The Teen Brain & Substances
What part of the brain helps you make decisions and control impulses?
Prefrontal cortex
What is one short-term effect of drinking alcohol?
Slurred speech or poor coordination
What is one short-term effect of marijuana use?
Slower reaction time or memory loss
What is one strong refusal phrase you can use?
“No thanks, I don’t do that.” / “I’ve got a game tomorrow.”
Why do companies advertise alcohol and vapes on social media?
To make money and target young people
What happens to the brain’s development when teens use drugs or alcohol?
It slows or interrupts healthy brain growth
What long-term problem can heavy drinking cause?
Liver damage or addiction
What is a myth about marijuana?
“It’s natural, so it’s safe.”
What is the first step when using refusal skills?
The first step when using refusal skills is to clearly say “no” with confidence — using firm body language and tone to show you mean it.
What’s one trick ads use to make products look appealing?
Showing happy, popular people instead of real risks
What kind of drug speeds up the body and brain?
A stimulant
What is nicotine?
A highly addictive drug found in tobacco and vapes
What does “drug misuse” mean?
Using a medicine in a way not intended, such as taking someone else’s prescription
A teammate encourages you to stay after practice to train together instead of going to a party where people are drinking.
What type of peer pressure is this, and how could it help your health or goals?
Answer: Positive peer pressure.
How it helps: Encourages healthy choices, supports goals, builds discipline, and avoids risky situations.
What does “responsible decision-making” mean?
Thinking about long-term effects before you act
Which chemical in marijuana affects memory and motivation?
THC
What do vaping companies do to attract teens and make vaping seem harmless?
add flavors and bright packaging
What does "dependance" mean?
To need a drug/substance to function normally.
A friend keeps pressuring another classmate to drink at a weekend party. You notice the classmate looks uncomfortable but doesn’t speak up. What are two things you could do or say to support them and model refusal skills in that situation?
Step in and say something like, “They already said no—let’s drop it.”
Change the topic or suggest another activity (“Let’s just watch the game instead”).
Stay beside your friend to show support so they’re not isolated.
Leave the situation with them.
Reinforce their choice later (“Good job sticking to what’s right for you”).
Give one example of a healthy way to handle stress.
Exercise, music, journaling, talking to someone
Explain one reason why the teenage brain is more likely to become addicted than an adult brain.
The brain’s reward and control centers are still developing, making habits form more easily
A teen drinks at a party and decides to drive home because they “feel fine.” Another friend vapes daily, saying it’s “just flavor” and not addictive.
Explain one way each person is showing poor health decision-making and describe one possible long-term consequence for both behaviors.
Poor decisions (alcohol): misjudging impairment, ignoring safety laws, risking injury to self and others.
Poor decisions (vaping): believing myths about nicotine, underestimating addiction, ignoring health warnings.
Long-term consequences:
Alcohol: addiction, legal problems, brain and liver damage.
Vaping: nicotine dependence, lung damage, decreased athletic performance.
Connection: Both show how risky choices start with false beliefs and can lead to lasting harm.
A student starts using marijuana on weekends to relax and manage stress. Over time, they notice they’ve lost motivation, their grades drop, and they argue more with family.
Explain two short-term effects and two long-term risks shown in this scenario — and how each connects to marijuana use.
Short-term effects: decreased focus, poor memory, slower reaction time, mood changes.
Long-term risks: addiction/dependence, loss of motivation (amotivational syndrome), strained relationships, lower academic or job performance.
Connection: Marijuana affects brain areas that control attention, motivation, and emotional regulation.
A student promised themselves they’d stay drug-free. At a birthday party, their closest friend offers them a drink and says, “Come on, it’s just one — everyone else is doing it.” The student hesitates and ends up drinking anyway.
nternal pressures: wanting to fit in, fear of judgment, self-doubt, or low confidence.
External pressures: friends offering alcohol, group behavior, social expectations.
Better response: use assertive refusal (firm “no”), remove self from the situation, remind self of goals/values, plan ahead with a support system or exit strategy.
Connection: True refusal skills require recognizing both inside and outside pressures before responding.
“Every choice you make protects or hurts your future.” What does this mean in your own words?
Your daily choices (like avoiding drugs or drinking) shape your goals and health