Stress Drugs Plan Stress: Drugs Don't Help
Lesson Facilitation Guide
Grade 11 Wellness
Duration: 30 Minutes
Learning Objective
Students will learn how drug and alcohol use can heighten stress by disrupting hormonal balance (specifically cortisol) and coping skills, and will identify healthier stress-management strategies.
The "Why"
Adolescents often view substances as quick stress relievers, but this lesson clarifies how they intensify stress over time and equips teens with sustainable coping tools to support mental well-being.
Materials Needed
Substance Use Slides
Coping Options Worksheet
Stress and Drugs Quiz
Computer & Projector
Whiteboard & Markers
Teacher Preparation
Review presentation slides and worksheet.
Print copies of the worksheet and quiz for each student.
Load the slide deck and test the projector.
Write "Stress and Coping Strategies" on the whiteboard.
Instructional Sequence
5 min
Introduction
Ask students how they typically cope with stress in their daily lives.
Collect a few responses and note them on the whiteboard.
Introduce today’s objective: understanding why drugs and alcohol can worsen stress rather than relieve it.
10 min
Presentation & Discussion
Display Stress and Substance Use Slides .
Explain how substances disrupt stress hormones (e.g., cortisol) and brain chemistry.
Discussion: Why might these physiological changes lead to more stress over time?
10 min
Group Activity
Divide students into pairs or groups of three.
Distribute the Coping Options Worksheet .
Have groups list healthy strategies and contrast them with the stress impact of substance use.
Circulate to prompt deeper thinking and clarify misconceptions.
5 min
Reflection & Assessment
Ask each group to share one healthy strategy they found.
Administer the Stress and Drugs Quiz as a quick formative check.
Collect worksheets and quizzes for review and feedback.
Stress Substance Slides Stress & Substance Use
Why drugs and alcohol often backfire as stress relievers
Wellness Workshop • Grade 11
Learning Objectives
Explain how substances disrupt stress hormones and brain chemistry
Describe why short-term relief leads to long-term stress
Identify healthier strategies for effective stress management
The Stress Hormone: Cortisol
Primary Function
The body's main stress hormone. Regulates energy, alertness, and immune response.
Chronic Imbalance
High levels over time lead to fatigue, anxiety, and poor sleep.
CORTISOL
Alcohol's Hidden Impact
Short-term
Provides a perceived sense of relaxation and "numbing" of stress.
The Rebound
• Disrupts restorative REM sleep
• Increases cortisol levels overnight
• Causes heightened anxiety the next day
Drugs & Brain Chemistry
STIMULANTS
Boost adrenaline causing racing heart, jitters, and panic.
DEPRESSANTS
Alter GABA signals leading to tolerance and withdrawal stress.
THE RESULT
Dysregulated mood and weakened natural coping mechanisms.
The Vicious Cycle
1
Experience Stress
2
Substance Relief
3
Physiological Rebound
4
Increased Stress
Discussion Question
Why do you think these physiological changes lead to more stress over time, even though you might feel better in the moment?
Building Resilience: Healthy Strategies
Exercise or Yoga
Deep Breathing
Social Connection
Time Management
Group Activity
Use the Coping Options Worksheet to:
Working in pairs or threes • 8 minutes
Coping Options Worksheet Coping Options
Name:
Date:
1 Healthy Coping Strategies
List five healthy ways to handle stress and briefly explain how each one helps you manage it.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
2 Comparing Relief Methods
Substance 1: ____________________
Short-term perception of relief:
Long-term stress impact:
Substance 2: ____________________
Short-term perception of relief:
Long-term stress impact:
3 Scenario Analysis
Imagine you’re stressed about an upcoming exam and consider having a few drinks to calm your nerves. Explain how using alcohol in this situation might backfire and lead to more stress later:
4 Personal Resilience Plan
Outline 3 healthy strategies you will try next time you feel overwhelmed, and how you will remind yourself to choose them over quick-fix substances.
Stress Drugs Quiz Check Your Understanding: Stress & Drugs
Wellness Exit Ticket
Name:
Date:
Which hormone is primarily released under stress and is often disrupted by substance use?
A. Adrenaline
B. Cortisol
C. Serotonin
D. Dopamine
Why can using alcohol as a quick stress reliever backfire?
A. It improves REM sleep and reduces stress long-term.
B. It disrupts cortisol balance and causes rebound anxiety.
C. It permanently lowers your tolerance to stress.
D. It boosts endorphins without any drawbacks.
Which sequence best describes the "vicious cycle" of stress and substance use?
A. Stress → exercise → better mood → less stress
B. Stress → substance use → rebound stress → more substance use
C. Substance use → permanent relaxation → no more stress
D. Meditation → reduced cortisol → lasting calm
List two healthy coping strategies you learned today and briefly explain how each helps manage stress.
How confident do you feel in using healthy coping strategies instead of substances to manage stress?
Strongly Disagree
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly Agree
Stress Drugs Script Teacher Script
Stress: Drugs Don’t Help • 30-Minute Facilitation
5 Minutes
Introduction
Teacher: “Good morning, everyone! Today we’re going to talk about stress—something we all experience—and a common yet risky way people try to cope: using drugs or alcohol. But here’s the twist: these substances can actually make stress worse over time.”
“Let’s start by thinking about how you handle stress in your daily life. Turn and tell a partner one thing you do when you feel stressed.” (Pause 20 seconds.)
“Okay, who would like to share their strategy?” [Write each response on the whiteboard as students share: social media, music, running, etc.]
Teacher: “Great ideas! We’ll refer back to some of these in a moment. But first, our objective today is to understand why drugs and alcohol—although they may feel like a quick fix—can actually intensify our stress in the long run.”
10 Minutes
Presentation & Discussion
Slide 1-2: Context
“As the title says, we’re exploring why drugs and alcohol often backfire. By the end of today, you’ll explain the 'how'—the disruption of brain chemistry.”
Slide 3: Cortisol
“Here’s cortisol—our primary ‘stress hormone.’ It helps regulate energy, but when it stays elevated too long, it leads to fatigue, anxiety, and poor sleep. That’s when stress starts piling up.”
Slide 4: Alcohol
“Alcohol can make you feel relaxed at first. But it disrupts REM sleep and raises cortisol levels the next day. That rebound effect often leaves you feeling more anxious than before.”
Slide 5-6: Chemistry & Cycle
“Stimulants ramp up adrenaline; depressants affect GABA. Both dysregulate your mood. This leads to the cycle: Stress, substance, rebound, more stress. Does that pattern sound familiar?” [Pause for volunteers]
Slide 7-8: Discussion & Alternatives
“Why do you think these changes lead to more stress over time? Talk to your partner for 30 seconds.” [Pause] “Great point. Before we start our activity, notice these healthy options: exercise, deep-breathing, and planning. They support balance without the rebound.”
10 Minutes
Group Activity
Teacher: “Please form groups of two or three. Everyone needs a worksheet. Task 1: List five healthy strategies. Task 2: Contrast two substances and their rebound impacts. You have 8 minutes—go!”
Facilitation Tip: Circulate and ask: “How might missing REM sleep affect someone’s next exam?” or “What support network could you turn to instead?”
5 Minutes
