The ability to name and set reachable goals builds self-efficacy and a stronger sense of hope for the future. Early exposure to the basic elements of setting and reaching goals enhances the development and application of these skills through adolescence and into adulthood. Students who can, and do, set reachable goals have a stronger sense of self and make better decisions.
Adolescents equipped with decision-making and problem-solving skills are more likely to make confident, healthy decisions, and avoid negative consequences. The ability to stop and consider the positive and negative consequences of decisions reduces the likelihood of acting impulsively, keeping actions consistent with short-term and long-term goals.
Adolescents who recognize how their emotions influence their decisions are better prepared to make thoughtful, rational choices. Emotional self-awareness creates internal capacity to understand and identify how one responds to internal and external influences. Emotional competency fosters the recognition and appreciation of the emotions of others promoting a greater capacity to build empathy, diffuse conflict, and build stronger relationships.
Effective communication skills enable adolescents to handle conflict peacefully, share feelings and ideas with others, and enhance cooperation. Adolescents who are effective communicators are better able to make decisions consistent with their goals and develop healthy relationships.
Bonding with pro-social others fosters belonging and connectedness, mitigating the impact of risk factors on behavior. Peer selection skill, including the ability to make and maintain positive friendships, is a critical protective factor. Adolescents surrounded with positive influences make better, less-risky choices, and are more likely to reach their goals.
Underage alcohol consumption has detrimental effects on the development of a healthy body and healthy brain. Student knowledge of the physiological consequences of drinking alcohol lessens the propensity to consume alcohol; however, social pressures and influences can override the protective effect of this knowledge. Capacity to resist the internal and external pressures, influences, and expectations to consume alcohol builds protection within the adolescent to remain alcohol free.
Tobacco and tobacco-related products are harmful to the body in all forms of use. Tobacco products contain the highly addictive chemical, nicotine. Adolescents who understand the negative short-term effects, long-term effects, and social consequences of using tobacco products are more likely to remain tobacco free.
Adolescents often overestimate the percentage of their peers who use marijuana and underestimate the negative effects of THC on the developing brain and body. Perception of harm is an important factor for mitigating risk. Normative education methods effectively correct misconceptions about behavior.
The teenage brain is predisposed to impulsive behavior and risk-taking as the executive functions managed by the frontal lobe develop. Adolescents who understand and can manage risk are better able to predict the outcomes of their actions enabling them to make better, more responsible decisions. Adolescents often underestimate the addictive nature and dangerous effects of the misuse and abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Establishing a clear perception of harm about these drugs builds protection within adolescent to mitigate the risk of abuse.
Adolescents often underestimate the risks associated with experimenting, even once, with inhalants or street drugs. Establishing a clear perception of harm about the negative health effects of the use of these drugs builds protection within the adolescent to mitigate the risk of abuse or experimentation. Effective substance use prevention programs teach information and skills, provide opportunities to practice the skills, reinforce the skills, and recognize students' participation.
Well-set goals serve as a compass keeping adolescents on course toward a well-designed future. Adolescents who set and reach personal goals have a stronger sense of self and make better; more responsible decisions.
Adolescents equipped with decision-making and problem-solving skills are better able to thoughtfully plan their actions and evaluate the choices they face in life. The ability to consider the positive and negative consequences of decisions mitigates impulsivity, keeping actions consistent with short-term and long-term personal goals.
Adolescents who recognize how their emotions influence their decisions are better prepared to make thoughtful, rational choices. Emotional self-awareness creates internal capacity to understand and identify how one responds to internal and external influences/stressors. Emotional competency fosters the recognition and appreciation of the emotions of others promoting a greater capacity to build empathy, diffuse conflict, and build stronger relationships.
Effective communication skills enable adolescents to handle conflict peacefully, share feelings and ideas with others, and enhance cooperation. Adolescents who are effective communicators are better able to make decisions consistent with their goals and develop healthy relationships.
Peer behavior, both positive and negative, is a strong influence on adolescent decision making. Bonding with pro-social others fosters belonging and connectedness, mitigating the impact of risk factors on behavior. Peer selection skill, including the ability to make and maintain positive friendships, is a critical protective factor. Adolescents surrounded with positive influences make better, less-risky choices, and are more likely to reach their goals.
