Lesson Plan
Substance Reality Check Lesson Plan
Students will evaluate real-life substance use scenarios, identify associated risks and consequences, and apply decision-making strategies to make informed, healthy choices.
This lesson provides Grade 9 students with accurate, localized information about substance use, fosters critical thinking about risks, and equips them with practical refusal and decision-making skills to resist peer pressure and stay safe.
Audience
Grade 9 Health (Ontario PPL10)
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive presentation, scenario analysis, group discussion, reflection.
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review Substance Reality Presentation Slides
- Print copies of Substance Use Scenarios Handout and Decision-Making Strategies Worksheet
- Ensure Risk and Consequence Chart is projected or printed for display
- Prepare projector or smartboard and arrange students into small groups of 3–4
Step 1
Introduction & Prior Knowledge
5 minutes
- Welcome students and state the lesson objective
- Ask volunteers to share what they know about common substances and usage rates in Ontario
- Record responses on the board to activate prior knowledge
- Introduce key terms: substance use, risk, consequence
- Display opening slide from Substance Reality Presentation Slides
Step 2
Facts & Risks Presentation
8 minutes
- Present key facts about alcohol, vaping, cannabis, and prescription drug misuse using slides
- Highlight short- and long-term health risks with the Risk and Consequence Chart
- Encourage brief Q&A between each topic
- Use Ontario-specific statistics to contextualize information
Step 3
Scenario Analysis
10 minutes
- Distribute Substance Use Scenarios Handout
- In small groups, students read one scenario and identify risks, potential consequences, and peer-pressure elements
- Students record findings on the Decision-Making Strategies Worksheet
- Teacher circulates to guide discussion and ask probing questions
Step 4
Group Sharing & Strategy Building
5 minutes
- Invite each group to share one scenario insight and a proposed strategy to handle the situation
- Record strategies on the board, categorizing them (e.g., refusal skills, seeking help, healthy alternatives)
- Summarize best practices for informed decision-making
Step 5
Reflection & Exit Ticket
2 minutes
- Distribute Exit Ticket Reflection
- Students write one new insight gained and one action they would take if facing a similar situation
- Collect exit tickets as a formative assessment
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Slide Deck
Substance Reality Check
Grade 9 Health (Ontario PPL10)
30-Minute Tier 1 Lesson
Today’s Objective:
• Understand common substances and usage rates
• Identify risks and consequences
• Prepare for scenario-based decision making
Welcome students. Introduce yourself and state today’s objective: to explore real data on substance use in Ontario, understand key risks and consequences, and build decision-making skills.
Mention that this session is aligned to the Grade 9 PPL10 curriculum.
Today's Agenda
- Introduction & Key Terms
- Ontario Substance Use Statistics
- Facts & Risks: Alcohol, Vaping, Cannabis, Prescription Drugs
- Health Risks & Consequences Summary
- Scenario Analysis Instructions
Outline the flow so students know what to expect. Emphasize interactive parts and opportunities to ask questions.
Key Terms
• Substance Use: Taking in alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, prescription drugs, or other chemicals
• Risk: Potential for harm or negative outcomes
• Consequence: The result of a choice or behavior, can be short- or long-term
Define each term clearly. Invite quick student examples to ensure understanding.
Ontario Substance Use at a Glance
• Alcohol: ~50% of teens report past-year use
• Vaping: ~30% have tried e-cigarettes
• Cannabis: ~20% report use since legalization
• Prescription Drugs: ~10% have misused a peer’s medication
Share Ontario-specific data. Cite recent local surveys. Invite students to compare with their impressions.
Alcohol: Facts & Risks
• Most common teen-used substance
• Short-term risks: impaired judgement, accidents, alcohol poisoning
• Long-term risks: liver damage, addiction, mental health issues
Discuss alcohol’s effects. Prompt students to share any myths they’ve heard, then clarify facts.
Vaping: Facts & Risks
• Contains nicotine, flavorings, other chemicals
• Short-term risks: dizziness, coughing, lung irritation
• Emerging concerns: EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury)
Highlight that vaping is not risk-free. Explain nicotine addiction and emerging lung injury concerns.
Cannabis: Facts & Risks
• Methods: smoking, vaping, edibles
• Short-term risks: impaired memory, coordination, anxiety
• Long-term risks: reduced IQ, lung damage, addictive potential
Cover both smoking and edibles. Emphasize brain development impact in teens.
Prescription Drug Misuse
• Commonly misused: opioids, stimulants, sedatives
• Risks: overdose, dependency, organ damage
• Legal consequences: criminal charges, school penalties
Clarify common prescription drugs misused and reasons (e.g., to focus, calm nerves). Stress legal/ethical issues.
Health Risks & Consequences
Physical Risks:
- Organ damage, respiratory issues, overdose
Mental Health:
- Depression, anxiety, cognitive decline
Social & Legal:
- Relationship strain, legal trouble, academic impacts
Summarize physical, mental, and social consequences across substances. Refer students to the printed Risk & Consequence Chart for details.
Preparing for Scenario Analysis
• You will work in groups of 3–4
• Read one scenario and identify risks & peer-pressure elements
• Record findings on the Decision-Making Strategies Worksheet
• Be ready to share one insight and one strategy
Explain the next activity: scenario analysis in small groups. Distribute handouts and Decision-Making Strategies Worksheets.
Worksheet
Substance Use Scenarios Handout
Instructions: In your small group, read each scenario carefully. For each scenario, answer the three questions by writing your responses in the spaces provided.
Scenario 1: House Party Offer
It’s Saturday evening and a group of friends heads to a house party where the host’s older cousin has left a cooler of beer unattended. You’re 15 and have never had alcohol before. One friend hands you a can and says, “Don’t be such a baby—just try one sip. Nobody will know.”
- Identify the risks in this scenario (health, legal, social):
- Describe potential short-term and long-term consequences for someone your age:
- What peer-pressure elements are present, and how do they influence your decision?
Scenario 2: First Vape at Recess
During morning recess at school, a group of 9th graders gathers behind the gym. One friend pulls out a flavored e-cigarette and says it helps you “relax” before an exam. They offer it to you, promising “just one puff.”
- Identify the risks in this scenario (health, legal, social):
- Describe potential short-term and long-term consequences for someone your age:
- What peer-pressure elements are present, and how do they influence your decision?
Scenario 3: Prescription Medication at Study Group
You’re at a friend’s house studying for a big test. Another friend brings out ADHD medication pills he got from a sibling, saying, “These will help you focus and get an A.” He offers you one pill if you’ve got a hard time concentrating.
- Identify the risks in this scenario (health, legal, social):
- Describe potential short-term and long-term consequences for someone your age:
- What peer-pressure elements are present, and how do they influence your decision?
Scenario 4: Celebratory Drink in a Car
After winning your hockey game, your team piles into a car. One teammate produces a bottle of hard liquor they say they’ll toss if the coach catches them. They offer everyone a quick shot to “celebrate.”
- Identify the risks in this scenario (health, legal, social):
- Describe potential short-term and long-term consequences for someone your age:
- What peer-pressure elements are present, and how do they influence your decision?
Once all groups have completed the handout, be prepared to share one scenario, its risks, and your group’s suggested strategy for making a healthy choice.
Worksheet
Decision-Making Strategies Worksheet
Instructions: Using your group’s Substance Use Scenarios Handout scenario, complete the sections below. This will help you plan safe, healthy responses to peer pressure.
Scenario 1
- Briefly summarize the situation in your own words:
- Identified Risks & Consequences:
- Health Risks:
- Legal/Social Risks:
- Potential Short-Term Consequences:
- Potential Long-Term Consequences:
- Peer-Pressure Elements (what influenced the choice?):
- Decision-Making Strategies:
a. Refusal Skill (what you could say):
b. Seeking Support (who you could turn to):
c. Healthy Alternative Activity:
Scenario 2
- Briefly summarize the situation in your own words:
- Identified Risks & Consequences:
- Health Risks:
- Legal/Social Risks:
- Potential Short-Term Consequences:
- Potential Long-Term Consequences:
- Peer-Pressure Elements (what influenced the choice?):
- Decision-Making Strategies:
a. Refusal Skill (what you could say):
b. Seeking Support (who you could turn to):
c. Healthy Alternative Activity:
Scenario 3
- Briefly summarize the situation in your own words:
- Identified Risks & Consequences:
- Health Risks:
- Legal/Social Risks:
- Potential Short-Term Consequences:
- Potential Long-Term Consequences:
- Peer-Pressure Elements (what influenced the choice?):
- Decision-Making Strategies:
a. Refusal Skill (what you could say):
b. Seeking Support (who you could turn to):
c. Healthy Alternative Activity:
Scenario 4
- Briefly summarize the situation in your own words:
- Identified Risks & Consequences:
- Health Risks:
- Legal/Social Risks:
- Potential Short-Term Consequences:
- Potential Long-Term Consequences:
- Peer-Pressure Elements (what influenced the choice?):
- Decision-Making Strategies:
a. Refusal Skill (what you could say):
b. Seeking Support (who you could turn to):
c. Healthy Alternative Activity:
Cool Down
Exit Ticket Reflection
Instructions: Take a moment to reflect on today’s lesson. Answer the two prompts below:
- One new insight I gained about substance use:
- One specific action I would take if faced with a similar situation: