Thread the Needle

Purpose: When our body is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, we can not perform the same activities as when we are not impaired by drugs. Manual dexterity is one bodily function that diminishes quickly when under the influence. This activity will simulate how the body becomes impaired when an individual is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Materials:

1. One pair of gloves for every 4 people

2. One needle with a large eye for every four people

3. A two foot long strand of thread for each participant

Activity: Divide the group participants into groups of four. Provide each group one needle and each group participant one length of thread. Explain that each person in the group will have to take turns threading the needle, then taking the thread out and pass the needle to the next person and have them repeat the process. Keep repeating this process until the entire group has completed this task. Have the groups compete against each other for speed. This increases the pressure and makes the task even harder.

After each group completed the task, pass out a pair of gloves to each group. Explain that this time you will be completing this activity while impaired. To simulate this impairment, each person will have to wear the gloves when it is their turn to thread the needle.

Processing:

1. How well did you thread the needle when you were not wearing the gloves?

2. How well did you thread the needle when you were wearing the gloves?

3. What difference did wearing the gloves make?

4. Did the pressure of having to compete against others bother you?

5. What do you think this activity can tell use about alcohol and other drug impairment?

6. What activities would be hard for you to accomplish while impaired?

7. What jobs would you have a hard time doing while impaired?

8. If pressure bothered you in this activity, how do you think an impaired person would react to situations where pressure was involved?

9. Did any of you feel frustrated during this activity?

10. Do you think a person who is under the influence would become frustrated quicker or slower than the normal person?

11. How might this frustration be shown?

12. Do you think that acting out behavior such as fighting would happen more often for a person that was impaired by alcohol or drugs? Why or why not?

Resource: Activities that Teach, Tom Jackson