Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Risk Factors for Drug Use and Drug Abuse
A description of the factors (biological risks, psychological risks, socio-cultural risks, and environmental risks) that relate to each other in complicated ways that can lead to drug abuse or drug addiction.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Inside Opioid Addiction
Learn about the nationwide opioid crisis, its devastating impact on communities and families, and how agencies and individuals are pulling together to respond to this overwhelming public health crisis. Students write a final essay about...
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Hospitals Rethink Mom's Role
Article reports on how doctors and nurses in some hospitals are responding differently to women who deliver opiate addicted babies.
US National Archives
Presidential Proclamation Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week
POTUS Barack Obama declared a week to recognize and help those facing and fighting this vicious battle against the addiction to prescription opioids and heroin. Note the details of the proclamation.
University of Utah
University of Utah: Drugs Alter the Brain's Reward Pathway
This site provides interesting data about how drugs alter the brain. Find facts, pictures, and animations to help portray the critical information about drugs of abuse. Also link to teacher resources and lesson plans.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Tragedy & Hope: Stories of Painkiller Addiction Collection
Tragedy & Hope is a PBS series that delves into the drug abuse crisis that has crippled all areas of the population. The series is intended for school staff and for anyone who works with young people. Lessons and activities are part...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Cocaine Addiction in Mice
Read this passage and answer the five-question quiz to tests your knowledge on drug addiction treatments.
Wisc-Online
Wisc Online: Drug and Alcohol Baseball
Make it around the bases to review the concepts of drugs related to substance abuse.
Curated OER
Kids Health: Dealing With Addiction
Having an addiction can not only be unhealthy and expensive but it can also change who you are as a person. Since teenagers are still developing physically and mentally this can have a detrimental effect on who they will become. This...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Understanding the Opioid Epidemic: Facts & Fictions of Opioid Addiction/recovery/relapse: Lesson Plan
In this lesson, to be used with the program Understanding the Opioid Epidemic, students, through research, discussion and viewing the program, will learn some factual information about the opioid epidemic, addiction recovery options and...
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Nida: Information on Common Drugs of Abuse
A comprehensive look at common drugs, including a link to each drug where you can find research reports, infofacts, publications, and notes.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know
Here is a good resource for parents wanting to learn more about marijuana use in children and teens. Organized in question/answer format, this article provides information on signs and side effect of marijuana use.
Other
On Science: Addicting Kids to Nicotine
Summarizing research found at the Mayo Clinic, this article explains why kids, who have only smoked a few cigarettes, "experience the same symptoms of nicotine addiction as adults who smoke heavily." Learn about how nicotine affects the...
Other
Downers: A New Look at Depresant Drugs
This website overview the problems and dangers associated with prescription depressants, such as barbiturates and tranquilizers. Learn about how these prescription drugs impair your body and mind.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Pbs: Moyers on Addiction: Help and Resources
This link from PBS will connect you to a page listing organizations that service individuals with an addiction. Their telephone numbers and websites are provided. At the top of this page questions are answered regarding the diagnosis of...
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
National Youth Anti Drug Media Campaign: Above the Influence
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy created Above the Influence to decrease drug and alcohol use among teenagers through education, current events reporting, skills training, shared personal narratives, animated...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Real News About Drugs and Your Body
A fantastic reference for showing the real dangers of using drugs. Personal accounts of dealing with addiction are included as well as medical research that is easily understood to help illustrate the effects of drugs on a teen's body.
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.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: Drugs and the Nervous System
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes how drugs affect the nervous system.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Brain Power! The Nida Junior Scientist Program
This program uses scientific techniques to examine how drugs effect the brain. Its ultimate goal is to present students with the negative effects of substance abuse and show the benefits of staying substance free. Each of the lessons...
US Food and Drug Administration
Fda: Us Food and Drug Administration: Proposed Cigarette Product Warning Label
Graphic labels and warnings are due to be on tobacco products to warn consumers of the consequences of smoking. January 2011
Other
Downer Drugs: An Inside Guide to the Downside's Flipside
Read about the dangers of depressant drugs, or downers. This website provides simple information about side effects, risks, and problems associated with depressant use.
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...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Drug Use Prevention: School Programming and Protective Factors?
Drug abuse prevention by way of the government and the ineffectiveness of programs aimed at stopping drug use in schools such as D.A.R.E. and Just Say No. Discussed are factors in families, schools, and communities that lead to stopping...