Fatal Vision Alcohol and Marijuana Goggle Activity

Event Description:

The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain, divided into lobes. The frontal lobe is responsible for decision-making, a function that becomes impaired when alcohol or marijuana/THC is consumed. Decision-making is also an important skill for students to utilize to enhance their health. This activity provides students with scientific background on decision making and wraps up the previous lessons on brain development and healthy decision making. WFF’s Project Director will introduce to students that when someone is under the influence of alcohol or marijuana/THC, it can be difficult to gauge just how impaired you are. Using the Fatal Vision Alcohol and Marijuana Impairment Simulation Goggles, youth can experience what it’s like to navigate basic tasks under the influence of substances, activities will include: Walking a line, standing on one leg, reaching out to grab a set of keys and tossing a ball, all will become much more difficult under the influence of substances when youth put on the goggles. The Goggles stimulate effects of impairment, including reduced alertness, slowed reaction time, confusion, visual distortion, alteration of depth and distance perception, reduction of peripheral vision, poor judgment and decision making, double vision, and lack of muscular coordination. The Fatal Vision Goggles give participants a safe way to learn the important lesson that alcohol and marijuana/THC greatly impairs a person’s balance, vision, reaction time and judgment.
When teens drink or use substances, i.e. marijuana/THC, their brains are affected and repeated use can also have an impact on the brain down the road, especially as it grows and develops. Help students identify: