Educating Students about Drug Use and Mental Health - Grade 9: Expectation 1 Teaching Learning Strategy 3

Grade 9  Overview

Exp 1 T/LS 1/2

1 T/LS 3

1 T/LS 4

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Identify facts and myths related to the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (e.g., cannabis).

Public Course Profile, Unit 3, Activity 4:  Understanding Substance Use and Abuse

Teaching/Learning Strategy 3:

Post three headings on chart paper: Stimulants, Depressants, and Hallucinogens. Place each on a wall in the classroom. In small groups, students will brainstorm the names of as many drugs as they can. Students will copy the name of the drug onto a piece of paper or post-it. Ask students to sort and classify the drugs and then place their groupings on the chart paper under the appropriate heading. Use chart paper to discuss the classifications of drugs and develop the definitions of a drug, stimulant, depressant and hallucinogen.

Teacher Background Information

This fact sheet and activity reviews work completed in Grade 7.

A drug is any substance, other than food, that is taken to change the way the body or the mind works. This includes: illicit drugs, alcohol, prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, laxatives, vitamins, sleeping pills, and everyday beverages, such as colas, teas and coffee.

Drug use is the use of any drug in order to change the way you think, act or feel, without interfering with your daily activities. Drugs can be taken by many routes including: ingesting, inhaling, absorbing, smoking or injecting.

Drug abuse occurs when the use of a drug results in a problem in one or more of the following areas: at school, at work, with family/friends, with drinking and driving, health, etc.

 

Stimulants (Uppers) Definition: Drugs that speed up or excite the central nervous system and make you feel more alert, more energetic, help you stay awake for long periods of time, decrease your appetite and make you feel good (e.g., relaxed, euphoric). Examples: Cocaine/crack (coke, blow, nose candy), amphetamines/ice (bennies, speed, uppers), tobacco (nicotine), caffeine.	Depressants (Downers) Definition: Drugs that slow down the functions of the central nervous system and make you less aware of the events around you. Examples: Alcohol: beer, wine, distilled spirits (booze, brew). Opiates (painkillers): opium, morphine, heroin, codeine, methadone, Demerol®, Percodan® Sedatives/hypnotics: barbiturates (Seconal®), sleeping medications (reds), Nembutal® (goof balls), Amytal® (blue heavens, purple hearts), Rohypnol® (date rape drug). Tranquilizers: Valium®, Librium®, diazepam (anti-anxiety medications) (downers). Inhalants: paint thinners, shoe polish, glue.
Hallucinogens (Psychedelics) Definition : Drugs that distort the senses and one's awareness or perception of events. One might see or hear things that don't actually exist. Examples : LSD (micro-dot acid, blotter), PCP (angel dust, crystal, peace pill), mescaline (buttons), Ketamine (Special K), magic mushrooms. (Adapted with permission from PAD Drug Education and Support Services)

                                       

Additional Activity:

What Drug Am I?

1. Prepare cards with names of drugs. Add additional drugs if desired (based on local need).

2. Participants have the name of a drug taped to their back. Each person tries to guess "what drug they are wearing” by asking questions to which others can only answer Yes or No. Students may ask any questions. Examples are listed below:

• Am I swallowed, injected, snorted, smoked?
• Am I legal/illegal?
• Am I an upper, a downer, a painkiller or a hallucinogen?
• Am I taken at parties, at raves, on my own, with others? (Questions on flipchart paper)
  

Cocaine/crack	Tobacco
Caffeine	Alcohol
Inhalants	Ecstasy
Cannabis	Steroids
LSD