9.ATOD.2

What does this standard mean a child will know and be able to do?

9.ATOD.2.1 Identify ways to avoid riding in a car or engaging in other risky behaviors with someone who is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Alcohol is linked to approximately 40 percent of all motor vehicle crashes. Young people need know their options in the event they are in a situation where the person providing them transportation has consumed alcohol or other drugs. All adults should agree that if alcohol or any drugs that can lead to impairment are going to be consumed, a driver should be designated and should remain sober until there is no longer a need to drive anyone to any destination. If a driver was not designated and an individual is in need of transportation, he or she should call a trusted sober friend or family member, use a taxi or driving service, or make plans to stay in a location until safe transportation can be found. It is never okay to ride with someone who has been drinking alcohol or under the influence of drugs. If a student absolutely has no choice, then he or she should sit in the back seat and definitely wear a seatbelt.

Approximately 25,000 people die from drug abuse each year. Individuals who abuse drugs are more likely to drop out of school and engage in criminal activity than people who do not use drugs. Alcohol and drug use may cause agitation, aggression, and the lack of ability to control one’s feelings and behaviors which may lead to violent conflicts that could have been resolved without violence had the user not been impaired by drugs and alcohol. Individuals under the influence of drugs and alcohol often make poor decisions because their ability to use reason and their logic is impaired: they have an increased sense of invincibility and exaggerated confidence which causes them to take risks such as stealing, physical confrontations, not using seat belts or other measures to protect personal safety, including sexual risk taking behaviors. Several strategies may be adopted in order to avoid risky behaviors associated with someone under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Build self-esteem, self-acceptance, and value one’s self-worth, so that the pressure for social acceptance and social influences does not lead to behaviors that put health and safety at risk. Make decisions in advance about avoiding drug and alcohol use and associate with people who share that same decisions. Friends can be both positive and negative influences and if the decision (to avoid the use of drugs and alcohol) is made based on one’s values and rational thoughts rather than emotion and pressure, he/she is much more likely to stay true to intentions. Assertively resist peer pressure and refuse social influences to engage in risky behaviors associated with the use of drugs and alcohol. Manage and reduce stress so that risk behaviors are not an attractive alternative to coping with the life stressors. Become involved in positive school, community, and family activities to maintain a schedule that does not allow opportunities for risky behaviors, creates a commitment to someone other than oneself and enhances feelings of self-worth. Access accurate and reliable information about the risks associated with alcohol and drug use and inform others.
 * The student will identify safe methods for transportation in order to avoid riding in the car with an impaired driver.
 * The student will make a plan for accessing transportation in order to avoid riding in the car with an impaired driver.
 * The student will recognize additional risk taking associated with alcohol such as violence and failure to protect personal safety.
 * The student will avoid a person who is under the influence who is aggressive, abusive, or providing negative pressure.

9.ATOD.2.2 Use strategies for avoiding binge drinking.
Approximately 5,000 deaths among young people under the age of 21 are associated with binge drinking. Twenty-one percent of NC high school students report having five or more drinks of alcohol in a row on one or more of the last 30 days. Most underage college binge drinkers began to drink in high school, and more than half of all college binge drinkers first binged in high school. Binge drinking often begins around age 13 and tends to increase during adolescence, peaks in young adulthood and gradually declines.

New studies of binge drinking in teens raises concerns that it may lead to lower intelligence and impulsive behavior because of the effects on the developing teen brain. Binge drinking for females is considered to be four drinks in one hour and for males, five drinks in one hour. One drink is defined as one and a half ounces of eighty-proof liquor, five ounces of 12 percent wine, or twelve ounces of five percent beer. If an individual does not set personal limits, he/she may be more likely to be influenced by social pressure to make decisions about drinking that are dangerous. Binge drinking can have deadly consequences because of the effects of concentrated alcohol in the body. Since alcohol is a depressant it slows down functions of the central nervous system (such as breathing) and impairs brain functions (such as reaction time). Some of the short-term effects may be hangovers, nausea, shakiness, vomiting, dehydration, memory loss, or injury to self or others. A person’s BAC will continue to rise after the person is no longer conscious. More long-term effects can be: addiction to alcohol; significant damage to the brain and liver; risk of cancer in the mouth, throat, or esophagus; possible increased risk of neurological disorders, heart problems, and sexual problems (especially male impotency); risk of emotional problems developing such as depression, problems at school, problems at work, and issues within relationships. The following should be additional concerns for teens: doing things they would not normally do such as having unprotected sex, or unwanted sex. This might lead to unintended pregnancy or STDs. Feeling bad about oneself, being embarrassed by own actions, becoming vulnerable while intoxicated, or losing friends or loved ones are all possible results of behavior associated with binge drinking.
 * The student will summarize strategies that may be employed to avoid binge drinking.
 * The student will advocate to others to avoid the harmful effects of binge drinking.