Teens love to push boundaries and test limits. And while this may be frustrating to parents and educators, it is a crucial aspect of their learning and development. Through trial and error, they can better understand themselves and their world.
For the most part, pushing boundaries is healthy and expected. But what do we do when teens’ “trial and error” drifts into unhealthy choices and behaviors such as drugs, alcohol, vaping, or other dangerous activities?
First, we must understand why teens experiment with smoking, drugs, or reckless behavior. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, “Assessing the Social Influences, Self-Esteem, and Stress of High School Students Who Vape,” the two most common motivations for vaping included stress relief (70%) and peer pressure (60%).
Teenagers with increased risk factors will be more likely to experiment with unhealthy behaviors and substances. These risk factors include having low grades or experiencing failure in school, being a victim of bullying or cyberbullying, having a parent/older sibling abuse drugs and alcohol, experiencing a lack of healthy role models, among others.
These factors are cited in the blog post Top 8 Reasons Why Teens Try Alcohol and Other Drugs. The post also points to factors that fall under the social and emotional learning (SEL) themes of self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-management issues. As the post makes clear, “when teens are unhappy and can’t find a healthy outlet for their frustrations or a trusted friend, they may turn to substances for relief.”.
How do we help teens make responsible decisions and overcome risk factors? Research shows that teens with protective factors are less likely to experiment with or abuse drugs. These protective factors include high self-esteem; parental involvement, involvement in school, athletics, community, or faith-based organizations; the influence of positive role models; and more. A comprehensive SEL curriculum can reinforce these foundational protective factors.
Like any other subject, SEL is part of a student’s toolkit for lifelong success. When teens don’t have the tools to resist or avoid substances, peer pressure, or risky behavior, they may not know how to respond. By empowering teens with SEL skills, educators can “fill the toolbox” with tools to evaluate the situation, how they feel and why, effectively problem-solve, and make responsible decisions.
We developed the Emozi® High School SEL curriculum to help teens build these tools alongside Common Core subjects to make it easy for educators to integrate into class schedules—from health to ELA, math, and science or in advisory periods. Emozi® lessons empower teens to develop a vision for their future, who they want to be, and how their values align with positive behaviors and choices.
Emozi® High School’s online and teacher-led lessons align with the five CASEL competencies and life skill development. The program includes online, asynchronous training and embedded professional development for teachers. Emozi® High School teaches SEL concepts through relatable modules and lessons such as:
- Self-awareness: Self-confidence and Self-esteem, Integrity and Values, Character Strengths
- Self-management: Stress Management, Healthy Eating, and Avoiding Drugs and Alcohol
- Social Awareness: Peer Pressure/Bullying, Consequences of Peer Pressure, Advocacy/Refusal Skills
- Relationships: Conflict Resolution, Negotiation, Positive relationships, Standing Up for Yourself
- Decision-making skills: Self-Advocacy, Being Responsible & Time Management, Overcoming Obstacles with Optimism
SEL concepts can be integrated into mixed-grade classrooms or used in single-grade subject matter classrooms, giving educators flexibility in implementing the program, which is 100% online and educator-led.
Emozi® High School is available as an annual subscription model and includes updates to the curriculum with relevant activities to meet future global events and social issues. Each lesson has editable digital worksheets that can be integrated into a current Learning Management System, used as is, or printed out if necessary.
Visit pathsprogram.com to learn more about how Emozi® High School can empower teens to feel more confident, have better self-awareness, and resist unhealthy behaviors like drugs, alcohol, and vaping.
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