Class Action: Alcohol Prevention for High School
copyright Hazelden Foundation
Research has shown that young people who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop a dependence on alcohol than those who begin drinking later. Since children are faced with ongoing decisions about alcohol use, helping them become confident about delaying the onset of use is critical to establishing lasting changes in their behaviors and attitudes about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Class Action is a proven, research-based alcohol prevention program for high school students. The interactive curriculum is implemented during the school day in 5-10 sessions and teaches students age-appropriate skills to resist using alcohol and appreciate alcohol-free alternatives.
The goals of Class Action are to
- Help young people change they way they think about and deal with alcohol
- Make responsible choices when it comes to alcohol consumption
Class Action gives students the opportunity to look at the real-world social and legal consequences involving teens and alcohol. The program helps teens see the truth about underage drinking through six dramatic court cases that expose:
- The truth about accidents and injuries caused by intoxication
- The truth about vandalism and assault fueled by underage drinking
- The truth about the lasting impact of fetal alcohol syndrome
The 6 trial cases presented are:
- Drinking and Driving
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Drinking and Violence
- Date Rape
- Drinking and Vandalism
- School Alcohol Policies
Students take on the roles of defense lawyers who try lawsuits involving personal injury or property damage that resulted from underage drinking. Students also become jurors and decide if the facts presented by the defense lawyers warrant a monetary award.
In schools that have implemented Class Action, the program has been shown to:
- Delay the age young people begin drinking
- Reduce alcohol use among those who have already tried drinking
- Limit the number of alcohol-related problems experienced
Teachers and counselors: Download details about the sessions and curriculum (link to ClassActionCurriculum.pdf)
For more information about other prevention programs at Hanley Center, email us or call our Prevention Department at 561-841-1213.
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