Lesson 12.4: Prevention, Treatment, and Being Drug-Free

Overview

This lesson focuses on substance use disorders and the addictive potential of drugs. Various methods of treating substance abuse disorders are discussed in depth as are the benefits and barriers to teens being drug free. Lastly, school policies and community laws regarding teen drug use are described.

Learning Targets

  • Define substance use disorder.
  • Explain addictive potential and the three aspects of a drug that determine its addictive potential.
  • Describe behavioral therapy.
  • Identify at least three barriers and three benefits of being drug-free.
  • Examine school and community policies about 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 12.4 PowerPoint slides, or make copies of the Lesson 12.4 Note-Taking Guide.

For the Lesson Focus: Copy the Lesson 12.4 Accessing Information Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet.

Warm-Up Activity

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

  • Journal Question: What would be the consequences if you were found using or possessing marijuana at school? Are you aware of your school’s policies related to the use, possession, and sale of drugs? If so, list them. If you don’t know what they are, where do you think you could find this information?
    • 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 12.4 Vocabulary Review Worksheet.
  • Quiz: Have students complete the Lesson 12.4 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 12.4 PowerPoint slides to review the chapter content.

Option: Have students use the Lesson 12.4 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: Accessing Information

  1. Give each student a copy of the Lesson 12.4 Accessing Information 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.

Discuss with a classmate what your school does right now to help prevent substance use. If you don’t know what your school does, try to find out who would have that information. Discuss what you think your school should do to help prevent substance use.

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…

  • Define substance use disorder?

    Substance use disorders are patterns of symptoms resulting from the use of a substance that you continue to take, even though you experience problems as a result.

  • Explain addictive potential and the three aspects of a drug that determine its addictive potential?

    A drug’s addictive potential is determined by the drug’s ability to provide the following aspects: The effects of the drug happen quickly, the feelings of great happiness and excitement go beyond normal expectations, and tolerance and withdrawal are both effects of the drug. The more of these aspects a drug has, the higher its addictive potential.

  • Describe behavioral therapy?

    Behavioral therapy helps teens learn how to modify their attitudes and behaviors around using drugs.

  • Identify at least three barriers and three benefits of being drug-free?

    Barriers to being drug-free include the following:

    • You don’t feel you need treatment because you think you can quit whenever you want.
    • You are not ready to stop using because you let the substance use disorder control your life.
    • Your family can’t afford the cost of treatment.
    • You worry about the negative effect treatment would have on school because, if you have to go into a treatment facility, you may be out of school for months.
    • You are concerned with what others will think because you don’t want to be different from your peers; you want to fit in.
    • You don’t know where to go for help, so you don’t get the help you need.

    Benefits to being drug-free include the following:

    • Healthier life: You have no negative side effects from using drugs.
    • Clean conscience: You no longer have to lie or steal from your family and friends.
    • Making friends: While you may think you have good friends in drug users, those people are around only if there are drugs. Real friends have mutual respect and are there for each other.
    • Better school and job opportunities: Being drug free gives you options to choose good schools to go to because your grades will be better. You will also have opportunities to get a job and keep it if you are drug-free.
    • Mental health: Your mind will be clearer, and you will be able to make plans for your future.

  • Examine school and community policies about drug use?

    School policies include the following:

    • All schools have specific policies related to the use, possession, and sale of drugs on school grounds and at school functions on or off school grounds.
    • Schools also have policies for the use, possession, and sale of illicit drugs off school grounds if you are an athlete or involved in other clubs or organizations as a representative of the school.
    • How schools handle the use, possession, and sale of illicit drugs is described in their student handbook.

    Community laws include the following:

    • Juveniles (individuals under the age of 18) may commit and get charged with a wide variety of drug crimes, including possession of an illegal substance, sale of an illicit substance, intent to distribute an illicit substance, transportation of an illicit substance, and cultivation of an illicit substance.

Assessment

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

  • Quiz:Have students take the Lesson 12.4 Quiz.
  • Vocabulary Review: Collect the Lesson 12.4 Vocabulary Review Worksheets, and evaluate them for accuracy.
  • Note-Taking Guide: Collect the completed Lesson 12.4 Note-Taking Guides, and spot check one or more items for completion and accuracy.
  • Skill-Building Worksheet: Have students submit the Lesson 12.4 Accessing Information Skill-Building Challenge Worksheets, and use the Accessing Valid and Reliable Information 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

Put together a list of resources in your community for people who have substance abuse problems. Give it to a family member or friend as a resource for themselves or for others they might know who have substance abuse issues.