Substance Abuse: Risks, Refusal & Decision-Making is one of 9 topics in the Grade 9 Life Orientation CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. Substance abuse is best described as:
Using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs in a harmful way that damages health, relationships or functioning
Any use of medicine prescribed by a doctor
A hobby with no real risks attached
A term that only applies to adults, never teenagers
Answer: Using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs in a harmful way that damages health, relationships or functioning — Substance abuse means using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs in a harmful way, often repeatedly and in amounts that damage a person's health, relationships, or ability to function.
Easy
2. Which of these is listed in this lesson as a social factor that can contribute to substance abuse?
Media glamorising drinking or drug use
A learner's shoe size
The colour of a school uniform
The distance between a learner's home and school
Answer: Media glamorising drinking or drug use — Media is identified as a factor because adverts, music, movies and social media often glamorise drinking or drug use without showing the real consequences.
Medium
3. Name ONE social factor, other than media, that this lesson lists as contributing to substance abuse.
Answer: Community — Factors listed include community access and acceptance, media, peer influence, family circumstances, and personal factors like stress or low self-esteem.
