• Module 1 - Attitudes
  • Introduction
  • The Function of Attitudes
  • Opportunites for Discussion
    • Ambivalence
    • Faith Tradition
    • Youth Experiences
    • Case Study
    • Final Reflection
• Module 2 - Awareness
  • Introduction
  • General Awareness Information
  • Salient Features
  • Stages of Alcoholism
  • Physiological Impact
  • Other Options
  • Handouts
• Module 3 - Assimilation
  • Introduction
  • Roles of Religious Leaders
  • Codependency
  • Class Activity
  • Case Study
  • Handouts
• Module 4 - Action
  • Introduction
  • General Considerations
  • "The Twelve Steps" Information
  • Factors
  • Phases
  • Additional Possibilities
  • Handouts

Module 1: Attitudes

Opportunity for Discussion - Youth Experiences

 

Competency 10 – Be able to acknowledge and address values, issues and attitudes regarding alcohol and other drug use and dependence in:
Oneself
One's own family

Provide each student with three pieces of paper. The word "ALCOHOL" should appear atop the first page, the word "ALCOHOLISM" on the top of the second page and the word "ALCOHOLIC" at the top of the third page. Under each of those three words there should be four basic headings as illustrated below:

ALCOHOL

Community Attitude / Religious Attitude / Household Attitude / Personal Attitude

After presenting and discussing the issues noted earlier in this module, have the students work alone for 10-15 minutes writing down the attitudes that they experienced in their community of origin during their childhood and adolescent years with respect to the three words at the top of the page. Each student would write her or his remembrance of the attitude in the community with respect to alcohol, alcoholism and alcoholic. If the student belonged to a religious community, the student is asked to do the same. Likewise, they are to indicate what attitude prevailed in their household. Finally, on each page, the student is asked to articulate her or his own personal attitudes in relationship to the above three words.

Then provide an appropriate time period for students to share in a small group of no more than four other students, how their experiences and attitudes compare with those of others who grew up in different communities, religions, households as well as personal experiences that are unique to each student. This is a consciousness-raising exercise in that it is a natural tendency to consider one's own background as normative for the world. Students quickly find out that there are a multiplicity of postures, perspectives and practices that prevail in varying areas of the country or the world, determined by culture, religion and social norms.

Finally, a plenary session can be conducted where these same four columns are written on a chalkboard, whiteboard, overhead or using a power point format to get a flavor of the latitude of attitudes that are present just in the classroom. With your encouragement as the instructor, students should be able to extrapolate from the exercise a multiplicity of ways that attitudes are formed and the effects or consequences of these attitudes in their own religious traditions as well as in their own personal angles of vision.

 

Module Home • Introduction • Function • Ambivalence • Faith Tradition • Youth Experiences • Case Study • Final Reflection

 

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