Drug Misuse & Addiction

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Instructional Tools & Materials:

Drug Misuse & Addiction

 The following are instructional tools, resources, and example lesson plans of how to effectively teach students about addiction and drug abuse while encouraging students to make healthy lifestyle choices and to avoid giving in to peer pressure.

TeenHealthFX Related Questions:

Is it possible to get addicted to prescription drugs?

Is purple drank bad for you?

Aren’t Prescription Painkillers different from Heroin?

TeenHealthFX Resource of the Month:

National Institute of Drug Abuse

Project Know

Objectives

Students will able to differentiate kinds of addiction

Students will understand the differences between over the counter and prescription drugs

Students will recognize the signs of drug misuse versus addiction

Day 1: What are the different kinds of addiction?

Do Now: Is it possible to become addicted to prescription drugs? Why or why not?

Activity:

Discuss do now in person or on-line format student’s thoughts. Have them explain their answers.

Consider the student’s answers, ask deeper understanding questions.

Brainstorm different kinds of addiction, what people can be addicted to and possible treatment options.

* Stress the importance of treatment options before addiction becomes an issue

Discuss the dangers of OTC and prescription drug misuse and how it can potentially lead to addiction.

Day 2: What is the difference between OTC & Prescription Drugs?

Do Now: Why do you think certain drugs are only available by prescription?

Activity:

Discuss do now in person or on-line format student’s thoughts. Have them explain their answers.

Students can be split into small groups or work individually depends on class set up.

Brainstorm a list of all possible medicines both OTC and Prescription Drugs

Students will create an organizational chart separating them into either OTC or Prescription categories.

Students will research each drug to determine why it is classified as such.

Students will discuss their findings with the class and whether they agree with the classification or not.

Day 3: How to know if it is drug misuse or addiction

Do Now: How do you know when someone is addicted to something?

Activity:

Discuss do now in person or on-line format student’s thoughts. Have them explain their answers.

Students will brainstorm what they believe is drug misuse versus drug addiction

Students will create a list of all possible drugs that a person can misuse.

Students will research treatment options for people who those who are misusing drugs as well as those addicted.

Students will complete the following chart based on their research

Drug                      Misuse/Addictive?   Signs/Symptoms     Treatment

Additional Resources can be found here.

The TeenHealthFX Teacher Pages correlate with the following National Health Education Standards:

1. Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health. 2. Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology and other factors on health behaviors. 3. Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information, products, and services to enhance health. 4. Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks. 5. Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health. 6. Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health. 7. Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks. 8. Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health.

You can also access your state’s school health policies, including the health policies for New Jersey.

These materials were developed by TeenHealthFX.com, a program of the Adolescent and Young Adult Center for Health at Goreyb Children’s Hospital.