PBS
Pbs Kids: It's My Life: Drug Abuse, Getting It Straight
Get the facts straight about illegal drug use and other substance abuse. Take interactive quizzes, participate in virtual teen surveys, and read answers to current questions about drug abuse.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Pbs: Do All Drugs Affect the Brain Similarly?
Discusses the mechanism by which drugs effect the brain. Contains links which discuss other aspects of drug addiction.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Drug Abuse Brochure
Explore facts about drug abuse, and use the information to plan an informational brochure to be distributed to all students in the school.
Other
Drug Free America Foundation
This resource covers all illegal drugs and provides information on health risks, drugs in the workplace, case stories, moral and spiritual issues, state drug initiatives, and a kids section.
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
Partnership for Drug Free Kids: Cocaine / Crack
Organized into question and answer format, this page defines cocaine and crack cocaine as well as their addiction issues.
Other
March of Dimes: Illicit Drug Use During Pregnancy
This article on prenatal exposure to ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, and other drugs discusses how illicit substances not only affect a developing baby, but also affect children long after the initial exposure.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Prenatal Drug Exposure and Drug Abusing Environments
Here, read findings based on clinical studies and medical research which focus on prenatal drug exposure and its short-term and long-term effects. Learn about how methamphetamine, cocaine, and alcohol can cause problems for developing...
Akron Children's Hospital
Akron Children's Hospital: Kidshealth: For Teens: Cocaine
Cocaine and crack are dangerous and addictive drugs. Find out more in this article for teens.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Nida Info Facts: Cocaine
This resource provides information about cocaine, and details problems of drug abuse.
Read Works
Read Works: Drug War
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about problems created by the drug trade in America and in other countries. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
PBS
Pbs Frontline: The Columbian Cartels
This article describes some of the world's most well-known cartels, the Columbian drug cartels.
Other
Emergency Medical Services Authority: Drugs and Driving
Learn how drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and the like impair vision, reflexes, judgement--and safe driving.
Other
Dea: Just Think Twice
The Drug Enforcement Administration website provides several sections of information designed to help teenagers and parents to get the facts about drugs in our society.
Institute for Policy Studies
Fpif: Colombia's Role in International Drug Industry
This article from Foreign Policy in Focus discusses Colombia's long term role in the trafficking of drugs around the world.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Drug Awareness
[Free Registration/Login Required] This is an introductory and informative lesson about (illegal) drug use and abuse. It is geared towards 8th grade, but can be adapted. It has symptoms of use, the effects drugs have on health, addiction...
Other
National Families in Action (Nfia): Home Page
This site from NFIA has a wide variety of information on drugs, their effects, prevention, treatment and much more!
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Pbs: Methadone Maintenance "Invisible" Success Story
Read about how methadone is helping heroin addicts kick their addiction. This article relays general information about methadone treatment and drug programs that utilize it.
Other
Streetdrugs.org: Education Resources
Detailed information about individual drugs. Targets students, parents, teachers, law enforcement officials, and health professionals.
Curated OER
Kids Health: Cocaine and Crack
Provides information about cocaine and crack. Find out what each substance actually is, what it does to you, and what it is sometimes called.
Other
Coca Museum
Coca is a plant that lives in the Andean region and is used to make the drug cocaine as well as being used in various medicinal and cultural practices of the Bolivian people. Find out about the science, history and uses of the coca plant...
Curated OER
Kids Health: Lo Que Necesitas Saber Sobre Las Drogas
Read this article to understand the addiction process and factual information concerning various classes of drugs. The article contains links to similar sites as well. In Spanish.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Nida: Expanded Methadone Treatment
A the National Institute on Drug Abuse, you can read about how an expert panel called for expanding access to Methadone treatment by eliminating excessive regulations and increasing funding. This article was originally written in 1997.
University of Utah
University of Utah: Genetic Science Learning Center: Comparing Brain Images [Pdf]
Color-by-numbers PET images allow comparison of active areas in a drug-free brain and in a cocaine addict's brain.
George Washington University
La Times: Cia's Challenge in South Central
This commentary from the Los Angeles Times discusses the connection between the Contras and drug trafficking.