THE NORTH QUABBIN ADULT EDUCATION CENTER a Program of The Literacy Project
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Transitions Program

Reading, Writing and Talking About Health Issues

Exercise and

Stay Fit

Nutrition and Exercise –

Eating right and getting exercise is an important part of staying healthy. Eating healthy food can reflect the way you feel. It is important to have appropriate intake of certain amounts of food. Unstructured eating habits can play an important part in the problem of obesity. Obesity is also linked to health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and circulation problems.

Alcohol –

Alcohol is the most abused drug in the United States. Alcohol is found in liquor, wine, wine coolers and beer. More than 17 million people in the United States have a drinking problem. But more than 100 million people in this country drink. Many of these people are called moderate drinkers.

Marijuana –

Marijuana can affect your health by blocking your airway. New studies show that long-term use of marijuana may mean a person is at risk for lung cancer and other respiratory problems. When some people are hyper-active, they may feel they can help themselves by smoking marijuana to help them calm down. But long term use may cause other problems such as lowering a male’s sperm count.

HIV/Aids –

In 1981 Aids was first discovered. HIV/Aids is a deadly disease. A person can get HIV/Aids by having unprotected sex or by sharing dirty needles. At this point there is no cure for HIV/Aids.

Child Abuse –

Child abuse is a very serious problem. If you know a child being abused, it should be taken care of right away. Abuse of children is unfair and wrong because they are so defenseless. A child who is abused at a young age may show effects in their behavior when a young adult and have more problems than other people.

Stress –

Stress is part of everyday life. There are two types of stress -- negative and positive stress. Some types of stress could happen because someone did something to you, and you hold your feelings inside and then become stressed. Or people may feel stress because of problems happening in your life.

Television in Our Lives –

I thought that watching television was just a form of entertainment before I did this report and read articles about television. I learned that television can lead to more serious problems such as taking away from family life, education and causing real life violence. So all and all television is not just a form of entertainment, but could limit the education you get, create problems with you and your family, and possibly relate to a person committing a violent crime.

Reach Out Project

Reach Out participants did research on various health issues and presented information to other group members during early 2004. This program is part of afternoon classes at the North Quabbin Adult Education Center. The Community Coalition for Teens (CCT) provides some grant money to give teens not only time to work on academics but also on leadership development and health education issues.