Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
Grade 9 - 12
Overview
Building on the foundational ATOD competencies students practiced in prior grades, evidence- and theory-based instruction continues in hopes of preparing high school students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors to choose and maintain a drug-free life and to reduce drug-related harms. Other content areas should be integrated into instructional strategies when appropriate. Such content areas include physical activity as a healthy alternative to ATOD use; healthy coping behaviors in lieu of ATOD use (mental, emotional, and social health); or injury prevention and its connection to ATOD. In addition, students can research the costs to individuals of medical care, lost productivity, and legal consequences of ATOD use to analyze the benefits of an ATOD-free lifestyle.
Information and Resources
TUPE - Tobacco Use Prevention Education
In collaboration with the California Department of Education, the Orange County Department of Education's TUPE Capacity Building Project has developed this website to support effective TUPE program implementation and share tobacco prevention information and resources across California.
Stanford University - Research Into the Impact of Tobacco Advertising
Collection of tobacco advertising is intended to support scholarly research as well as to inform regulators and legislators about the promotional activities of the tobacco industry.
Truth Initiative
Provides the facts about smoking, vaping, nicotine and the tobacco industry, engage individuals and groups to make change in their communities, innovate ways to end nicotine addiction and join forces with collaborators committed to a future where tobacco and nicotine addiction are a thing of the past.
Tips for Teens: The Truth About E-Cigarettes - Tips for Teens: The Truth About E-Cigarettes
This fact sheet for teens provides facts about vaping. It describes short- and long-term effects and lists signs of vaping. The fact sheet helps to dispel common myths about vaping.
Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California (TECC)
TECC is a statewide technical assistance provider that supports the development and distribution of effective educational materials for California Department of Public Health, California Tobacco Control Program (CDPH/CTCP)-funded projects at no cost.
Operation Prevention - Discover • Connect • Prevent
The DEA has joined forces with Discovery Education to provide no-cost online tools that support every member of the community with the power of prevention. Standards-aligned English & Spanish-language resources for students in grades 3-12, plus additional resources designed for educators, families, and professionals.
Let’s Talk Cannabis - California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Let’s Talk Cannabis provides information, resources, and videos to help increase awareness about cannabis and how it affects our bodies, minds, and health.
Tobacco Education Resource Library
Find content focused on public health education, smoking cessation, tobacco research, retailer information, tobacco regulations, and compliance — all in one place.
Talk About Alcohol With Your Teen - SAMHSA
SAMHSA's Talk About Alcohol With Your Teens provides information, free videos, and online vignettes for parents on how to talk to their children about drugs.
Harm Reduction Coalition
Harm Reduction Coalition is a national advocacy and capacity-building organization that promotes the health and dignity of individuals and communities impacted by drug use.
DanceSafe
DanceSafe is a public health organization promoting health and safety within the nightlife and electronic music community. DanceSafe has two fundamental operating principles: harm reduction and peer-based, popular education.
Drug Policy Alliance
The mission of the Drug Policy Alliance is to advance those policies and attitudes that best reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition, and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies.
Students for a Sensible Drug Policy
Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is the largest global youth-led network dedicated to ending the War on Drugs.
Above the Influence
Above the Influence provides information, resources and support for teens to analyze their influences and find facts and resources about drugs.
Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth - Johns Hopkins
The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) employs a public health approach to prevent and reduce alcohol-related problems among young people.
California Friday Night Live
Friday Night Live builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development which engage youth as active leaders and resources in their communities.
Curriculum and Lessons
My Generation Rx Teen Education - Generation Rx
“My Generation Rx” includes resources designed to educate teens about the importance of using medications safely, as well as teaching teens key skills to turn down invitations to misuse and positive alternatives to cope with the demands of life. Available in Spanish.
You and Me, Together Vape-Free - Stanford REACH Lab
The You and Me, Together Vape-Free curriculum includes a high school program that are 5 lessons, approximately 50 minutes each. Every lesson provides activities, online quiz games, and worksheets in addition to presentations, resources, and other materials.
Smart Talk: Cannabis Prevention & Awareness Curriculum - Stanford REACH Lab
Smart Talk: Cannabis Prevention & Awareness Curriculum includes 5 lessons, each providing activities, online quiz games, and worksheets in addition to presentations, resources, and other materials aimed at addressing key factors associated with youth cannabis use.
Project ALERT
The Project ALERT curriculum is a series of 14 lessons thatmotivate students against drug use, cultivates non-use attitudes and beliefs, and teaches skills and strategies to resist drugs.
CATCH My Breath
CATCH My Breath is an evidence-based youth e-cigarette, JUUL, and vape prevention program specific to grades 5-12 shown to substantially reduce students’ likelihood of vaping in the year following program implementation.
The Real Cost of Vaping
The Real Cost of Vaping provides grades 6-12 lessons on teen vaping prevention. With these cross-curricular resources from Scholastic and the FDA, students will analyze informational text, collect and present data, and evaluate marketing messages.
Safety First: A Comprehensive, Harm-Reduction-Based, Drug Intervention Curriculum
Safety First: A Comprehensive, Harm-Reduction-Based, Drug Intervention Curriculum from Stanford's REACH Lab is intended for high school students. This free curriculum consists of 15 lessons that can be completed in a 45- to 50-minute class period.
Song For Charlie: Real Talk About Fake Pills
Learn the facts about fentanyl and take empowered action to protect yourself and your loved ones. This is a collection of learning tools and curriculum guides created by teachers, for teachers on opioid and fentanyl education and prevention.
Book List
Grade 9 - 12
Partnerships
Partnering with the Family
- Students participate in activities in the school and community that help other individuals make positive choices regarding the use of ATOD by sharing health education information on ATOD obtained in class with their family members, guardians, and caretakers.
- Students can begin to dialogue with their parents, guardians, or caretakers on their views on ATOD and the rules or expectations they have for them regarding ATOD.
Partnering with your School
- As part of your school-wide ATOD health campaign, encourage the teacher librarian to acquire and showcase books that address ATOD among youth.
- Students are encouraged to convene a reading or book club focused on health-related issues.
Partnering with your Community
- Students access information, products, and services related to ATOD by researching the mission and background of Alcoholics Anonymous, Marijuana Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, or Narcotics Anonymous and locate these self-help groups in their community.
- Students can learn what local agencies such as the county public health office and local harm reduction programs do to serve those with ATOD issues in the community.