On Smoking and Drinking Alcohol: An Online Treasure Hunt
For Third Year High School (Health Education)
Authored by E. Manzo and P. Arinto
Introduction
Many people today drink alcohol and smoke. For many, these two
activities are a status symbol, a sign of maturity and sophistication. In
fact, however, habitual smoking and drinking alcohol have many harmful
effects on one’s health.
In this online treasure hunt, you will find out exactly what disadvantages
to health are brought about by habitual smoking and drinking alcohol. It is
hoped that knowing about these will discourage you from taking up these
unhealthy habits and help you explain to others why they shouldn’t smoke and
drink alcohol.
Here’s how the treasure hunt works: In groups of three or four, look for the
answers to the questions below in the websites listed. Simply click on the
website URL or address to be able to open and read it. After answering all
of the small questions, proceed to the Big Question. Be sure to work as a
team.
Questions
- What is alcoholism?
- What happens when people drunk frequently or when they drink large
quantities of alcohol?
- Why is adolescent drinking a cause for concern or worry?
- What are the likely causes of drinking among young people? Do these
differ for girls and boys? Explain briefly.
- What may explain the difference in the effect of alcohol on men and
women?
- What diseases are caused by smoking tobacco?
- Is the filter in cigarettes sufficient protection from the harmful
effects of tar? Explain your answer.
- What is the addictive substance found in cigarettes?
- Is smoking among young people widespread? Briefly explain your answer.
- Since it is addictive, smoking can’t be stopped. Do you agree? Explain
your answer.
Resources
Alcoholism
http://www.ncadd.org/facts/defalc.html
Myths about alcohol for teens
http://www.madd.org/under21/0,1056,1157,00.html
Problem drinking
http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/Mosby_factsheets/alcohol_abuse.html
Alcohol and teen drinking
http://www.focusas.com/Alcohol.html
http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc98/1_24_98/fob1.htm
Alcohol use among girls
http://www.health.org/govpubs/rpo993/
Health and health–risk behaviors: drugs, alcohol and smoking
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/messlup3.pdf
Harmful effects of cigarettes
http://www.smartlink.net/~phillipj/smoking.htm
Effects of smoking
http://www.quit-smoking-stop.com/harmful-smoking-effects.html
Cigarettes inside out
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/tobacco/youth/scoopintxt.html
Don’t get sucked in
http://www.tobaccofacts.org/suckedin/index.html
(Reminder: Click on the ingredients to get the information.)
Questions about smoking, tobacco and health
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_2x_Questions_About_Smoking_Tobacco_and_Health.asp
Health effects of smoking among young people
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/research_data/youth/stspta5.htm
The Big Question
Interview a young person or teenager who drinks alcohol and who smokes
cigarettes (you may interview two different people: one who drinks and
another who smokes). Ask him/her:
- when he/she started the habit
- why he/she drinks and/or smokes
- whether he/she knows the harmful effects of drinking and/or smoking on
health, on relationships (if any), and other aspects of his/her life
- if he/she were to quit drinking and/or smoking, what will help him/her
to do so
When doing the interview take care that your interviewer is not offended
by your line of questioning. First, explain why you are doing the interview
and that the identity of your interviewee will not be revealed (do
NOT write his/her name in your final report; assign a fictitious name).
During the interview, be polite. Do not sound judgmental; instead be
open-minded. Your job is NOT to persuade your interviewee to stop drinking
or smoking. Instead you are trying to come up with a profile of a young
person or teenager who smokes or drinks.
Write up the interview in question and answer form, with an introductory
paragraph describing the circumstances of the interview and a concluding
paragraph in which you write your insights/reflections on what you found
out.
You will do the interview and write-up as a group. Be sure to work together;
make sure all members of your group make a contribution. Submit your
write-up two weeks from today.
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