Addiction is a serious and likely consequence of trying a drug. It is a common misconception among adolescents that experimental use will not lead to addiction. Adolescents who are aware of the addictive nature of drugs are less likely to experiment with drugs.
All forms of tobacco and tobacco-related products are harmful to the body. Adolescents who understand the negative short-term effects, long-term effects, and social consequences of using tobacco products are more likely to remain tobacco free.
Underage alcohol consumption has detrimental effects on the development of a healthy body and brain. Adolescent knowledge of the physical consequences of drinking alcohol lessens the propensity to consume alcohol; however, the protective effect of this knowledge can be overridden by social pressures and influences. Capacity to resist the internal and external pressures, influences, and expectations to consume alcohol builds protection within the adolescent to remain alcohol free.
Adolescents overestimate the percentage of their peers who use marijuana and underestimate the negative effects of the drug's use. Perception of harm is an important factor for mitigating risk. Normative education methods effectively correct misconceptions about behavior.
Adolescents often underestimate the addictive nature of prescription and over-the-counter drugs and the dangerous effects of their misuse and abuse. Establishing a clear perception of harm about these drugs builds protection within the adolescent to mitigate the risk of abuse. Adolescents who can differentiate fact from myth about the safety and use of any drug are more likely to resist drug use and remain on track to reach their goals.
Well-set goals serve as a compass keeping adolescents on course toward a well-designed future. Adolescents who set and reach personal goals have a stronger sense of self and make better decisions.
Adolescents equipped with decision-making and problem-solving skills are better able to thoughtfully plan their actions and evaluate the choices they face in life. The ability to consider the positive and negative consequences of decisions mitigates impulsivity, keeping actions consistent with short-term and long-term goals.
Adolescents who recognize how their emotions influence their decisions are better prepared to make thoughtful, rational choices. Emotional self-awareness creates internal capacity to understand and identify how one responds to internal and external influences. Emotional competency fosters the recognition and appreciation of the emotions of others promoting a greater capacity to build empathy, diffuse conflict, and build stronger relationships.
Effective communication skills enable adolescents to resolve conflict peacefully, share feelings and ideas with others, and enhance cooperation. Adolescents who are effective communicators are better able to make decisions consistent with their goals and develop healthy relationships.
Bonding with pro-social others fosters belonging and connectedness, mitigating the impact of risk factors on behavior. Peer selection skill, including the ability to make and maintain positive friendships, is a critical protective factor. Adolescents surrounded with positive influence make better, less-risky choices, and are more likely to reach their goals.
Underage consumption of alcohol has detrimental effects on the development of a healthy body and healthy brain. Student knowledge of the physical consequences of drinking alcohol lessens the propensity to consume alcohol; however, the protective effect of this knowledge can be overridden by social pressures and influences. Capacity to resist the internal and external pressures, influences, and expectations to consume alcohol builds protection within adolescent to remain alcohol free.
All forms of tobacco and tobacco-related products are harmful to the body. Tobacco products contain the highly addictive chemical, nicotine. Social image is one reason teenagers begin to use tobacco-related products. This lesson demonstrates that nicotine use projects a negative social image rather than a positive image implied in popular culture.
Adolescents overestimate the percentage of their peers who use marijuana and underestimate the negative effects of the drug's use. Perception of harm is an important factor for mitigating risk. Normative education methods effectively correct misconceptions about behavior.
The teenage brain is predisposed to impulsive behavior and risk-taking as the executive functions managed by the frontal lobe develop. Adolescents often underestimate the addictive nature and the dangerous effects of the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Establishing a clear perception of harm about these drugs builds protection within the adolescent to mitigate the risk of abuse.
Adolescents who understand and can manage risk are better able to predict the outcomes of their actions enabling them to make better, more responsible decisions. An effective course review reinforces skills and concepts, providing further opportunities to practice skills and recall information. The recognition of student participation and completion of the program builds self-efficacy.
