Pathways to Prevention

Substance Abuse Resources for Youth Leaders Youth today are bombarded daily by messages that normalize ideas and actions that are harmful to their emotions, bodies, and spiritual walk. Materialism, casual sex, and the abuse of drugs, alcohol and tobacco have become an accepted expression of popular culture as portrayed in movies, TV and literature. The conflicting messages youth receive from the popular media and from school friends can easily overwhelm their ability to distinguish right from wrong and to understand the inherent problems associated with substance abuse. The church needs to have a positive voice to speak the truth about these issues and bear witness to Christian discipleship regarding these issues. Your role as a youth leader in the church is both timely and vital. You are in an ideal position to give young people one of the most valuable gifts an adult can provide -- a good example. Continue reading...       Do Something Substance Abuse Ministry DVD Introducing Do Something, a Substance Abuse Mnistry DVD available through the Christian Life Commission. To order Do Something contact Alicia Enriquez at 214.828.5192, or e-mail alicia.enriquez@bgct.org.The cost is $2.                   Learning Activities for Sixth to Eighth Grades Your Opinion Please This activity will help youth examine their knowledge and beliefs about substance abuse and provide them with accurate information about the effects of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Focus Scripture: John 10:10   Anti-Drug Ads That Tell the Truth Youth will identify the purpose of advertising and how it works. They will then use these ideas in a fun activity to develop advertising that tells the truth about drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Focus Scripture: Matthew 6:24   What's There to Do Around Here? Kid's often complain, "There's nothing to do in this town that's fun." This activity will help identify a variety of "things to do" that are fun, safe, and legal, which do not involve drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Focus Scripture: Matthew 6:33 Top Ten Ways to Say No The best defence is to be prepared with a good offense. This activity is a fun way to help youth learn new and creative ways to say no to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and resist pressure to go along with the crowd. Featured Scripture: Matthew 10:32 What Makes a Good Friend? Sometimes the need to "belong" clouds the issue on the meaning of friendship. This activity will help each young person identify qualities he or she brings to a friendship and the qualities he or she looks for in a friend. Focus Scripture: Proverbs 17:17 Friendship and Conflict When conflict over moral issues puts stress on a friendship, the results can be hurtful. This excercise will help kids learn and practice ways to resolve conflict with their friends while maintaining their own ingetrity. Focus Scripture: Ephesians 4:32 Resisting Peer Pressure Help children Identify how peer pressure affects them, and how to say "no" to behaviors that would hurt them. Focus Scripture: Ephesians 6:10    Learning Activities for Junior High and High School What's Okay To Do and What's Not Adolescents will explore choices people make to use or not to use drugs, alcohol and tobacco while considering the consequences of making those choices. Focus Scripture: John 8:32   Why Some People Make Poor Decisions Young people will increase their knowledge of alternative behaviors by identifying reasons why some young people choose to use drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Focus Scripture: John 15:10-11 Feeling Good About Taking a Stand Youth will think about their beliefs on drug, alcohol and tobacco use, and will learn what some adults in their congregation believe about these topics. They also will discover what the Bible teaches about these substances. Focus Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:2 Marijuana Game Show Youth will learn facts about marijuana to counter common myths and misconceptions. Focus Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:22 Avoiding Risky Business Youth will explore risky situations and consequences of their actions and ways they might respond if they are ever in a similar situation. Focus Scripture: Matthew 10:32-33 Laying Down the Burden of Lies Young people will feel some of the emotional and spiritual burdens brought on by lying about drug or alcohol use. Focus Scripture: Proverbs 15:14 Media Images. Friend or Foe? Help youth learn critical thinking skills about the media; determine whether media images support or conflict with their values and faith regarding the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Focus Scripture: Ephesians 6:10 Taking the Sting Out of Stress Youth will identify sources of stress, recognize the effects of stress, and learn new ways to manage stress. Focus Scripture: John 14:27   Learning Activities for High School If I Don't Drink, What's In It for Me? Youth can hear lots of reasons from friends about why they should drink. This activity will help them identify the benefits and wisdom of not drinking alcohol. Focus Scripture: Matthew 6: 19-21. Giving Others a Helping Hand Young people will learn what to do and what to say in the process of helping a friend or family member whose use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco concerns them. Focus Scripture: Proverbs 27:6   Learning Activity for Youth and Adults Drug Prevention in Our Comminity Youth and adults will identify ways they can work together to tackle the issues of drug and alcohol abuse. Focus Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16   Resources for Parents and Youth Leaders Parent Helps Recent studies show that clear and consistent messages from parents to children about drugs, alcohol and tobacco do make a very important difference. The study addresses ways in which parents can talk to their kids about substance abuse. Building a Positive Self Image in TeensTeens with positive self-images have more confidence in making the choice to abstain from using drugs or alcohol. This resource provides some keys for adults to use in helping adolescents acquire a positive self-image. Developing Good Communication With Kids Sometimes communication is difficult between parents and adolescents. This resource provides help for parents and youth leaders in learning some new methods to communicate effectively with teens. Hard Facts About Drugs A comprehensive look at drugs and alcohol including appearance, method of use and possible effects. Drug Misuse and Abuse When does drug use become abuse? What are the symptoms of drug misuse and abuse and what are the characteristics of particular drugs that are abused? Laws Regarding Underage Drinking The Texas Zero Tolerance law and legal consequences for youth Biblical Perspectives on the Use of Alcohol and Other Drugs This resource explores what the Bible has to say about drugs and alcohol and gives a theological perspective for dealing with the issue of substance abuse. Foundational Virtues Bible studies are provided for the important issues of community, courage and truthfulness. The Bible and the Twelve Steps An overview of the 12 Steps from Alcoholics Anonymous and a Biblical perspective of the steps.   Back to Top