Transcript Decision Making & Refusal Skills

Decision Making
& Refusal Skills
Decision Making

Warm Up: When was the last time you
made an important decision?
How did you make it?
 What happened?
 What alternatives did you think about?
 What decision did you ultimately make?
Why?
 Were you happy with the decision you made?

Steps to the decision-making
process:
Brainstorm
 Weigh pros and cons
 Select the best option
 Follow through

Re-Evaluate

What does it mean to re-evaluate a
decision?

To change your mind = you can think about
the effect the decision is having on your life
and change your mind
Commitment
Making an agreement and following
through with it.
 Drug use = a result of a poor decision
made in the PAST! Making a commitment
to change that takes conscious planning.


Any little thing one is willing to do to make a
change regarding past choices is a positive
step!
Refusal Skills
HAVE A PLAN!!!
 Picture a situation where you are asked to
do something that compromises your
values or that you know is wrong and/or
unhealthy.
 Refusal skills are techniques that can help
you refuse to participate in unsafe or
unhealthy behaviors.

Three Step Refusal Technique



1. Give information = Calmly state that you are
not going to participate (ex: “Sorry, I don’t want
to.”)
2. Show you understand/Explain = Give a
reason why you don’t want to participate (ex:
“Our school nurse showed us the amount of tar
and phlegm your lungs take in from one pack of
cigarettes…it was disgusting!!!”)
3. Repeat your position/suggest and alternative
= Firmly state that you aren’t interested (ex: I
really have no interest in smoking. Let’s go grab
something to eat instead.”)
Re-visiting Self-Esteem

Definition:


Strategies for improving:




The confidence and worth you feel about yourself.
Examine the messages you send yourself
Focus on things you do well
Surround yourself with people who build up your self
esteem!!!
Remember your health triangle and be PROACTIVE about improving its balance!
Describe how choosing to use
drugs, alcohol and tobacco will
negatively impact your health
triangle:
Mental/
Emotional
Social
Physical