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 different experiences. They conclude the lesson by writing a letter of advice from the perspective of one of the teens in the video.

Concepts

addiction, drug abuse, drug addiction, drugs, prescription drugs, opioids

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

health

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Divide the class into four groups, and have each group watch one of the four scenarios on class computers or devices; prompt one member of each group to report to others about what they discussed and learned
• Flip the classroom by encouraging class members to watch the non-scenario videos at home and come to class equipped with notes and observations

Classroom Considerations

• Lesson describes specific instances of drug addiction; be sure that students can discuss sensitive topics with discretion and maturity
• Resource suggests three class periods to complete the lesson
• The third of eight parts in a series on painkiller addiction

Pros

• includes all necessary materials, as well as a thorough teacher's guide
• Personalizes stories of addiction to make the lesson more accessible

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.1.a SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.1.a SL.11-12.2