Using Drug Abuse to Teach Neuroscience

The National Institute on Drug Abuse has designed five lessons (packets) using PowerPoints to explain the physiological aspects of drug use and abuse. While each lesson would work well within a States of Consciousness or Drug Abuse unit, they can also be used to explain the workings of the brain and neural impulses. The graphics on the Powerpoint are outstanding and each slide includes basic information and hints on how to present the material.

Go to http://www.nida.nih.gov/pubs/Teaching/ for general information on the teaching packets or click on the links below to download each individual packet.

Packet 1: The Brain & the Actions of Cocaine, Opiates, and Marijuana
Packet 2: The Neurobiology of Drug Addiction
Packet 3: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction: What Science Says
Packet 4: The Neurobiology of Ecstasy (MDMA)
Packet 5: Bringing the Power of Science to Bear on Drug Abuse and Addiction

Share

The Special Pre-Primer Powerpoint

The Special Preprimer is similar to a child's early reading book with symbols substituted for the actual words. Most teachers use a print or Powerpoint version of the book during the discussion of language development. I turn my AP Psychology classes into first graders and have them go through the primer no different than an elementary teacher would. The students volunteer to read a page and inevitably it turns into the whole class reading through each page out loud. We then discuss the problems people faced, how some people excelled, others dropped out and tried to hide, etc. The activity really brings back what it was like to learn to read. To download the Powerpoint file click here

Share