| Introduce topic by describing activity name, content standard, and objectives. Start the session by asking the following questions: -Have you told somebody to stop drinking? -Have you been concerned about someone who drinks a lot? -Have you or someone else been injured because someone had been drinking? -Do you know anyone who has missed work or lost his/her job because of alcohol abuse? Comment that when there is alcohol abuse, many times the family members are the most affected by that abuse. Comment that according to the National Commission Against Addictions (CONADIC), the family of an alcoholic is affected in many ways. Write on the board the following: -Neglect of children -Fights and aggression among family members -Changes in feelings towards the alcoholic -Loneliness -Financial problems -Concerns and doubts about how to deal with the problem among others. Ask participants to comment on which of those they think it is the most problematic and why. Inform the participants that they will watch a video that shows how drug and alcohol abuse affects the family of the addict. After watching the video ask the following questions: -What other consequences did you notice in the video? -Do you know of any families like that? -Do you think that substance abusers do not care about their families? Why? Why not? -If yes, what dynamics are going on when individuals harm those who they themselves love the most? Once you have written all the consequences of a drug or alcohol addiction in the family, ask the participants to expand on the information by giving examples or explaining each of these consequences. As a culminating activity, ask participants if they could commit to a least one specific action that they will not do to harm their families. Ask them to write that commitment on a piece of paper and save it in a place where nobody else will find it. Ask if there is someone who would like to share that commitment. If no one volunteers, provide at least one example. |