PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Decisions and Consequences
Teach young learners that most drug addictions end in one of three outcomes: treatment, jail, or death. After watching a short video segment on the consequences of drug abuse, class members discuss what they viewed and consider what...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: The Brain on Autopilot
For some people, the force of addiction can be as biologically compelling as the drive for food or water. High schoolers watch a video segment about Ryan, a recovering addict, and learn more about how opioids and other drugs can affect...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign
The I-STOP law was designed to regulate the distribution and tracking of prescription drugs. After reading an article about its signing and implementation, middle and high schoolers work together to come up with their own ideas for an...
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 plan that encourages awareness and...
National Association of School Nurses
Learn to Be Smart and Safe with Medicine
The stated purpose of a school tool kit is to help schools implement teen prescription drug abuse awareness programs. The kit includes actions that groups can take in the school, with parents, and in the community at large.
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...
Discovery Education
The Science of Addiction: The Story of Teens
Users of Discovery Education's interactive on the biology of addiction examine common misconceptions about opioids and learn about the factors that cause addiction. Additionally, they listen to the stories of three teens and their...
Discovery Education
Our Brain and Body on Opioids
Use a presentation that explores the world of prescription opioids. Learners look at the way the brain responds to the drugs and the long terms effects opioids have on the brain and body. At the end of the lesson, groups create a social...
The New York Times
Investigating the Heroin and Prescription Opioid Epidemic
How bad is the opioid crisis in America? Has it gotten worse in the last few decades? Why? High schoolers delve into these questions with a thorough and thoughtful lesson from The New York Times on heroin prescription opioids. Starting...
Scholastic
Opioids and the Overdose Epidemic
Learn about the opioid and overdose epidemic in America with an article that explains what opioids are, how they are used, and how they are abused. Learners discover the death rates associated with opioid overdoses and other factors that...
Curated OER
Drug Sales Soar: Bar Graph
For this graphs worksheet, students analyze a bar graph that shows retail prescription drug sales in the U.S. Students complete five problem solving questions about the data on the graph.
Curated OER
Medicine
Go over the importance of staying safe when handling or coming into contact with medicine. This very short presentation covers some of the key dangers and reasons why children should be careful around prescription drugs.
Curated OER
Drugs
Smoking, alcohol, drugs, and solvents are the topic of this informational presentation. The causes, effects, and health issues that arise from illicit drug use are all covered. While this appears to be a learner-driven presentation, it...
Scholastic
Prescription Pain Medications
Students study different pain medications and their side effects. In this drug usage lesson students read articles and complete a worksheet.
Scholastic
Prescription Drug Abuse: Teens in Danger
Students identify the most abused prescription drugs. In this drug awareness lesson, students discuss the harmful effects of taking drugs prescribed to someone else. They take a quiz before and after the lesson to check how much they...
Scholastic
Straight Talk on Prescription Drugs
Young scholars discover how doctors custom fit prescription drugs to patients. For this health science instructional activity, students explain the risks associated with drug abuse. They discuss common myths about prescription drugs.
Curated OER
Prescription for Trouble
Young scholars consider the risks of the over-the-counter (OTC) drug use. In this personal health lesson, students watch "Prescription for Trouble," and discuss illegal use of drugs. Young scholars complete a survey about OTC and illegal...
Nemours KidsHealth
Drugs
Young scholars investigate drugs by identifying which ones are illegal and potentially harmful. In this medicine lesson plan, students complete worksheets in which they role play situations where they have found or ingested drugs and...
Curated OER
Killer Disease on Campus
Young scholars identify and evaluate the current FDA procedures for drug development, testing and approval. They conduct Internet research, work in groups to create charts and participate in a class discussion about the pros and cons of...
Curated OER
Globalization101.org Lesson Plan on Prescription Drug Prices
Students examine the issue of prescription drug prices in the United States. They research the issue and participate in a mock US Senate hearing on the subject.
Curated OER
The Truth About Hydrocodone
Students explain the beneficial uses of pain relievers. In this health science lesson, students discuss the harmful effects of prescription drug abuse. They complete a worksheet at the end of the lesson.
Curated OER
Breaking News English: UN Says World Shifting to Synthetic Drugs
In this ESL activity, middle schoolers first read an article about addictive prescription drugs. Students complete all or some of the 100 exercises and activities pertaining to the article. Included are vocabulary, discussion, surveys...
Curated OER
The Other Drug War
Pupils view the film "The Other Drug War" and discuss its content. They participate in a class debate over prescription drug pricing and complete a worksheet to use a discussion guide after viewing the film.