About this DVD. Using this guide. For teachers

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2 About this DVD Secondhand Hangover is a drug prevention video telling the stories of three teenagers and their experiences as children of addicted parents. The DVD aims to give a voice to an important aspect of addiction: its affects on family, especially the children of addicts, who may not otherwise be heard. The children of addicts have a story to tell and these video are one way for these stories to be heard. Three graduates of Reel Grrls created Second Hand Hangover in Using this guide Secondhand Hangover is meant to be an awarenessraising and preventative tool highlight the emotional effects of drug addiction. This guide is designed to provoke and facilitate discussion in response to the film. Included is an introduction to Reel Grrls, the teens that directed the videos, and additional resources for more information. The films may be screened for a variety of audiences: Adults who work with youth Teens themselves Individuals who suffer from addiction All I can do is tell my story, share it with others. That s why I chose to make this piece. -Monica, director of Love You, Hate Your Addiction For teachers Using this video and discussion guide addresses the following national academic standards: Communication 1.2 Use listening and observation skills to gain understanding, 3.1 Use language to identify cultural assumptions and perspecives, 3.3 Seek agreement and solutions through discussion, 4.1 Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of formal and informal communication, 4.3 Identify and evaluate techniques used in mass communication

3 About Reel Grrls Reel Grrls empowers young women from diverse communities to realize their power, talent and influence through media production. Our mission is to cultivate voice and leadership in girls at a vulnerable age in their development. What distinguishes our program is the high-level of support that our female mentors offer and the high level of commitment that we ask for in return. Our participants don t just drop into a computer lab after school they develop lasting relationships with women filmmakers and learn skills that propel them to leadership roles in their community, college scholarships, and careers in the media industry. 93% of our participants state that they feel more confident being a leader after participating in our program. About the filmmakers Monica Olsson attends the University of Washington and has a twin sister attending Western Washington University. She has been volunteering with Reel Grrls for two years and is grateful for the opportunity to share her story. Sami Muilenburg is 16-years-old and attends Shorecrest High School. She hopes that people can relate to her personal story and the confusion and many other emotions from having a lessthan-ideal relationship with a father. Andrea Roldan is 17-years-old and attends Summit school. Her future will involve TV, music and record labels.

4 About the films Dear Stranger, 2:30 min. A video letter from a teenager to her father Breaking The Cycle, 3:17 min. This film shows the bravery of a teenage girl coping with her mother s addiction, while choosing a different path for herself and actively breaking the cycle of addiction set before her. Love You, Hate Your Addiction, 5:13 min. This film examines the effects of heroin addition on the family and mother/daughter bond by looking at both a mother and daughter s first hand experience. Discussion tips The questions contained in this guide are designed to inspire critical thinking and dialogue. Working through these questions will provide youth and youth facilitators with a forum to discuss their own opinions and to hear the viewpoints of others. Below are some possible suggestions to help facilitate discussion for people of all ages. Respect others while they are speaking by listening attentively. Make sure that everyone in the group has an opportunity to participate in the discussion. Despite my family history and the environment I ve been surrounded in, I chose to excel and set high standards for myself. -Drea, director of Breaking the Cycle Speak from your own experiences and avoid generalizations. Make sure to use I statements.

5 Pre-video discussion questions 1. Why are you watching this film? What do you hope to gain from this screening? 2. Was drug addiction an issue in your life and family as a teen? If so, how did you deal with it? 3. How is a teen with parents and other family members suffering from addiction different from a teenager who is doing drugs? 4. What do you think are some of the common emotions felt by teenagers with families affected by addiction? Post-video discussion questions 1. What are you initial reactions and thoughts regarding the film? 2. How has listening to a teen s point of view changed or affected your previous views of addiction? 3. Now that you have viewed the film, what are the common themes and emotions between all three teenagers? Are any of these different from what was suggested in the pre-video questions? 4. Why is the experience of teens living with a family affected by substance abuse important to understand? 5. How can this video and the stories of the experiences of these teenagers help work towards drug abuse prevention?

6 Follow Up Activities Free Write Pick a role other than your own such as an addict, teen/student, or a teacher. What do you have to say about addiction? 1. Write continuously for five minutes in response to the prompt. 2. Do not stop writing for the full five minutes- keep your pen moving. 3. Do not erase or scratch out words or mistakes- let your thoughts come out as they do without critiquing them as you write. Storyboarding Your Life Assign students to brainstorm and design a plan for their own self-portrait video, using the format of the example below. If you could put together a short video message, what would you want to say about yourself or your life story? How would you structure your video? Who would be your audience? Make notes about what you want to see and hear in each shot. I love you, Dad. I always have and always will. I just wish you weren s such a stranger to me. -Sami, director of Dear Stranger

7 Video Production & Distribution Guide The Center for Media Literacy Offers a clearinghouse of resources related to media education. Project Think Different Uses music, film and video to empower people to think differently and think big about their role as change agents. YO-TV: A Student Guide to Video by Students for Sturdents A great book by teens for teens about how to produce documentary video. Drug Prevention Resources Washington State Alcohol & Drug Clearinghouse Washington state s designated Regional Alcohol & Drug Awareness Resource Network Center. Al-Anon & Alateen An organization providing a support group for family and friends of alcoholics and addicts. Seattle Alcoholics Anonymous Free Vibe A drug prevention website for teenagers. Washington State Teenline or askateen@adhl.org A crisis line staffed by teens providing drug and alcohol prevention advice. National Association for Children of Alcoholics An organization advocation for kids and families affected by alcoholism and other drug dependencies.

8 Credits DVD Creation Monica Olsson Sami Muilenburg Andrea Roldan Cover & Guide Design Sami Muilenburg Monica Olsson Nickey Robare Project Mentors Lila Kitaeff Lane Stroud Sukhi Sanghera Laurie Bohm Executive Producer Malory Graham This project was made possible by funding support from the King Country Department of Community and Human Services Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Programs, with a federal grant recieved via the State of Washinton Department of Social and Health Services Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.