• Circle of Care Foundation

    Session 6:
    Substance Abuse Education: Choices & Consequences

    A self-guided educational module focused on understanding substances, decision-making, risk and protective factors, consequences, personal responsibility, family impact, and healthier choices.

    Estimated Time: 60 Minutes Substance Abuse Education Self-Guided Module
    Course Progress 0%
    Welcome

    Choices Have Consequences

    Road representing choices and direction

    Every day involves choices. Some decisions have small consequences. Others can affect health, relationships, parenting, employment, finances, legal responsibilities, and future opportunities.

    This module provides general substance-use education. Completing this lesson does not automatically mean that a participant has a substance-use disorder or that substance use is occurring.

    The purpose is to increase knowledge, strengthen decision-making, and help participants think carefully about risk, consequences, protective factors, and personal responsibility.

    What You Will Learn By the end of this module, you should be able to describe how substances can affect judgment and functioning, identify at least four risk factors, identify at least four protective factors, recognize possible family and life consequences, and create a healthier decision-making plan.
    Lesson 1

    What Do We Mean by “Substance”?

    A substance is something that can affect the body or mind. Discussions about substance use may include alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and other substances that can be misused.

    Not all substance use is identical. For example, taking a medication exactly as directed is different from intentionally using someone else's prescription or using a medication differently from the way it was prescribed.

    Important Distinction Education should not begin with an assumption about a person's behavior. The goal is to understand how choices involving substances can affect safety, judgment, responsibilities, and other areas of life.

    Substances Can Affect More Than Mood

    Depending on the substance and circumstances, effects may involve:

    • Attention and concentration
    • Reaction time
    • Judgment and decision-making
    • Coordination
    • Memory
    • Sleep
    • Mood or behavior
    • Ability to safely complete responsibilities
    Lesson 2

    The Decision Chain

    Open road representing decisions and consequences

    Choices rarely happen in isolation. A situation may create pressure, an opportunity, or an emotional response. Thoughts follow. A decision is made. The decision creates an outcome.

    1
    SITUATION
    2
    THOUGHT
    3
    CHOICE
    4
    ACTION
    5
    CONSEQUENCE
    Example A person feels overwhelmed after a difficult day. The thought may be, “I need something to make this feeling disappear.” The next decision can move the situation in very different directions.

    One option might create additional risk. Another might involve calling a trusted person, taking a walk, resting, praying, journaling, exercising, or using another healthy coping strategy.

    Think Beyond the Immediate Moment A choice may provide an immediate feeling or result while creating longer-term consequences. Good decision-making considers both.
    Lesson 3

    Understanding Risk Factors

    A risk factor is something that may increase the likelihood of an unhealthy or unsafe choice. A risk factor does not guarantee that a person will make that choice.

    Possible Risk Factors Can Include:

    • High stress
    • Peer pressure
    • Being around people who encourage unsafe behavior
    • Easy access to substances
    • Using substances as the main way to cope with emotions
    • Impulsive decision-making
    • Unresolved conflict
    • Isolation
    • Lack of healthy support
    • Believing consequences will not happen
    • Returning repeatedly to high-risk environments
    Risk Is Not Destiny Recognizing risk gives a person an opportunity to prepare. The question becomes: “If I know this situation increases risk, what can I do differently?”
    Lesson 4

    Protective Factors: What Helps Keep Us Grounded?

    Family spending supportive time together

    Protective factors are strengths, supports, routines, relationships, and resources that can help a person make safer and healthier choices.

    Risk Factors

    Stress

    Unsafe influences

    Isolation

    Impulsive choices

    High-risk environments

    Protective Factors

    Supportive relationships

    Healthy coping skills

    Stable routines

    Clear personal values

    Safe environments

    Other protective factors may include:

    • Family support
    • Positive friendships
    • Faith or spiritual support
    • Employment or meaningful responsibilities
    • Parenting responsibilities
    • Healthy hobbies
    • Professional support when needed
    • Clear goals
    • Accountability
    • Removing yourself from unsafe environments
    Lesson 5

    Consequences Can Reach Beyond One Person

    Choices involving substances can have consequences beyond the immediate moment. Depending on the circumstances, consequences may affect several areas of life.

    Health & Safety

    Impaired judgment, accidents, unsafe decisions, medication interactions, or other health and safety concerns may occur.

    Family

    Choices can affect trust, communication, supervision, consistency, emotional safety, and family responsibilities.

    Employment

    Attendance, performance, workplace safety, testing requirements, or professional responsibilities may be affected.

    Finances

    Money may be affected by purchases, missed work, fines, legal expenses, or other consequences.

    Legal Responsibilities

    Possession, distribution, impaired driving, court requirements, probation conditions, and other circumstances can carry legal consequences. Specific laws vary by jurisdiction and situation.

    Think Broadly Before making an important decision, consider: “How could this affect me tomorrow, my family, my responsibilities, and the goals I am working toward?”
    Practice Activity

    Scenario: “Everybody Else Is Doing It”

    Scenario A person attends a gathering. Someone offers a substance and says, “Come on. Everybody here is doing it. It's not a big deal.” The person has responsibilities the next morning and is unsure how the substance could affect them.

    Pressure can make decisions feel immediate. A safer approach is to pause and think through risk before acting.

    Lesson 6

    Stress, Coping & Decision-Making

    Person practicing calm reflection

    People sometimes make risky decisions when trying to escape stress, anger, sadness, loneliness, boredom, or other uncomfortable emotions.

    A coping strategy is something a person does to manage stress or emotional discomfort. Some coping strategies create additional problems. Others support health, safety, and long-term goals.

    Healthier Coping Options May Include:

    • Talking with a trusted person
    • Prayer or spiritual reflection
    • Exercise or walking
    • Journaling
    • Music
    • Rest and healthy routines
    • Breathing or grounding exercises
    • Problem-solving
    • Professional support when needed
    • Leaving a high-risk environment
    Ask Yourself “Will this choice help me solve the problem, or could it create another problem on top of the one I already have?”
    Lesson 7

    Parenting, Safety & Responsibility

    Family spending time together

    Parents and caregivers carry responsibilities that may require attention, judgment, transportation, supervision, consistency, and the ability to respond to emergencies.

    For that reason, decisions involving substances should also be considered through the lens of child safety and caregiving responsibilities.

    A Useful Question “If something unexpected happened right now, would I be able to respond safely and responsibly?”

    Safe parenting also includes thinking about how medications, alcohol, or other substances are stored so that children cannot accidentally access them.

    Practice Activity

    Stop — Think — Choose — Review

    A simple decision-making process can help when a choice has meaningful consequences.

    STOP

    Do not make an automatic decision simply because the opportunity is present.

    THINK

    What are the risks, benefits, responsibilities, and possible consequences?

    CHOOSE

    Select the option that best supports safety, responsibilities, and long-term goals.

    REVIEW

    Afterward, consider what worked and what you would do differently next time.

    Scenario Someone is experiencing a stressful week and is invited into an environment where they know they may face pressure to make choices that could interfere with important responsibilities.
    Personal Application

    My Healthy Decision-Making Plan

    Person reflecting on future choices

    This plan brings together the major ideas from the session. You do not have to identify yourself as having a substance problem to complete this exercise. Focus on healthy decision-making, safety, responsibility, and protective factors.

    My Decision Reminder A short-term choice can have long-term effects. I can pause, consider risk, protect my responsibilities, use my supports, and choose actions that are consistent with my goals and values.
    Final Reflection

    Choices, Responsibility & Moving Forward

    Healthy decision-making is not simply about knowing that consequences exist. It involves recognizing risk, considering the people and responsibilities that may be affected, identifying healthier options, and choosing actions that support long-term goals.

    Session 6 Summary You learned about substance-related decision-making, possible effects on functioning, risk factors, protective factors, family and parenting responsibilities, healthy coping, consequences, and a process for making more intentional choices.
    Please complete all required questions before submitting your module.

    Session 6 Complete!

    After submitting, your completed responses will be forwarded for review. Please make sure every required activity has been completed before selecting Complete & Submit Session 6.

    Circle of Care Foundation
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    Session 6 • Substance Abuse Education: Choices & Consequences
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