National Institute on Drug Abuse
The Brain's Response to Drugs
Marijuana affects the brain differently than inhalants, which have a different effect than opioids. Elementary and middle school classes read about these drugs as well as nicotine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens, and steroids before...
Curated OER
Addiction
Young scholars warn others about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. In this personal health lesson, students research the effects of addiction and share their findings with their classmates. Young scholars then create posters or...
US National Library of Medicine
Drug Use and Abuse: Past and Present
Pick your poison: tobacco, alcohol, opiates, cocaine, or marijuana. An online exhibition launches a research project that asks groups to select one of the five drugs and gather information on how the use of the drug and the regulations...
Curated OER
Statistical Drug Abuse and Adolescents in the U.S.A.
Learners examine statistics of teenagers using alcohol and marijuana. In groups, they brainstorm the reasons why they believe usage is higher than in years past. As a class, they role-play different roles in scenerios to help them...
Curated OER
Anti-drug Shock Tactics
Students evaluate the effectiveness of 'shock tactics' to discourage drug abuse. They view a video about the death of a 21-year-old heroin addict. In small groups they discuss the video and complete comment sheet.
Curated OER
Latest Trend in Drug Abuse: Youths Risk Death for Cough-Remedy High
Students explore over-the-counter drug abuse. In this health journalism lesson, students read the USA Today article titled "Latest Trend in Drug Abuse: Youths Risk Death for Cough-Remedy High", respond to discussion questions regarding...
Curated OER
Commercial Time. Don't Turn that Channel!
Students review information on drug abuse and types of drugs and then learn about alcohol and other drug abuse in a hands on activity. In addition, they learn about kinds of drugs and the effects of drug abuse on the body.
Curated OER
What Do Drugs Do to the Body?
Students research the effects that drugs have on the human body. Using this information, they create a poster showing some of the effects of a specific drug. They work together to summarize the information they have gathered and present...
Curated OER
Children of Alcoholics Group
Ninth graders identify characteristics of alcoholism, resources available to them and their family within the community and school, and look at strategies to help them increase safety and anger management strategies too.
Curated OER
Making Good Decisions: Drug and Alcohol Reports
Students identify the effects and consequences of using and abusing alcohol and drugs. In this drug education instructional activity, students watch a video about underage drinking. Students research an assigned drug and compose a...
Curated OER
Information And Advice On Drugs
Learners identify and analyze a variety of sources for information and statistics on drugs. They map out why its important to know the facts about drugs. In addition, they show examples of what happens when you use drugs of any kind.
Curated OER
The House That Drugs Built
Students evaluate the long and short term effects of substance abuse on the individual, family, and society. The instructional activity includes numerous instructional and learning strategies such as role-playing, discussion, research,...
Curated OER
Acting Out
Sixth graders investigate peer pressure, gangs, drinking, and using drugs. In small groups, they conduct research, develop, edit, and write a three-minute script, and perform the script for the class.
Curated OER
What Are Friends For?
Students develop an awareness of the behaviors signaling that a friend may be in trouble with alcohol or drugs of abuse. They practice ways to encourage a friend to seek out adult help by viewing a video, role-playing situations, writing...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: The Cycle of Addiction
Drug addiction, including prescription drug addiction, begins with a reason that's different for every user. High schoolers learn more about the reasons people begin abusing drugs with a set of videos and worksheets that discuss four...
Curated OER
Drugs: Prevention Tips
Students use the Internet to examine ways they can prevent using drugs. They discover the dangers of these substances and complete online quizzes.
Curated OER
Drugs Change the Way Neurons Communicate
Students examine that certain drugs interfere selectively with neurotransmission, and realize that the effect of a drug is dependent upon dosage and route of administration.
Curated OER
Red Ribbon Week
Learners identify the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. For this drug and alcohol abuse lesson, students research the dangers of drugs and alcohol and prepare a presentation for the information. Learners write a paper on their...
Curated OER
One Sniff Can Kill!
Students investigate the question: In what ways can a common household products hurt you? This activity integrates with drug and alcohol units in science classes as well as language arts in the form of the Public Service Announcement...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Contemplating Nature vs. Nurture
Does having an addict in your family make it more likely to become one yourself? Explore the genetic risk factors, as well as the prominent environmental influences, for substance addiction in a lesson that encourages awareness and open...
Curated OER
Boomers Assess High School
Students examine drug and alcohol abuse by American teens. In this health journalism lesson, students read the USA Today article titled "Boomers Assess High School", respond to discussion questions regarding the article, and complete an...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Commitment to Recovery
Recovery from substance addiction is an ongoing process. The final lesson plan in a series about painkiller abuse and addiction prompts learners to research various recovery options before writing a short story about a character who is...
Scholastic
Analyzing Media Messages
Telling young people to just say no can be difficult in a world that inundates them with messages to just say yes. A lesson on media messages encourages teenagers to analyze song lyrics and advertisements that mention drugs and/or...
Curated OER
Substance Abuse
Students identify and define the symptoms of differently forms or substance and self abuse. They formulate opinions as to why people engage in these types of behaviors. Students create an action plan to help an individual who may be...