Skip Navigation

Link to  the National Institutes of Health NIDA NEWS NIDA News RSS Feed
The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction from the National Institute on Drug Abuse Keep Your Body Healthy
Go to the Home pageGo to the About Nida pageGo to the News pageGo to the Meetings & Events pageGo to the Funding pageGo to the Publications page
PhysiciansResearchersParents/TeachersStudents/Young AdultsEn Español Drugs of Abuse & Related Topics

NIDA Home > NIDA Goes to School > Brain Power! Grades 6-9 > Module 5 > Preparation/Introduction    

Brain Power! Challenge: Grades 6-9

Module Contents
Module Downloads

Module 5 Guide
[PDF 520 KB]

Module 5 Magazine
[PDF 7.1 MB]

Get Adobe Reader




Module 5
Drugs on the Street

Preparation

  • Read the Background section of this module for more information about the effects of heroin and cocaine on the brain and body.
  • Provide students with the Module 5 magazine Drugs on the Street for background knowledge.
  • Determine which activities you want the class to complete.
  • Arrange for computer lab time or prepare the classroom computer for students’ Internet and CD-ROM use.
  • Photocopy and pass out the Heroin and Cocaine Fact Sheet for students to complete during the lecture.
  • Prepare transparencies and photocopies for the lesson.

Introduction

Time:

20 - 25 minutes

Handouts:

Module 5 magazine

Heroin and Cocaine Fact Sheet

Reading: Begin by giving students adequate time to read the student magazine. Have students pay particular attention to the following sections: Background, Stats and Facts, and Science in the Spotlight.

Discussion: After students have read the magazine, ask the students what they know about heroin and cocaine. Record all thoughts on the chalkboard. Tell them that the goal of this lesson is to learn about cocaine and heroin. Facilitate a discussion about the brain, heroin, and cocaine using the following questions.

Heroin
  • How is heroin used?
  • What are the receptors in the brain that heroin binds to?
  • What neurotransmitter is most affected by heroin abuse?
  • How does the brain change as a result of heroin abuse?
  • What happens in the brain that causes heroin addiction?

Cocaine

  • How is cocaine used?
  • What are some of the effects of cocaine on the central nervous system?
  • What neurotransmitter is affected by cocaine?
  • How does the brain change as a result of cocaine abuse?
  • What are the long-term effects of cocaine use?


Brain power! Challenge - Grades 6-9

Module 1 Module 2
Module 3 Module 4
Module 5 Module 6
CD-ROM Activities


Contact Information

For questions regarding NIDA's Science Education Program and Materials, contact Cathrine Sasek, Ph.D., e-mail: csasek@nih.gov.



NIDA Home | Site Map | Search | FAQs | Accessibility | Privacy | FOIA (NIH) | Employment | Print Version



National Institutes of Health logo_Department of Health and Human Services Logo The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) , a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Questions? See our Contact Information. Last updated on Thursday, February 19, 2009. The U.S. government's official web portal