S1-3 Drugs Teacher Notes
Introduction
This section covers several aspects of drugs within the 5 - 14 National Guidelines Health Education syllabus. The intention is to provide online content and activities for pupils, along with additional teacher support in the form of suggestions and ideas for classroom work and downloadable activity sheets.
The pupil content begins with an introduction on the basic facts about drugs and leads the student through to consider how drugs affect the body together with the legal implications concerning drugs.
Curriculum references
5-14 National Guidelines
Health Education ~ taking responsibility for health
| Strand | Level |
|---|---|
| Physical health | C-E |
| Emotional health | D |
| Social health | C-F |
Classroom Applications
Introduction
Begin with a class exercise with each student giving a drug-related word or phrase. This should bring out the idea that there are:
- Legal and illegal aspects of 'drugs'
- That some drugs are medicinal and some recreational.
- That some drugs occur in every day dietary items eg. Caffeine and that others can only be obtained by prescription.
This should demonstrate to students the fact that the term 'DRUG' does not have to refer to only to ILLEGAL drugs and that all aspects will be covered.
What is a drug?
This section emphasises the initial class-based introduction and to provide a definition of a drug.
Learning outcomes
- Recognise that drugs can change the way the mind and body work.
- Categorise drugs into over-the-counter and prescription drugs, recreational and illegal drugs.
Extension work
Using the download sheet providing a list of different well-known substances ask students to group or categorise them with justifications/explanations.
How drugs work
This section takes a brief look at, and gives common examples of, the four different categories that drugs fall into; Sedatives , Stimulants Hallucinogens and Painkillers.
Class activity
Design an experiment to test the stimulant effects of caffeine in coffee or cola on human beings. Reaction time could be used as exemplified by catching a dropped 30cms ruler between thumb and index finger or striking a button when light bulb illuminated.
- Leads on to discussion about uncontrolled variables such as different tolerance levels, the lack of a measurable response and controlled variables like volume drunk, distance of thumb and finger.
- Discuss the concept of the placebo effect.
- What are the ethical issues of testing drugs on humans/animals?
Learning outcomes
- Recognise that drugs can change the mental activity of the body.
- Identify caffeine as a stimulant.
- Recognise that there are ethical issues involved in scientific research.
- Recognise the need for unbiased results using placebo 'drugs'.
- Recognise that there is some overlap between different categories of drug.
Extension work
Design a piece of equipment which could be used to measure reaction time.
Go back to the original list of well-known substances and re-categorise.
Drug addiction
This section identifies that addiction can be physical or psychological.
Activity
Have access to the 'Patient information Leaflet' found with over-the-counter medicines and prescribed drugs. Provide general information sheets, or use the Internet, with an aim to highlighting the main drawbacks/side effects of illegal drugs. Students should produce a table which summarises the potential side-effects of the use/abuse of a set number of legal and illegal drugs.
Learning outcomes
- To be able to explain addiction.
- To be able to identify addictive drugs.
- To appreciate that there are/may be side-effects to all drugs.
- To appreciate that there are side-effects associated with many prescription drugs.
Extension work
Research the Internet for data concerning drug trials and analyse the data.
The dangers of drugs
A general summary of the different ways in which legal and illegal drugs may cause harm.
Drugs and the law
By looking at the knock-on effects of being caught possessing illegal drugs it is hoped that students will realise the bigger picture.
Learning outcomes
- Students design a poster or pamphlet advising younger children to be careful of drugs. Provide them with a target age range, eg. Year 7.
Summary
A brief synopsis of the information covered.
The web game
A true/false game to consolidate the information covered and test student knowledge. If the facts have not been successfully processed, the student is guided back into the study topic.
Useful web links
Downloads
Pupil Section Exe Files
These are versions of the pupil material for this topic that you can download and use offline. Simply save the .exe file to your desktop and double-click it.
Drugs
PDF files
Teacher Notes to support Flash Cards
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