Drug and Alcohol Education

Grade 7 · Health · Study Guide

Learn about the risks of drug and alcohol use, how they affect the developing brain, and strategies for making healthy choices.

Drugs and alcohol are substances that change how the brain and body work. While some drugs are legal and prescribed by doctors to treat illness, recreational drug use and underage drinking carry serious health and legal risks — especially for young people whose brains are still developing.

The teenage brain continues developing well into the mid-20s, particularly the prefrontal cortex, which controls decision-making and impulse control. Alcohol and drugs interfere with this development. Research shows that people who begin using substances as teenagers have a higher risk of developing addiction compared to those who start as adults.

Alcohol is a depressant that slows brain activity. Even small amounts impair judgment and coordination. Binge drinking can cause alcohol poisoning, which is life-threatening. Marijuana affects memory, attention, and motivation; regular use during adolescence is linked to lower academic achievement. Other substances like tobacco, vaping products, opioids, and stimulants carry their own significant risks including addiction and serious health consequences.

Peer pressure is a major reason young people try substances. Refusal skills — such as using a clear 'no,' suggesting alternatives, or leaving the situation — are practical tools for handling these moments. Understanding the reasons people use substances (curiosity, peer pressure, stress relief, family environment) helps build empathy without endorsing use.

Making informed, healthy choices now protects your brain and future opportunities.

Key terms

Depressant
A substance that slows down the central nervous system, reducing brain activity and impairing coordination and judgment.
Addiction
A chronic condition where a person compulsively uses a substance despite harmful consequences and difficulty stopping.
Peer pressure
Social influence from people your age to behave in certain ways, sometimes including trying drugs or alcohol.
Binge drinking
Consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time, which can lead to dangerous blood alcohol levels.
Prefrontal cortex
The part of the brain responsible for decision-making and impulse control, which continues developing into the mid-20s.
Refusal skills
Strategies for confidently saying no to peer pressure, such as giving a clear refusal, offering an alternative, or leaving.

Flashcards

Depressant
A substance that slows the central nervous system; alcohol is a common example.
Addiction
A chronic condition involving compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences.
Peer pressure
Influence from people your age to act in certain ways, including trying substances.
Binge drinking
Drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short time, raising blood alcohol to dangerous levels.
Prefrontal cortex
Brain region controlling decision-making that develops until the mid-20s.
Refusal skills
Strategies like a firm 'no' or suggesting alternatives to resist peer pressure.
Alcohol poisoning
A life-threatening condition caused by consuming too much alcohol in a short time.
Secondhand effects
Harms experienced by others due to someone else's substance use, such as drunk driving accidents.

Questions

  1. Why are drugs and alcohol especially harmful to teenagers compared to adults?

    1. Teenagers have stronger livers that process alcohol differently
    2. The teenage brain is still developing, making it more vulnerable to damage
    3. Teenagers have weaker immune systems
    4. There is no real difference in risk between teenagers and adults
    Show answer

    Answer: The teenage brain is still developing, making it more vulnerable to damage

    The teenage brain is still developing, making it more susceptible to lasting damage from drugs and alcohol.

  2. Alcohol is classified as a depressant because it speeds up the central nervous system.

    Show answer

    Answer: False

    Alcohol is a depressant because it slows down the central nervous system, not speeds it up.

  3. The part of the brain that controls decision-making and continues developing into the mid-20s is called the _______ cortex.

    Show answer

    Answer: prefrontal

    The prefrontal cortex handles decision-making and impulse control and is one of the last brain regions to fully mature.

  4. Which of the following is a good refusal skill when facing peer pressure to use drugs?

    1. Trying it once just to fit in
    2. Saying nothing and walking away
    3. Saying 'No thanks' clearly and suggesting a different activity
    4. Making fun of the person offering
    Show answer

    Answer: Saying 'No thanks' clearly and suggesting a different activity

    A clear verbal refusal combined with suggesting an alternative activity is an effective and respectful refusal skill.

  5. People who start using substances as teenagers face a higher risk of addiction than those who start as adults.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    Research consistently shows that earlier onset of substance use is linked to significantly higher rates of addiction.

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