Substance abuse prevention for grades 7 & 8

Easy to Adopt and Proven to Work

The Project ALERT curriculum was created and tested by RAND, the nation’s leading think tank on drug policy. Developed over a ten-year period, Project ALERT addresses the pro-drug mindset of today’s teens and effectively increases their likelihood to remain drug-free.

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Self-paced Training

Introducing Project ALERT to your classroom is easy with our online training program. You control the pace of your training, and we’re always available to answer questions and offer support. The materials you’ll need to bring Project ALERT to life in your classroom – tools like lesson plans, videos, posters and teaching tips - are all here too. 

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Convenient Lesson Plans

Your curriculum materials consist of fourteen easy-to-follow lessons, all available in our convenient eReader or as a download. Each lesson includes implementation hints, reference materials and handouts that you can email directly to your students. 

To access all 14 Project ALERT Lesson Plans, click here

 

Preview Lesson 1

12 Classroom Posters

When information is communicated visually, it’s easier for many students to absorb. That’s why your teaching materials include 12 posters to support the goals of the Project ALERT curriculum. To preview the posters, select an image thumbnail. 

Eight Classroom Videos

Most Project ALERT lesson plans are supported by a short video. Featuring candid interviews with older teens and fictional depictions of common situations, these videos amplify each lesson by providing helpful conversation starters or setting up role play activities. 

Full length videos can also be accessed from resources.

  • Clearing the air
  • Lindsay's choice
  • Paul's fix
  • Pot or not?
  • Pot: the party crasher
  • Resisting peer pressure
  • Saying "no" to drugs

Newsletters

The ALERT Educator is published three times a year and includes teaching tips, new trends in substance abuse, related research and other useful information.  You can view, share and save the current newsletter right here or you can join our mailing list.

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What's New

January is National Mentoring Month

National Mentoring Month celebrates the importance of mentors and the need for every child to have a caring adult in his or her life.

As a Project ALERT teacher, not only are you a mentor to your students, but you can encourage older teens to be mentors as well. Celebrate National Mentoring Month by utilizing our Teen Leader Program. Project ALERT Teen Leaders are role models in the classroom and provide real-life examples of how to successfully resist drugs!

To download the Teen Leader Trainer's Manual and Notebook, click on the link below.

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2011 Drug Use Statistics for 8th Graders

Down from last year, the 2011 NIDA's Monitoring the Future Study reports the following national use patterns for 8th graders. During the last month:

  • 6.1% smoked cigarettes
  • 7.2% used marijuana
  • 12.7% used alcohol
  • 3.2% used inhalants

 

Yes, the numbers are high. But nationally, most young people don't use drugs!

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The ALERT Educator

The Winter edition of The ALERT Educator is here! Featuring an informative article on the issue of medical marijuana, you will not want to miss it. Our newsletter is sent to all trained teachers via email so if you are not receiving it, please contact us with your current email address.
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