Coping Options Worksheet

Name: _________________________ Date: _______________

1. List five healthy coping strategies for stress. For each, briefly explain how it helps you manage stress:

2. Compare two substance‐based “relief” methods with their real impact on stress.

Substance 1: _____________________

• Short-term relief it seems to provide:

• Long-term drawbacks and how it can increase stress:

Substance 2: _____________________

• Short-term relief it seems to provide:

• Long-term drawbacks and how it can increase stress:

3. Scenario Analysis

Imagine you’re stressed about an upcoming exam and consider having a few drinks to calm your nerves. Explain how using alcohol in this situation might backfire and lead to more stress later:

4. Personal Reflection & Plan

Based on today’s lesson, outline your own stress‐management plan. Include at least three healthy strategies you will try the next time you feel overwhelmed and describe how you will remind yourself to use them:

Teacher Script: Stress: Drugs Don’t Help

Introduction (5 minutes)

Teacher: “Good morning, everyone! Today we’re going to talk about stress—something we all experience—and a common yet risky way people try to cope: using drugs or alcohol. But here’s the twist: these substances can actually make stress worse over time.

Let’s start by thinking about how you handle stress in your daily life. Turn and tell a partner one thing you do when you feel stressed. (Pause 20 seconds.)

Teacher: “Okay, who would like to share their strategy?
[Write each response on the whiteboard as students share.]”

Possible Student Responses:

• “I scroll through social media.”
• “I listen to music.”
• “I go for a run.”

Teacher: “Great ideas! We’ll refer back to some of these in a moment. But first, our objective today is to understand why drugs and alcohol—although they may feel like a quick fix—can actually intensify our stress in the long run.”

Presentation & Discussion (10 minutes)

Teacher: “Let’s pull up our slides now.
Display Stress And Substance Use Presentation Slides.

Slide 1: Stress & Substance Use
Teacher: “As the title says, we’re exploring why drugs and alcohol often backfire when we try to use them as stress relievers.”

Slide 2: Learning Objectives
Teacher: “By the end of today, you’ll be able to explain how substances disrupt stress hormones and brain chemistry, describe why that short-term relief leads to long-term stress, and identify healthier coping options.”

Slide 3: The Stress Hormone: Cortisol
Teacher: “Here’s cortisol—our primary ‘stress hormone.’ It helps regulate energy, alertness, and even our immune response. But when cortisol stays elevated too long, it can lead to fatigue, anxiety, and poor sleep. That’s when stress starts piling up.”

Slide 4: Alcohol’s Impact on Stress
Teacher: “Alcohol can make you feel relaxed at first. But it disrupts REM sleep and actually raises cortisol levels the next day. That rebound effect often leaves you feeling more anxious and tense than before.”

Slide 5: Drugs & Brain Chemistry
Teacher: “Stimulants like caffeine ramp up adrenaline—think racing heart and panic when overdone. Depressants affect GABA, which makes you feel calm, but can lead to tolerance and withdrawal stress if misused. Both sides of the spectrum can dysregulate your mood.”

Slide 6: The Vicious Cycle
Teacher: “Here’s the cycle: You feel stressed, you use a substance for relief, your body rebounds, you end up more stressed, and you repeat. Does that pattern sound familiar to anyone?”
[Pause for 1–2 volunteers.]
Teacher: “Exactly—that’s why we call it a vicious cycle.”

Slide 7: Discussion Question
Teacher: “Why do you think these physiological changes lead to more stress over time, even though you might feel better in the moment? Turn to your partner and talk for 30 seconds.”
[Pause.]
Teacher: “Who can share one insight?”
[Select a student.]
Teacher follow-up: “Great point! And can anyone add an example from their own life?”

Slide 8: Healthy Coping Strategies
Teacher: “Before our activity, notice these healthy options: exercise or yoga, deep-breathing, talking with friends, time management, and planning. These strategies support your body’s balance without the rebound stress.”

Slide 9: Next: Group Activity
Teacher: “Now we’ll dive deeper using the Stress Coping Options Worksheet. In just a moment, you’ll work in pairs or threes.”

Group Activity (10 minutes)

Teacher: “Please form groups of two or three. Make sure everyone has a worksheet. You’ll have two tasks:

1. List five healthy coping strategies (you can borrow from the board or your own ideas).
2. Contrast two substance-based relief methods and note how they seem to help at first versus their long-term stress drawbacks.

Ready? I’m walking around to answer any questions. You have 8 minutes—go!”

[Teacher circulates, listens for misconceptions, and prompts deeper thinking with questions like: “How might missing REM sleep affect someone’s next exam or practice?” or “What support network could you turn to instead of substances?”]

Reflection & Assessment (5 minutes)

Teacher: “Time’s up! Let’s come back together. Name one healthy strategy your group discussed.”
[Call on 2–3 groups and write key ideas on the board.]

Teacher: “Excellent! Now, please take out your Stress And Drugs Quiz. You’ll have about 3 minutes to complete it. Focus on questions you feel confident answering—this is just a quick check of what we’ve learned.”

[After 3 minutes:]
Teacher: “Please hand in your quizzes and worksheets as you leave. I’ll review them and share feedback tomorrow. Great work today, everyone—remember, healthy coping builds resilience, while substances can trap us in more stress. Have a wonderful rest of your day!”