Transcript dangerous behaviors

DANGEROUS BEHAVIORS
Smoking and Drinking
Why do kids drink and smoke?
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Peer pressure
To look cool
Boredom
To relax
To help them have fun
To feel more mature
Effects of Alcohol
Short-term
Long-term
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Feeling relaxed
Lowered inhibitions
Slowed reaction times
and reflexes
Decrease in mental and
physical coordination
Loss of balance
Alcohol poisoning
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Dehydration
Hang over
Alcohol dependence /
addiction
cirrhosis
Effects of Tobacco
Short-term
Long-term
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Nausea (1st time)
Dizziness (1st time)
Increase in heart rate
and blood pressure
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Bad breath
Discolored teeth
Chronic cough and
shortness of breath
Nicotine addiction
Lung cancer
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Benefits of not Smoking
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Save money you would
have spent on cigarette
Won’t stink
Stay healthier
Better at sports
More attractive to
others
Benefits of not drinking
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Will not injure myself or
others by driving drunk
Will make better
decisions
Will not do or say things
I regret as much
Save money which
would be spent on
alcohol
What 8th graders at our school think is
the biggest reason kids start drinking
30
20
50
to look cool
peer pressure
escape problem
Great methods for saying no!
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Make eye contact
Say it louder
Use a firm voice
Stay away from
situations that you
would have to say no
Leave when people
don’t take no for an
answer
Conclusion
I think that kids often start drinking or
smoking for very poor reasons and when you
look at what effects those activities have on
your health it doesn’t seem worth it. Once
addicted to these things it is very hard to quit.
I think it would be better to not start. The
best way to do that is to have several strong
strategies on how to say no when offered
alcohol or cigarettes.
Resources
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Holt et.al., Decisions For Health. Level Blue.
Austin, et. al.: Harcourt Education Company,
2004.
"Drugs & Alcohol." Kids Health. 2008.
Nemours Foundation. 23 Jul 2008
<http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/>.