Activities

Discussion prior to watching the programme

Have a 'quick think' session with the young people around two points of discussion:
What they think would be the main effects of withdrawal from a drug after prolonged use eg the use of cannabis. What might some of the behavioural changes and effects be (to physical, social and mental health and wellbeing)?
What types of people might offer you cannabis (eg your mate, brother-in-law, someone you don't know in the street).

Write these on flipchart paper. Ask the group to think of the types of situations where these people may offer them this drug.

Discussion following the programme

Some areas of discussion may be sensitive for participants; please ensure any such areas are handled within a supportive and respectful environment. Split the young people into smaller groups. Ask for initial thoughts on the programme, and then allocate one group to discuss each of the following scenes, recording their responses on flipchart sized paper.

Seeing a counsellor
The Drug Counsellor, Colin Cripps, talks of attempting to identify 'the man behind the drug use'. Ask the young people:
What do you think the counsellor means by this statement?
How difficult do you think it was for J to take this first step in seeking help and support? Easy? Hard?
What reasons did J give the counsellor for him starting to smoke Cannabis at 13 years old?
In what ways do you think others would have influnced his decision-making and personal choice at that age?
How has J been affected by his Cannabis use, and what have been some of the most obvious impacts on health? Why does he appear to struggle when he doesn't smoke?
List 3 areas of harm and risk, relating to: Physical Health; Social Health; and Emotional Health that occur through long term cannabis use.
What are some of the key motivators that will keep J free from 'the weed'?

Paranoia
Why do you think paranoia plays such a big part in J Rock's life? Why do think he suffers from paranoia?
What kinds of situations make him uneasy and confused? Why do you think this is? What's happening to him?
How do you think he feels when he suffers from bouts of paranoia? Do you think he realises what's happening to him? Explain your answer.
What forms of support might help support J Rock through paranoia episodes within his life?

Self Harm
Why do you think people like J Rock choose to harm themselves, often when faced with difficult and hard to handle situations within their lives?
What were some of the reasons J gives for self harming and cutting his arm?
How difficult was it for him to talk about this happening to him?
What do you think J means when he refers to self harming, and talks of 'feeling mental pain'... but 'physically he couldn't feel any pain'? Why do you think this might be?
Do you think J Rock's admissions help him in coping with his addiction? Why?
Who might J have sought help from for his depression? Who do you think he could have confided in?

Withdrawal
Did J find it difficult or easy to withdraw from Cannabis? What was the most difficult aspect for him? Explain your answer.
What are some of the psychological effects whilst dependant on cannabis?
Why is cannabis proving so difficult for J to give up?
What kind of effect does the withdrawal journey have on his mood?
What strategies did J Rock start using to ensure he didn't relapse as he battled to give up his addiction? What other strategies could he have adopted?

J Rock talks to young people
Why do you think J Rock choose to attend the youth club to talk to the young people?
What message was he attempting to get across to the young people? Do you think he succeeded? Why?
What impact did J Rock have on the young people? Was it positive? Negative? What do you think they got from the visit?
What steps might young people take to better understand someone battling to withdraw from an addiction?
Where might they find further information and support on Cannabis misuse?

Once each group has discussed and completed one of the scenes, ask the young people to now move to another. Ask them to tick (in a different coloured marker pen) what responses they agree with, and to write anything further or different that their group can think of. Feedback and collate the responses to the questions once all have visited all the highlighted programme scenes.

Role play

Working in their groups, hand each group a role play card. Explain that they have to allocate roles to everyone in the group and create a small role play as on the card.

Scenario 1: your best friend offers you a joint at a rave
Scenario 2: your boyfriend/girlfriend gives you a spliff while sitting alone on your hotel balcony whilst on holiday
Scenaro 3: a stranger sells you some cannabis resin at a house party
Scenario 4: your mate invites you for a smoke up in his loft where he's growing Cannabis plants

Discussion and feedback, from the role play:
How did those that offered the cannabis attempt to get the others to take it and use it? Did they succeed?
How did those that were offered the cannabis feel?
What were the best types of techniques used in resisting the cannabis?

Following from the role play explore the discussion further by asking the young people:
What proved to be the most difficult part for 'J' Rock once he decided to give up the weed?
What things made it difficult for him to stop smoking cannabis?
Do you think J could have succeeded in stopping alone? Why might this be?
Where could you find out more about information and support relating to Cannabis use?

This activity allows opportunity for young people to explore the costs and consequences of cannabis use. It allows exploration and identification of strategies for dealing with the many personal, environmental and societal pressures faced by young people today. It offers opportunity for young people to understand the actions and consequences in relation to Cannabis use. It allows for discussion on personal responsibility and informed choice and offers useful ways for young people to source information and advice as required.