Monday, December 15, 2008

An Introduction to Drugs

Preparing YOU to make good decisions.


Adolescents try drugs for many different reasons. Peer pressure, curiosity, boredom, depression and a desire to "fit in" can all effect why a young adult would try drugs.


The use of some "less harmful" drugs can lead to the use of more addictive and dangerous drugs. Marijuana is commonly known as a "gateway" drug to other drugs.


Use the following websites to help you answer questions in your scavenger hunt:

Essential Question:

Identify the major drugs and symptoms of possible substance abuse in adolescents.

Questions:

  1. Among kids who use drugs, approximately ___ percent use marijuana only.
  2. Research shows that marijuana is ______________more likely to lead to dependence among adolescents than among adults.
  3. Talking to your friend about drugs may be a ­­­­______________process–not a one-time event—so you may want to check in with him/her from time to time.
  4. One of the dangers of MDMA (Ecstasy) abuse is _______________—extreme overheating—because of dehydration or loss of fluids through excessive sweating.
  5. Alcohol is a_________________, and can actually make you tired.
  6. Steroids can stop _____________prematurely and permanently in teens.
  7. Users of heroin build up a ______________ very quickly and need more and more of the drug to feel the same high they did the first time they used it.
  8. When smoking tobacco, you inhale tar, ______________, carbon monoxide and 200 known poisons into your lungs.
  9. ______________is the most common cause of lung cancer.
  10. Drinking too much (__________drinking) can cause alcohol poisoning, which can lead to coma and even death.
  11. What are some reasons that adolescents try drugs?
  12. If drug addiction is a disease, is there a cure?
  13. List the major drug groups.
Meets 5.1 Seventh Grade Content Standard for Physical Education.