SOCIAL NORMS7th Grade Choices

RECAP…

Yesterday we learned that making health choices

improves your health and longevity.

Most teens are making healthy

lifestyle choices.

QUESTION?

What percentage of high school students

do you think have ever used marijuana?

ANSWER…

38% if high school students

have used marijuana

Current research suggests that when students believe that most of their peers are engaging in a RISKY behavior, they are more likely to do so themselves.

When students believe that they are in the majority with respect to positive health attitudes and behaviors, they will continue to engage in those health enhancing behaviors.

Very often students overestimate the social norm (ie. Everyone smokes or everyone gets drunk on the weekends).

Today we will participate in activities that will help students to correct such mistake beliefs so that students can see that in many cases…

POSTIVE, HEALTHY BEHAVIORS ARE THE NORM!!

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITY

You have 10 minutes to estimate the number of 8th graders in the U.S. who drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, used marijuana, or

used illegal drugs in the last 30 days.

SURVEY RESULTSDrugs used in the last 30 days by 8th

graders

1992 1996 2000 2004 2007

Drank Alcohol 26% 26% 22% 19% 16%

Did NOT Drink Alcohol 74% 74% 78% 81% 84%

Smoked Cigarette 16% 21% 15% 9% 7%

Did NOT Smoke Cigarette

84% 79% 85% 91% 93%

Used Marijuana 4% 11% 9% 6% 6%

Did NOT use Marijuana 96% 89% 91% 94% 94%

Used Another Illegal Drug

5% 7% 6% 4% 4%

Did NOT use Another Illegal Drug

95% 93% 94% 96% 96%

As you can see from the survey results,

MOST YOUTH are making healthy choices

and avoiding risky behavior.

GROUP ACTIVITY

In your small groups you will

need to create a poster to encourage students to

engage in healthier behaviors.