Grades 6 to 8 • Health Problems Series

Drugs
Despite the fact that they’re illegal and dangerous, drugs are still accessible to kids
KidsHealth.org/classroom
and teens. These activities will help your students learn what drugs do to the body
and mind, and enable them to counter peer pressure to take drugs.
Teacher’s Guide
Related KidsHealth Links
This guide includes:
• Standards
• Related Links For Kids:
• Discussion Questions
• Activities for Students What You Need to Know About Drugs
• Reproducible Materials KidsHealth.org/en/kids/know-drugs.html

Dealing With Peer Pressure

KidsHealth.org/en/kids/peer-pressure.html

Standards School Counselors

KidsHealth.org/en/kids/school-counselors.html
This guide correlates with
the following National Health
Education Standards:
For Teens:

Students will: Drugs: What To Know

• Comprehend concepts related TeensHealth.org/en/teens/know-about-drugs.html
to health promotion and
disease prevention to enhance Prescription Drug Abuse
health. TeensHealth.org/en/teens/prescription-drug-abuse.html
• Demonstrate the ability to
access valid information and Study Drugs
products and services to TeensHealth.org/en/teens/study-drugs.html
enhance health.
• Demonstrate the ability to use Are Steroids Worth the Risk?
interpersonal communication TeensHealth.org/en/teens/steroids.html
skills to enhance health and
avoid or reduce health risks.
Dealing With Addiction
• Demonstrate the ability to
use decision-making skills to
TeensHealth.org/en/teens/addictions.html
enhance health.
• Demonstrate the ability to I Think I May Have a Drinking/Drug Problem. What Should I Do?
practice health-enhancing TeensHealth.org/en/teens/drinking-drug-problem.html
behaviors and avoid or reduce
health risks. Peer Pressure
TeensHealth.org/en/teens/peer-pressure.html

Discussion Questions
Note: The following questions are written in language appropriate for sharing with
your students.

1. We’ve all heard warnings about illegal drugs and how dangerous they can be.
What can drugs really do to the body and mind? Why are they so dangerous?
National Health Education Standards: 2. One problem with using drugs is that they’re addicting. Why is it so difficult for
www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/sher/ people to stop using drugs once they’re addicted? What happens to the body? In
standards/index.htm what ways can people get help with drug problems?

© 2016 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Grades 6 to 8 • Health Problems Series
Drugs
Activities for Students
Note: The following activities are written in language appropriate for sharing with your students.

The Real Deal

Objectives:
Students will:
• Learn how illegal drugs hurt the body

Materials:
• "The Real Deal" handout
• Computer with Internet access

Class Time:
1 hour

Activity:
What makes illegal drugs so dangerous? Drugs are basically chemicals that change the way your body works. But how
do they change what your body is doing and why is this so harmful? Read the KidsHealth.org articles to learn more
about drugs and what they do to the body. Next, select a drug that people take and use the handout to create a
storyboard detailing what happens once someone takes that drug.

In your storyboard, be sure to address:

• The physical effects of using the drug
• How someone might behave under the influence of the drug
• Problems the person might face while being under the influence

Extensions:
1. Create a second storyboard showing someone’s addiction to the drug. Be sure to show what it does to a person’s
body, mind, and lifestyle over time.

2. In a final storyboard, show how and where someone can seek help for drug addiction, and the things people can
do to live a drug-free lifestyle.

© 2016 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Grades 6 to 8 • Health Problems Series
Drugs
The Pressure’s On

Objectives:
Students will:
• Identify ways to deal with the pressure to use illegal drugs
• Determine alternatives to taking drugs

Materials:
• Computer with Internet access

Class Time:
1 hour

Activity:
A major reason kids and teens take drugs is peer pressure — they think it will help them fit in or look cool — but what
would happen if the pressure were reversed? What if friends pressured each other to stay away from drugs? After
reading the KidsHealth.org articles, work with a partner to create a scenario in which the idea of taking drugs comes
up between two friends. The first one wants to take them, the second thinks it’s a bad idea. How will the second
friend say no and convince the friend not to do drugs? What are some healthy alternatives to doing drugs?

Extensions:
1. Sometimes all the pressure in the world isn’t enough to convince someone to do the right thing. Imagine that the
first friend really wants to take drugs. Rather than allowing this to happen, what can the second friend do now?

2. One way to prevent drug use is for parents and guardians to talk to their kids and teens about drugs. Write a fact
sheet that lists what parents should tell their kids and teens about drugs and how to best bring up the subject.

3. Make a list of things kids and teens can say to deal with peer pressure to do drugs — quick one-liners to make it
clear that drugs aren’t for them.

Reproducible Materials
Handout: The Real Deal
KidsHealth.org/classroom/6to8/problems/drugs/drugs_handout1.pdf

Quiz: Drugs
KidsHealth.org/classroom/6to8/problems/drugs/drugs_quiz.pdf

Answer Key: Drugs

KidsHealth.org/classroom/6to8/problems/drugs/drugs_quiz_answers.pdf

KidsHealth.org is devoted to providing the latest children’s health information. The site, which is widely
recommended by educators, libraries, and school associations, has received the “Teachers’ Choice Award
for the Family” and the prestigious Pirelli Award for “Best Educational Media for Students.” KidsHealth comes
from the nonprofit Nemours Foundation. Check out www.KidsHealth.org to see the latest additions!

© 2016 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Health Problems Series
Drugs
Name: Date:

The Real Deal

Instructions: Read the KidsHealth.org articles to learn more about drugs and what they do to the body. Select a drug people
take and use this handout to create a storyboard detailing what happens when someone takes that drug. In your
storyboard, make sure to address:
• The physical effects of using the drug
• How someone might behave under the influence of the drug
• Problems the person might face while being under the influence

© 2016 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Health Problems Series
Drugs
Name: Date:

Quiz
Instructions: Answer each question.

1. List three reasons people abuse drugs.

a.
b.
c.

2. Name two reasons drugs can be dangerous.

a.
b.

3. When people are dependent on a drug, they are .

a. high
b. narcotic
c. addicted

4. List four signs that someone is abusing drugs.

a.
b.
c.
d.

© 2016 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.
 Health Problems Series
Drugs

Quiz Answer Key

1. List three reasons people abuse drugs.

Any three of the following: to fit in, to be popular, to feel better, to escape from problems, peer pressure, to get attention,
curiosity.

2. Name two reasons drugs can be dangerous.

Any two of the following: damage to brain, heart, and other organs; limited ability to make good decisions and/or think
clearly; makes people do dangerous things to themselves or others; can cause death; many drugs are illegal and can lead to
prison and/or fines.

3. When people are dependent on a drug, they are addicted .

a. high
b. narcotic
c. addicted

4. List four signs that someone is abusing drugs.

Any four of the following: lose interest in school, change friends, moody/cranky, want to be left alone, difficulty
concentrating, sleep a lot, get into fights, red/puffy eyes, lose or gain weight, cough a lot, runny nose.

© 2016 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Reproduction permitted for individual classroom use.