Drug Abuse And Addiction - NIH Office of Science Education

The cases should reveal to the students that a high dose of a drug is notenough to cause addiction. The behaviors and motivations for takingdrugs are important factors in the development of addiction. The addictedstreet person was using drugs with the expectation of a rush, or high,and trying to escape life. The patient was taking drugs without theexpectation of a high. The patient experiencing pain uses drugs in orderto function normally. Sci entists do not completely understand why painpatients do not become addicted after drug use, but the statistics clearlyshow that these individu als are at very low risk of becoming addicted.You may also want to discuss the case of Vietnam veterans withstudents. For many years, the media portrayed Vietnam veterans ashopelessly drug-addicted individuals. Although drug addiction was aproblem for some veterans while in Vietnam, the vast majority of thoseveterans have had no problems with drug addiction since returning tothe United States. They may have started using drugs (and subsequentlybecame addicted) to relieve the stress of combat, to rebel against society,or even to relieve boredom, but once they were back in a “normal”environment, they were able to function without drugs.Activity 5: Long-Term Effects of Drug Abuse and AddictionHaving students view the minidocumentary on the long-term effectsof drugs on the brain is the strongly preferred approach for this activity.If the Internet is not available, follow the procedure for the alternateversion of the activity (on page 114).For classes using the Web version of this activity.Content Standard A:Scientists rely on technologyto enhance thegathering and manipulationof data.1. Have students view the minidocumentary, Long-Term Effects ofDrugs on the Brain, online.To view the minidocumentary, which takes about five minutes,go to the supplement’s Web site. From the activities menu, selectLesson 4—Drug Abuse and Addiction.2. After viewing the minidocumentary, ask students to write briefanswers to the following questions.• What was the most surprising thing you learned about theeffect of drugs?• What makes this fact surprising to you?• On the basis of what you have learned through the rat experimentanalysis, the card game, and the minidocumentary, would you saythat drug addiction is a disease? Justify your answer.Students should be encouraged to relate what they learned in Activities1 through 4 to what they learned from the minidocumentary.113Having students writetheir answers to thequestions encouragesthem to organize theirthoughts and reflect onwhat they have learned.Listening to studentsexplain their view aboutdrug addiction as adisease will help youevaluate theirunderstanding.Student Lesson 4