As a Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention Specialist in a New York City High School, I prefer to deal with the students in a face-to-face manner. However, once in a while I use video and the best video I have used in the past 3 years is "Dyin' High: Teens in the E.R." The students are "impressed" by its reality. They can personally relate to the E.R. experiences, even though they are not drivers or invariably white. Seeing the individual experiences of being treated in the E.R. after a drug/alcohol binge, after a fatal crash, and seeing actual parents being notified as to their child's death is strong stuff --- and it works.
I urge all Counselors and Educators to use this valuable tool in order to help prevent alcohol/substance abuse.