HIGH SCHOOL: LESSON PLAN 3
High School Lesson 3: Navigating Substance Use: Understanding Choices, Stigma, and Support
Students will explore the substance use spectrum and consider why teens may start using substances. They will learn what addiction is, examine how stigma impacts people’s experiences with substance use, and identify supports and resources for those affected.
This lesson is aligned with the following learning outcomes from the NL High School Health Curriculum:
Drug Education
- Identify and analyze the impacts of substance use on health and well-being.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the substance use spectrum, including patterns of use, addiction, and recovery.
- Analyze the social, personal, and environmental factors that influence why youth may begin using substances, including both protective and risk factors.
- Explain how stigma affects individuals, families, and communities, and evaluate its impact on seeking help and accessing support.
- Recognize the importance of help-seeking and explore available supports for individuals experiencing substance use challenges.
- Demonstrate decision-making and goal-setting skills that support mental health, well-being, and safer choices.
Emotional and Social Well-being
- Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and behaviours related to health-related decision making.
Technology and Communications
- Utilize information technology to access, present, and communicate information on substance use.
Environmental Health and Safety
- Demonstrate skills and behaviours which enhance personal safety, the safety of others, and the protection of the environment.
Learning Activities
The following activities are designed to support the delivery of this lesson and help reinforce key concepts. Some activities are available in multiple formats to offer flexibility and accommodate teacher or student preferences.
- Learning Activity 1: Substance Use Spectrum
- Infographics: Substance Use Spectrum, Substance Use Disorder
Students and teachers may find it helpful to refer to the following infographics as they work through this learning activity.
- Introduction: Substance Use Spectrum Activity
In this situation-based activity, teachers will gauge students’ knowledge about the substance use spectrum.
- Pre-Activity: Substance Use Vocabulary
Teachers can choose between two vocabulary activities, Crossword or Word Scramble, to introduce key terms related to substance use and the substance use spectrum.
- Exploration Activity: Malik, Billie & Zion’s Story
In this activity, students explore the substance use spectrum by reading a case study about three friends, Malik, Billie, and Zion, and examining the different behaviours, choices, and experiences that reflect various points along the spectrum.
- Sharing and Reflection: Understanding the Substance Use Spectrum
Students reflect on real-life situations where they have observed or experienced different points along the Substance Use Spectrum.
- Learning Activity 2: Why Do Teens Start Using Substances?
- Infographics: Factors Influencing Decision-Making, Protective and Risk Factors for Substance Use
Students and teachers may find it helpful to refer to the following infographics as they work through this learning activity.
- Introduction: Exploring Influences on Substance Use Decisions
Students explore factors that may influence teens’ substance use decisions and learn about key risk and protective factors.
- Exploration Activity: Lived Experience Spotlights
Students engage with authentic stories from individuals with lived or living experience, gaining meaningful insight into the real-life perspectives and experiences of substance use.
Part 1: Darcy’s Story: A Parent’s Perspective on Raine’s Substance Use Journey (Teacher Modelling)
Part 2: Lowen’s Journey: Understanding the Realities of Substance Use
- Lived Experience Spotlights: Teacher Discussion Guide
Provides teacher guidance for this activity.
- Sharing and Reflection: What Influences My Decisions?
Students reflect on the factors and protective influences that shape their decisions, particularly related to substance use, and express their insights creatively.
- Learning Activity 3: What is Addiction?
- Infographics: Substance Use Disorder, Protective and Risk Factors for Substance Use, Promoting Protective Factors for Youth
Students and teachers may find it helpful to refer to the following infographics as they work through this learning activity.
- Introduction
Students will watch the following videos to explore the concept of addiction and substance use disorder, including how drugs affect the brain’s reward system.
- Pre-Activity: Teenagers, Brain Development, Substance Use and Mental Health
Students watch a short video on how substance use affects the brain, then complete a Fact–Fiction–Fix activity to reinforce their learning.
- Exploration Activity: Lived Experience Spotlight – Katie’s Experience with Substance Use
Students explore a real-life spotlight story about Katie’s experiences with substance use and substance use disorder.
- Lived Experience Spotlights: Teacher Discussion Guide
Provides teacher guidance for this activity.
- Sharing and Reflection: What Influences My Decisions?
Students reflect on what they’ve learned about early substance use and substance use disorder.
- Learning Activity 4: Stigma
- Infographics: Stigma, Caregiver Substance Use, and Protective and Risk Factors for Substance Use
Students and teachers may find it helpful to refer to the following infographics as they work through this learning activity.
- Introduction to Stigma
Students explore what stigma is and how it affects people who use substances, first by watching a video, then by completing a Myth vs. Fact stigma activity.
- Pre-Activity: Change the Language Activity
This video highlights how words matter and why it’s important to avoid language that creates negative stigma.
- Exploration Activity: Lived Experience Spotlight – Adair’s Story: Understanding the Impact of Stigma
Students explore a lived experience story showing how stigma can influence substance use and the decisions people make about it.
- Lived Experience Spotlights: Teacher Discussion Guide
Provides teacher guidance for this activity.
- Sharing and Reflection: Breaking the Stigma Around Substance Use
Students reflect on what they’ve learned about stigma and substance use through a creative activity of their choice—writing, art, or personal reflection.
- Learning Activity 5: How to Seek Help (Supports for Substance Use Disorder)
- Infographics: Stigma, Protective and Risk Factors for Substance Use, Substance Use Spectrum, Substance Use Disorder, and Harm Reduction
Students and teachers may find it helpful to refer to the following infographics as they work through this learning activity.
- Exploration Activity: Create a “Reaching Out” Guide
Students design a one-page guide or poster to help youth recognize when someone may need support, how to reach out safely, and where to find help.
- Sharing and Reflection: Circles of Support Map
Students create a map identifying their personal support network, showing layers of support from close relationships to school and community resources.
These resources may help support the delivery of the lesson plan and learning activities:
Educational Materials
The relevant Educational Materials for this lesson are referenced throughout the lesson plan; additional ones are available here.
Substance Snapshots
Relevant Substance Snapshots are noted in the lesson plan; more may be accessed here.