
Find out what you should Airway material then put the patient
in the recovery
do if a student requires position. Open the patient
’s airway by tilting their
emergency treatment at head with a chin lift.
your school.

Check that the patient is bre

I feel confident to apply the athing by looking,
DRS ABCD procedure in an
emergency.
B Breathing
listening and feeling. If the
put them in the recovery pos
their breathing, and treat
y are breathing normally
ition, keep watching
any minor injuries. You
will need to start CPR if the
patient is not breathing.

Totally Totally
disagree agree
Do 30 chest compressions

C
Place a cross to show your level of confidence. then 2 breaths. (If
the patient is a baby, use 15
CPR compressions and 2
breaths). Keep doing CPR
until the patient recovers
and help arrives.
First aid courses
You can learn CPR and
first aid with St John
Ambulance Australia and
Australian Red Cross.
D Defibrillation If a defibrillator is available,
follow the instructions.

23
 I need help
Ups and downs are a normal part of everyone’s lives, teenagers
included. Facing problems can sometimes seem really difficult
and you might feel stressed, confused and exhausted just
trying to cope with the situation. These are the times when
seeking advice and support from your friends and family
can really help. So who will you talk to or call?

What are some of the signs that can tell us that we, or someone we know,
might need help?

What stops some people from asking for help?

What is help seeking?

s of seeking
Help seeking is the proces Where can I find help?
por t fro m others.
and receiving sup Kids Helpline www.kidshelp.com.au
There are many sources of help – Reachout au.reachout.com
friends, parents, extended family,

Why is seeking
Beyond blue www.youthbeyondblue.com
teachers, a school counsellor or Lifeline www.lifeline.org.au

help good for your

maybe your coach. There are also Headspace www.eheadspace.org.au
websites and helplines especially Read the signs www.readthesigns.com.au

wellbeing? for young people. Some of these will (help for young men at risk of suicide)
work for you and others might not Somazone www.somazone.com.au
es seem
Asking for help can sometim
be as useful. Don’t be afraid to try Inspire www.inspire.org.au
d. Bu t rea lly, it can be a lot
just too har different sources until you find some Sane www.sane.org
can ke a
ma
easier than you think and that are right for you.
me nta l health and
big difference to your
wellbeing. Write at least five sources of help that you would feel comfortable
using when you’re facing a problem.
essed and
• You’ll probably feel less str
able to thin k mo re cle arl y.
check’ and
• It will give you a ‘reality 1
help you to dec ide if the situation is
t the way you
really a problem or jus
are looking at it. 2
of being on
• It can reduce the feeling
your own.
relationships
• You will build stronger
3
with you r fam ily, frie nds and others
that you trust.
ns and ways 4
• Suggestions on solutio
r fing ertips.
to cope will be at you
m from
• It can prevent the proble 5
getting worse or lea din g to more
serious issu es.
assist
• You’ll know how you can
wh en the y nee d you r help.
others

24
School Drug Education & Road Aware
Statewide Services Centre
33 Giles Avenue ISBN 9780730745860
PADBURY WA 6025

P: 08 9402 6415
F: 08 9402 6399
E: [email protected]
W: www.sdera.wa.edu.au

9 780730 745860