Drug and Alcohol Attention Grabbers™ - Tug Of War

Over the next few weeks, NIMCO will be sharing some "Attention Grabber™" ideas that you can use in class to help teach about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. The “Attention Grabbers™” are designed to assist with teaching and speaking about the adverse effects alcohol and drugs cause to all who are exposed to these addictive drugs. We live in a visual society, making visual aids a needed resource to assist with speaking or teaching thus enabling you to reach your entire audience. The suggestions are designed to assist your alcohol and drug education programs. You may expound upon each scenario as your presentation or speaking time allows. Each “Attention Grabber™” is very cost effective to present with the suggested visual aids to reiterate the information given during your presentation. 

Tug Of War  

Supplies:

• A long length of rope
• 7 Volunteers

Directions:

Start by speaking to the group about the constant pressure the youth of today are faced with. Tell the audience that you realize that peer pressure is the number one reason that youth first try drugs or alcohol.

Having positive friends who make wise choices is ideally the group with which you would like to be

associated. Ask the group this question: Do you think that when someone starts using drugs they think about becoming addicted? On the other hand, what about alcohol? Do you really think that when someone starts drinking they plan to become an alcoholic?

Ask six equally sized volunteers to assist you in a demonstration. Hand six students the rope and ask them to try a tug of war with the rope. If both sides are equally balanced, it will be hard for one side to easily pull the other side over. After a few minutes, stop the demonstration. Ask the youth if they ever feel that they are in a tug of war with friends. Many times the constant tugging of peer pressure causes you to try drugs or alcohol.

Ask for another volunteer to come to the front and have them join one side of the tug of war. Now ask

the two teams to start again. The team with the fourth team member should have the advantage and

win. Tell the group that there is strength in numbers and when you make a decision to be with the positive group, it can make a difference in your future as well as your friend’s future. You have the “Personal Power” to be strong and say no to drugs and alcohol. DO NOT let anyone take your power away.

* Be selective so that the individual sizes of the teams will accomplish your goal with this presentation.

 Red White and Blue Pencil

MSG-DS1310-D

Suggested supplemental

materials may be purchased at

www.nimcoinc.com