Drug Abuse And Addiction - NIH Office of Science Education

The Brain: Understanding Neurobiology Through the Study of AddictionWhat the Teacher DoesHave students play the game again now that they can relate it tothe issues of drug abuse and drug addiction.Ask students if they played the game any differently this time.Did they make different choices?Discuss the idea of the switch card. Does anyone really knowat what point in drug abuse the brain changes and the abuserbecomes an addict? How could you modify the card game toaccount for this?Have the students play the game again, but leave the switch cardface down this time.Continue the discussion of the game and its relationship to drugabuse and addiction. Ask students to summarize the main pointsthat the game conveys:• Drug abuse involves choice.• The point at which a person’s brain is changed and drug abusebecomes addiction is different and unknown for each individual.• Everyone has risk factors.• A person does not become addicted to drugs after one episodeof abuse.To model the fact that one episode of drug abuse can result in lethalconsequences (which is different from addiction), insert the jokersinto the pile of choice cards. Have the students play the gameagain. If a student draws a joker, the game is over for that student.ProcedureReferencePage 110Step 4Page 110Step 5Page 110Step 6Page 110Step 7Page 110Step 8Page 111Step 9(optional)Activity 4: Environmental, Behavioral, and Social Influences onDrug Abuse and AddictionDisplay the top section of a transparency of Master 4.5. Askstudents to answer the question.Page 111Step 1Reveal the next section of Master 4.5. Again have students answerthe question and discuss the responses.Reveal the remaining section of Master 4.5 and have students readthe case studies.Page 111Step 2Page 112Step 3122