
Lesson: "Recovery from Drug Addiction"
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.
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:
- Grades 6-12: “The Truth About 'Rehab' and Drug Addiction,” scholastic.com/headsup/rehab
- Grades 6-12: “Drugs & Health Blog Teaching Guides” (compilations of blog posts), teens.drugabuse.gov/addiction-blog
- Grades 6-12: “Drug Facts—Brain and Addiction,” teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/brain-and-addiction
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Video: “Anyone Can Become Addicted,” teens.drugabuse.gov/videos/videos/anyone-can-become-addicted-drugs
- Video: “Personal Perspectives on Teen Drug Abuse,” youtube.com/watch?v=RvYpxLwRwDE
- Event: “National Drug Facts Week,” January 26-February 1, 2015, teens.drugabuse.gov/national-drug-facts-week
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT:
- Teaching resources and drug info: headsup.scholastic.com/teachers and teens.drugabuse.gov
- Immediate help for a crisis: 1-800-273-TALK
- To locate a treatment center: 1-800-622-HELP or findtreatment.samhsa.gov