Introduction
While many grade 7 students
state that they do not intend to use drugs or alcohol,
beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours change over the junior
high years. According to the Nova Scotia Student Drug
Use Survey 2007, only 12 percent of grade 7
students will have used alcohol at least once in the past
year, and only 6 percent will have used cannabis. By grade
9, however, 49 percent will have used alcohol at least
once, and 31 percent will have used cannabis (according to
the 2007 figures). In spite of what students state in grade
7, some will change their behaviour over the next two
years. Why is that? In large part, it is because of the
increasing influence of new personal, social or
interpersonal, and environmental or cultural factors in
their lives.3
This first session in the grade 7 unit of
A Question of
Influence introduces students to the
types of factors that can influence their decisions
regarding alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs. It describes
some of the activities of the upcoming weeks and sets the
stage for the rest of the unit.
A summary of the curriculum links, activity objectives,
time and preparation required, and the necessary materials
can be found by clicking here or on the Outcomes link in
this section.
3. See Appendix B for a detailed discussion of the three types of influencing factors included in Healthy Living 7.