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Lesson: "Recovery from Drug Addiction"

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Accounts about drug addiction often lack facts about why addiction has such a powerful hold on those afflicted. But science reveals that addiction is a chronic disease that changes the brain—and shows why treatment and recovery can be a long and challenging process. It is currently impossible to predict who will become addicted to drugs. But one thing is certain: Drug addiction can never happen in people who never use drugs. We hope you share this important article with your students.

MATERIALS:

Student Article/Informational Text:
Students will gain a scientific understanding of the challenges of drug addiction, relapse, and recovery.

> HTML version
> PDF version
> Digital interactive version
> Leveled version (PDF) - grades 4-5 reading level

Student Work Sheet:
Students analyze a chart of research-based risk factors and protective factors for drug addiction. Critical-thinking questions help students apply what they have learned to real life.

> PDF version
> HTML version

Additional Tools (PDF):
Grade-tiered resources to support teaching the lesson and student article:

  • Answer Key for Critical-Thinking Questions and Student Work Sheet
  • Academic and Domain-Specific Vocabulary Lists
  • Expanded Writing Prompts
  • Expanded Paired-Text Reading Suggestions
  • Expanded Standards Charts for Grades 6-12


The PDFs above meet Section 508 accessibility guidelines.

STANDARDS:

SUBJECT COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 		NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS NATIONAL SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIAL STUDIES
Science Literacy RI.1 Cite textual evidence LS1.A Structure and Function Structure and Function in Living Things Individual Development and Identity
English Language Arts RI.2 Central idea and details LS1.D Information Processing Personal and Community Health
Health/Life Skills W.2 Write informative texts


LESSON:

CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS:

Grades 6-8:

a. How does drug addiction affect a person’s life?

b. Why is it important for a drug treatment plan to support a person’s mental, physical, and emotional health?


Grades 9-10:

a. What impact might drug addiction have on a person's emotions, relationships, and employment?

b. In your own words, explain what makes an effective treatment plan and how it might help someone in recovery deal with triggers.


Grades 11-12:

a. How might drug addiction impact a person’s emotions, relationships, and employment? Infer how these impacts could have long-term consequences for the person's future.

b. Analyze the components of an effective treatment program described in the sidebar “Recovery: Finding the Right Support.” How might these components support a person through recovery and when experiencing a trigger?



WRITING PROMPTS:

Instruct students to use evidence from the article in their responses to the writing prompts.

  • Grades 6-8: Explain two obstacles a person in recovery from drug addiction might face.
  • Grades 9-10: How could a local community center support people trying to recover from drug addiction?
  • Grades 11-12: How might the stigma currently associated with drug addiction be an obstacle to a person’s recovery? How can a strong support system help him or her overcome this?


PAIRED READING:



ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:



RESOURCES AND SUPPORT: