Eighth Grade Curriculum Resources

Standard of Learning

8.1 The student will analyze and evaluate the relationship between health-risk behaviors and the onset of health problems that can impact health and wellness during the adolescent years. Key concepts/skills include

the pathogenic, genetic, age, cultural, environmental, and behavioral factors that influence the degree of risk for contracting specific diseases;
the roles of preventative health measures, immunization, and treatment in disease prevention;
the short- and long-term health issues related to alcohol abuse and tobacco use;
the impact of failing to recognize issues related to emotional and mental health;
the health risks associated with feelings of immortality and invincibility;
the consequences of involvement in potentially dangerous situations;
the health risks of a sedentary lifestyle;
the risk factors associated with communicable and noncommunicable diseases.

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Understanding the Standard

The student will understand the short and long-term physical, mental, and social complications associated with alcohol and tobacco abuse.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

The student will:

define alcohol abuse. (underage, binge drinking, peer pressure, etc., and the psychological or physical addiction to alcohol)
give examples of nicotine delivery mechanisms. (cigarettes or smokeless tobacco)
describe the short- and long-term health consequences of alcohol and tobacco abuse. (impairs physical and mental growth and development of young people and causes poor judgment, loss of memory, bad breath, gum disease, heart and vascular disease, emphysema, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, etc.)

Sample Lessons

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE)
Grades: 6-8
Substance abuse prevention program for youth. Teaches youth how to resist peer pressure and live drug and violence-free lives.
Contact: http://www.dare.com

Group Rope Squares
Grades 5-12
This lesson will further reinforce group cohesion and communication skills as well as problem solving and cooperation. In teaching a drug prevention program, it is important to introduce activities like this that illustrate to students that Together they can help solve each other's problems, depend on one another, and communicate their needs to others.
Sponsor: Ask Eric
Contact: http://www.eduref.org (select lesson plans – health – substance abuse prevention)
Free

HeartPower!
Grades: 6-8
Teaches student about the heart and how to keep it healthy. Science-based. Lessons, handouts.
--How Can You Help Others Stay Tobacco Free?
--Why Is Second Hand Smoke Dangerous?
Sponsor: American Heart Association
Contact: http://www.americanheart.org(select HeartPower!)
Free

LifeSkills Training
Grades: 6-8
Model substance abuse prevention and competency enhancement program focusing on the major social and psychological factors causing substance use and abuse. Teaches drug resistance skills, personal management skills, and general social skills. Includes self-image, self-improvement, decision-making, anger management, assertiveness, communication, media, and conflict resolution issues.
Contact: http://www.lifeskillstraining.com
Cost

Lions-Quest Skills for Adolescence
Grades 6-8
Positive youth development program focusing on social and emotional competencies; good citizenship skills; strong, positive character; drug-free lifestyle; and service to others.
Sponsor: Lions Quest
Contact: http://www.lions-quest.org
Cost

Mind over Matter
Grades: 5-9
Students learn about the effects of drug abuse on the body and brain. Includes marijuana, opiates, inhalants, hallucinogens, methamphetamine, nicotine, stimulants, and steroids.
Sponsor: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
Contact: http://www.nida.nih.gov
Cost: Free

Project ALERT
Grades 6-8
Model drug prevention curricula that reduces both the onset and regular use of substances. Two-year, 14 lesson program focusing on alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and inhalant avoidance.
Sponsor: Project ALERT
Contact: http://www.projectalert.com
Cost

Project Towards No Tobacco Use (TNT)
Grades 5-10
Model program to prevent or reduce tobacco use in youth. Ten core and 2 booster lessons. Includes effective refusal and coping skills; effects of media and advertisers; methods to build self-esteem; and strategies for advocating no tobacco use.
Sponsor: Department of Preventive Medicine, USC
Contact: http://www.etr.org
Cost

Understanding Alcohol: Investigations into Biology and Behavior
Grades 7-8
Helps students understand how alcohol consumption affects body functions by using the concepts of scientific research.
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health, Curriculum Supplement Serieshttp://science.education.nih.gov

Additional Instructional Resources

Abuse & Addiction – http://www.pbs.org/teachersource (health & fitness 6-8)
ACDE Drug Prevention Lesson Plans – http://www.acde.org/educate/Lessons.htm
Al-Anon and Alateen - http://www.al-anon.org
Alcohol Cost Calculator for Kids – http://www.alcoholcostcalculator.org/kids
Alcoholism and Alcohol Related Problems – http://www.ncadd.org/facts/problems.html
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence – http://www.ncadd.org/facts/problems.html
American Council for Drug Education – http://www.acde.org
TheAnti-Drug.Com – http://www.theantidrug.com
CDC Office on Smoking and Health – http://www.cdc.gov
Center for Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws – http://www.udetc.org
The Cool Spot – http://www.thecoolspot.gov
Council on Alcoholism – http://www.councilonalcoholism.net/DWI.htm
DEA State Fact Sheets – http://www.dea.gov/pubs/state_factsheets.html
Drug and Violence Prevention - http://dave.esc4.net
Drug Enforcement Administration – http://www.dea.gov
Drugs and Teen Substance Abuse – http://www.focusas.com/SubstanceAbuse.html
A Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free, SAMSA – http://family.samhsa.gov
Federal Drug Data Sources – http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/sources.html
Global Youth Network - http://www.unodc.org/youthnet
Inhalant Abuse – http://www.inhalant.org
Local Police Department
Monitoring the Future – http://www.monitoringthefuture.org
Mothers Against Drunk Driving – http://www.maddva.org or http://www.madd.org
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug
Information – http://www.health.org
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information –http://www.health.org
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
National Inhalant Prevention Coalition – http://www.inhalants.org
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – http://www.niaaa.nih.gov
National Institute on Drug Abuse – http://www.nida.nih.gov or http://www.drugabuse.gov
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign – http://www.mediacampaign.org
Parenting is Prevention – http://www.parentingisprevention.org
Partners for Substance Abuse Prevention – http://www.samhsa.gov/preventionpartners
Partnership for a Drug-Free America – http://www.drugfreeamerica.org
Reality Check – http://www.health.org/reality
SAMSA Model [Drug Prevention] Programs – http://modelprograms.samhsa.gov
School Resource Officer
School Zone – http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/schoolzone/index.html
Smoking – http://www.tobacco.org
Straight Scoop News Bureau – http://www.straightscoop.org
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) – http://www.saddonline.com
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – http://www.samhsa.gov
U.S. Department of Education, Safe & Drug-Free Schools Program – http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SDFS/
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Criminal Justice Reference Service – http://www.ncjrs.org
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – http://www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org
Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Education Section – http://www.abc.state.va.us
Virginia Department of Education, Safe & Drug-Free Schools Program – http://www.safeanddrugfreeva.org
Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (Office of Substance Abuse) – http://www.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of State Police – http://www.vsp.state.va.us
Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation – http://www.vtsf.org

Assessment Ideas

The student will:

compare and contrast the effects of alcohol and tobacco on the body.
identify the body systems affected by tobacco and alcohol use.
summarize the mental and social consequences of tobacco and alcohol abuse.
evaluate the economic impact of tobacco and alcohol abuse.

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