“Just Say No” to Tobacco Card Game

– plays like Poker Face

Purpose: Team building and problem-solving. Using the MPS YRBS data (posted on website at wellnessandpreventionoffice.org), participants will identify that the majority of their peers do not smoke. Participants will also identify reasons why people smoke or do not smoke and explore refusal skills.

Materials: Deck of playing cards

Activity: Tell the participants you will be handing out a card to each one of them (if playing right after another card game, have the participants exchange their card 3 times with other group participants). Ask group participants not to look at the face of the card. At no time during the game do you want any player looking at the face of his or her own card. While explaining the directions, ask the participants to hold their card so the face is down towards the floor. This activity involves the group participants mingling around, holding their card on their forehead, and treating each other based on the face value of the card. The trick is not to tell anyone what the face value of his or her card is. Participants want to avoid the Aces (equal to 1) because they are the smokers and hang out with the royalty cards or other higher numbered cards. You can play this game silently or you can allow talking. After some mingling, ask the participants to stop talking and stand still – DON’T LOOK AT THE CARDS YET! Tell the group to make a line in order of the card value they think they are. The value based on how they were treated during the mingling (King – treated well, Ace – treated poorly). When everyone has a place in the line, ask the participants to look around the room at the order of the cards on each player’s forehead and then they should look at their own card.

Processing:

1. How did it feel to be the Ace?

2. How did it feel to be a face card (e.g., King, Queen, Jack)?

3. What behaviors did you notice going on in the activity?

4. How were you treated?

5. Did you notice any secluded groups forming?

6. What are some reasons why you may want to avoid smoking?

7. What are some strategies you can use to resist smoking when a friend asks you?

8. Does anyone have a real life story that motivates them to say away from smoking?

Page 2 Just Say No

9. What percentage of MPS middle/high school students do you believe have tried smoking?

10. What percentage of MPS middle/high school students do you believe smoke cigarettes daily?

Misc. Background Information: Effects of Secondhand Smoke (www2.hn.psu.edu/programs/health/cig_chemicals.html)

· Increase risk of developing heart disease by 25-30 percent

· Increase risk of lung cancer by 20-30 percent

· Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause immediate harm

· Is a known cause of sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory problems, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children

· Contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals

· Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke inhale many of the same toxins as smokers

Resource: Playing with a Full Deck, Michelle Cummings