Introduction

In this webquest you will describe the current legal and personal consequences of driving and drinking as well as illicit drug use or possession. Let’s see how your current knowledge measures up against the facts.

Task 

In this webquest, students will conduct research into the legal consequences of several real-life scenarios to compare them with current perceptions of the law. Secondly, students will list and discuss the personal consequences if they had been the people in the scenarios. Third, students will discuss ways in which the young people in the scenarios could have reduced the risks inherent in these real life activities. Finally, students will reflect on these consequences in their Personal Health Journals and be invited to examine the issue of decriminalization of marijuana and effective deterrents to illegal behaviours.

Process

The participating students should be equally divided into groups to examine and discuss the four scenarios Don't forget to take notes on your webquest activities in Section 3.1 of your Personal Health Journal.

1. Each group will begin by brainstorming about what they think the legal consequences will be for each of the people in the scenarios. Write down your guesses for the consequences for each person.
    

2. Conduct research into the legal consequences of activities such as those in the four scenarios. Begin by reading the Appendices at the ack of Health Canada’s Straight Facts about Drugs and Drug Abuse. Then go to these laws and look up the penalties for each of the people in the scenario.
   
   Note: Canadian and Manitoba Laws are cited here. You can use these links or you can look up the laws in your province or territory.  LCA Liquor Control Act; CDSA Controlled Drugs and Substances Act; Canadian Criminal Code; HTA Highway Traffic Act; YCJA Youth Criminal Justice Act.
    

3. When the team of students has looked up the consequences for their scenario, they should check with the teacher to see how accurate their findings were in relation to the laws and regulations. Compare their findings from research to the correct answers from the Answer Guide.

4. Students will next discuss the personal consequences associated with the fines and penalties given out because of the infractions.
   
   Begin by visiting a Mock Court and read how the various participants in that court room feel about drinking and driving.
   
   Students should discuss how it would feel going to court. How their parents would react, how their friends would react. How would they pay the small ($90.00) fines?
   
   Then discuss how they would react if something more serious had happened in these scenarios, if someone had been killed or injured or, perhaps worst of all, they had killed somebody else.
    

5. All members of the group will then discuss how the people in their scenario could have avoided the risk presented in the scenario. To do this, start by visiting this mock dialogue between a passenger and a drunk driver. Also visit this page that lists some of the things that people who have a drinking problem do and say to keep up their habit. The group should also discuss what they would do if they had a friend with this problem. 

6. Each student should then summarize their reactions to this webquest in a summary and commentary format. Each student should prepare a one-page report summarizing and commenting on the assigned readings and activities in this webquest. See how your Summary and Commentary report will be evaluated.
    

7. Use Section 3.1 of your Personal Health Journal stating your opinion on how well these sources have kept you informed about sexual health. Retain this page as part of the public section of your personal health journal.
    

8. Assess how well you and your group worked together by using this list on Individual and Group Participation.

How Your Work will be Evaluated

See the evaluation criteria in the Teacher Tools in the left hand margin.

Conclusions and Extensions