| Introduce topic by describing, activity name, content standard, and objectives. Start the session by asking the following questions: Have you ever turned down an invitation to consume alcohol and/or drugs? How and why? Do you think that there are the long-term benefits of avoiding alcohol and drugs? What would be some of them? Do you know an elder relative of friend who has abstained from alcohol consumption? How do you know that they do not drink? Do they talk about it? What are the most obvious and known benefits of abstaining from alcohol consumption according to what you can observe on that person or relative? What do we need as individuals, to make one of the biggest and most significant decisions of our lives; stop drinking. Is it possible? Can we do it? Do we want to do it? Tell the participants that you will play a video called "Alcoholism: 30 Great Reasons to Quit Drinking Alcohol", which describes the many reasons why people should stop drinking. Before you play the video, ask the participants to identify the top three reasons that they think would be worth quitting for. After the movie ends, ask participants the following questions: What would be the most important reasons to stop drinking? Is it possible to make that important change in life? What would be necessary to make that decision? Ask the participants why they think it is a difficult decision to make? Inform the participants that we will read an article that can help us discuss why making important decisions are very difficult. Add that according to the writer John William Gardner, former Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, in his book "On Leadership" the implications of making decisions are the following (write them on the board): -Our decisions affect people. -The decisions we make demonstrate our values. -Our decisions set an example for those who follow us. -Our decisions demonstrate our desire to lead. -Making no decision is a decision. Discuss with the participants each of the implications about making decisions in relation to alcohol consumption. You can guide the discussion by asking the following questions: -Who is affected by the decision of consuming alcohol and/or drugs? -Are our actions the result of our values? -How do our decisions set an example for others? -Does decision-making mean that you have the will to take control of your life? -Why do we need to make decisions to begin with? As a final activity, ask participants to assist you write a meaningful sentence that will include the decision to abstain from alcohol and 3 important reasons why you want to make that important change in your life. |