Alcohol violations among juveniles have been on the rise in recent years. Many factors contribute to alcohol violations, including peer pressure, lack of supervision, and young people having easy access to alcohol. Evidence-based alcohol intervention programs can help the next generation learn how to consider their options and make better decisions.
In 1999, 3rd Millennium Classrooms launched the first online alcohol education course.Today we are one of the nation’s leading providers of online prevention and intervention courses. Under the Influence JV is available to any juvenile with an alcohol violation, continuing our legacy of creating affordable solutions for offenders and family members. We believe that education has the power to change lives for the better – and, for us, that means providing high-quality, research-backed prevention and intervention education online.
What is Under the Influence JV?
Under the Influence JV is an online alcohol intervention course that is used as a sanction for juvenile offenders with alcohol violations. It contains six complete lessons and is aligned to your state’s specific laws concerning juvenile alcohol use. The course is engaging, relevant, and individualized for each student’s benefit. It incorporates evidence-based strategies and is backed by research.
By completing the course, juveniles will gain a better understanding of alcohol and its effects on their bodies and minds. They will also learn about the legal consequences of alcohol use and abuse. Most importantly, they will be able to identify personal risk factors and develop strategies for making safer choices when it comes to alcohol consumption.
After completing the program, juveniles will better understand why they drink alcohol and will be more equipped to evaluate the outcomes of their decisions involving alcohol. The course includes multiple lessons addressing alcohol’s effects on health, drinking and driving, legal issues, and alcohol/drug interactions. The learning outcomes for this course include identifying personal goals, so that young people feel prepared to make a positive change in their personal alcohol use.
Who is Under the Influence JV for?
Under the Influence JV is designed for juveniles with alcohol violations. Under the Influence JV is a court-sanctioned alcohol intervention program designed for offenders who are minors and have been charged with alcohol-related offenses. The program is based on the understanding that alcohol use is a major contributing factor to juvenile crime, and that early intervention can prevent future alcohol-related problems. Under the Influence JV is an important step in helping juveniles change their behavior.
What do students learn from Under the Influence JV?
The knowledge or skills that students should acquire by the end of Under the Influence JV are also known as “learning outcomes,” and these guide our curriculum. At 3rd Millennium Classrooms, we strongly believe that alcohol and drug education programs should incorporate the latest research and evidence-based strategies. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has identified certain intervention and prevention strategies as being the most effective in reducing alcohol abuse and alcohol violations among juveniles. Our programs are designed to utilize these strategies, in order to provide the best possible outcomes for our students.
The learning outcomes for Under the Influence JV – what a student should know and be able to do, by the end of the course – are:
- Understand the many factors affecting Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
- Understand what qualifies as a standard-sized drink of alcohol
- Reflect on drinking habits on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis
- Understand how alcohol affects academic and sports performance
- Challenge peer use perception
- Develop a personal profile to examine their own drinking habits, family influences, and reasons for drinking
- Understand that males and females react differently to alcohol due to physiological differences
- Understand the “Expectancy Effect”
- Develop safe strategies to get home if intoxicated
- Discuss other activities to engage in besides drinking
- Understand sexual risks associated with heavy drinking
- Discuss dangers and symptoms of alcohol poisoning, as well as how to help someone who has alcohol poisoning
- Discuss dangers of mixing alcohol and drugs, including marijuana
- Recognize signs of alcohol abuse, alcoholism, and dependency
- Discuss state-specific laws pertaining to underage drinking violations
- Learn how to build friendships and socialize without using alcohol
- Learn healthy ways to respond to peer pressure
There is a great deal of evidence to support the fact that students who receive an evidence-based alcohol prevention course are more likely to make safe and responsible choices regarding alcohol use. Research has shown that students who receive this type of intervention are more likely to abstain from alcohol use altogether, or to reduce their consumption if they do choose to drink, compared to students who do not receive an intervention. Additionally, students who receive an evidence-based alcohol prevention course are more likely to achieve positive learning outcomes.
How long does it take to complete Under the Influence JV?
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s often difficult to get students to slow down and focus on a single task. However, research has shown that the briefest interventions can sometimes produce the greatest effect. 3rd Millennium Classrooms is a pioneer in developing short, interactive lesson modules that are meant to actually impact juvenile behavior.
That’s exactly why Under the Influence JV is designed to take roughly 3 to 4 hours to complete – because brief interventions can make a real difference. By providing these brief-yet-effective lessons, 3rd Millennium Classrooms is changing the way people think about education and making a lasting impact on juvenile behavior.
Note: Students are not required to complete Under the Influence JV in a 3 to 4 hours sitting; students can work through the course at their own pace, logging in and out, allowing for greater convenience and flexibility.
What happens after completing Under the Influence JV?
Under the Influence JV is designed to help juveniles change their drinking patterns and habits, and the goal is to reduce the number of alcohol violations they commit. The program includes interactive exercises, and this process has been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol consumption among juveniles.
Upon completion of Under the Influence JV, individuals receive a confidential personalized drinking profile that summarizes personal drinking-related attitudes and provides a range of strategies to control alcohol consumption. Utilizing the eCHECKUP TO GO brief intervention for alcohol, this course also includes a 30-day follow-up to measure changes in the participants’ attitudes and behaviors.
After completing Under the Influence JV, juveniles have the skills they need to make better choices when it comes to alcohol. This, in turn, helps to reduce the number of alcohol-related violations and makes our communities safer for all of us.
