Lesson 12.2: Illicit Drugs

Overview

This lesson focuses on illicit drugs, such as marijuana, stimulants, cocaine, methamphetamine, opioids, inhalants, steroids, and club drugs (hallucinogens and depressants). Why teens use illicit drugs, how illicit drugs can affect athletic performance, illicit drugs and risky behaviors, and warning signs of illicit drug use are discussed.

Learning Targets

  • Explain what an illicit drug is and what it does to a person.
  • Identify the different types of drugs based on a description.
  • Discuss how different drugs are used.
  • Describe why teens use illicit drugs.
  • Recognize at least five warning signs of teen drug use.

Preparation

For the Warm-Up Activity: Write the journal question on the board, or identify (and copy as needed) the worksheets you plan to use:

For the Content Focus: Open the Lesson 12.2 PowerPoint slides, or make copies of the Lesson 12.2 Note-Taking Guide.

For the Lesson Focus: Copy the Lesson 12.2 Refuse to Use Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet Warm-Up Activity.

Warm-Up Activity

Select a warm-up activity to help get your class focused and on task.

  • Journal Question: Brainstorm three potential short- and three long-term consequences of using drugs to cope with problems.
    • Option: Write or project the question, and have students respond in their journals as they enter class.
    • Option: Have students discuss the question with a partner or in a small group.
  • Vocabulary Review: Have students work individually, in partners, or in small groups to complete the Lesson 12.2 Vocabulary Review Worksheet.
  • Quiz: Have students complete the Lesson 12.2 Quiz to assess their prior knowledge.
    • Option: Collect the quizzes, and use them alongside posttests to demonstrate student learning.
    • Option: Have students share their answers with a partner and then go over the answers together as a class.

Lesson Content

Review the content from the textbook lesson.

Option: Use the Lesson 12.2 PowerPoint slides to review the chapter content.

Option: Have students use the Lesson 12.2 Note-Taking Guide to review chapter content. Ask students to work alone, in pairs, or in small groups. Review the questions as a class if time permits.

Lesson Focus: Refuse to Use

  1. Give each student a copy of the Lesson 12.2 Refuse to Use Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet.
  2. Have students work individually to complete the worksheet.
  3. Ask students to pair up and share their responses.

Challenge Activity

Have students who need an additional challenge work on the following critical-thinking task.

Create a list of the Top 10 Reasons Not to Use Illicit Drugs. Begin by brainstorming as many reasons as you can think of and then put them in order based on what you think is the most important reason (#1) to what you think is the least important reason (#10).

Reflection and Summary

Review the critical content from today’s lesson. Review the learning targets, and ask students to answer each question posed.

Can you…

  • Explain what an illicit drug is and what it does to a person?

    Illicit drugs are substances that it is illegal to possess, that have no medical applications, and that can be dangerous to consume. They stimulate or slow the central nervous system or cause hallucinogenic effects, which alter a person’s awareness of their surroundings, including their own thoughts and feelings.

  • Identify the different types of drugs based on a description?
    • Marijuana is a mind-altering psychoactive drug made from the Cannabis sativa plant.
    • Stimulants speed up the body’s systems. This class of drugs includes prescription drugs, such as amphetamines used to treat ADHD; OTC drugs; diet pills; and illicit drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
    • Opioids, another form of narcotic, are naturally found in the opium poppy plant. This class of drugs includes the illicit drug heroin as well as pain relievers available by prescription, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine. Heroin can be injected, snorted, or smoked. The initial effects of heroin create a rush of satisfying feelings.
    • Inhalants are invisible, dangerous substances found in common household products (felt-tip markers, air freshener, etc.) that produce chemical vapors that are inhaled through the nose or mouth to produce mind-altering effects. The high that inhalants produce usually lasts only a few minutes. Most inhalants affect the central nervous system and slow down brain activity.
    • Anabolic steroids are a lab-created version of the male hormone testosterone and are widely used illegally to promote muscle growth, enhance athletic performance, and improve physical appearance. Legally, sometimes anabolic steroids are used medically to treat delayed puberty and muscle loss.
    • Hallucinogens are primarily used by teens and young adults at parties, concerts, and clubs. They are among the oldest known group of drugs used for their ability to alter human perception and mood. These drugs include Ecstasy and GHB.
    • When prescribed by a doctor and used properly, depressants can calm nerves, relax muscles, and help you sleep. Two examples of depressants are the benzodiazepines Valium and Xanax, which are used to encourage sleep, relieve anxiety, and prevent seizures.
  • Discuss how different drugs are used?

    Illicit drugs are most commonly used by smoking, snorting, inhaling, injecting, or taking in a pill form. How specific drugs are used will vary by type.

  • Describe why teens use illicit drugs?

    Teens use illicit drugs for a variety of reasons:

    • To fit in
    • Out of curiosity
    • To feel good
    • Low self-esteem
    • To feel better or to forget
    • To do better
    • Boredom
    • To cope with problems
  • Recognize at least five warning signs of teen drug use?

    Warning signs of teen drug use include the following:

    • Sudden change in friends, eating habits, sleeping patterns, physical
    • appearance, or academic performance
    • Missing school or extracurricular activities
    • Making poor decisions, being irresponsible, and having a general lack of interest in anything
    • Breaking rules or withdrawing from friends and family
    • Acting secretive
    • Sudden mood swings

Assessment

Complete one or more of the following assessment tasks for this lesson.

  • Quiz: Have students take the Lesson 12.2 Quiz.
  • Vocabulary Review: Collect the Lesson 12.2 Vocabulary Review Worksheets, and evaluate them for accuracy.
  • Note-Taking Guide: Collect the completed Lesson 12.2 Note-Taking Guides, and spot check one or more items for completion and accuracy.
  • Skill-Building Worksheet: Have students submit the Lesson 12.2 Refuse to Use Skill-Building Challenge Worksheets, and use the Decision-Making Holistic Rubric to evaluate their skill development.
  • Journal Question: Ask students to respond to the journal question again, adding information they learned from today’s class. Require a one-paragraph response that uses proper grammar.

Take It Home

Ask older family members about when they were in school and whether illicit drugs were being used at that time. See whether the same drugs were available when your family members were in school compared to now. How have the drugs changed over time, and why do you think they have changed if they have?