Secondary school teacher resource materials for a unit on drugs

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: Increase in the use of drugs has been phenomenal, yet popular knowledge concerning those drugs has enlarged very little. This is true even though experts agree that there are potential dangers connected with many known drugs and even though in recent years much greater emphasis has been placed on a properly balanced diet. This report is a summary of a few major facts about drugs, facts which should give the ordinary high school teacher a starting point in the presentation of the origins, structures, effects and dangers of the drugs used today. Although the sources of drugs are discussed, most attention has been given to some general classifications of common drugs with a consideration of their uses and effects.

Findings and Conclusions: A thorough understanding of drugs and their uses must be left to the expert who alone has the background to investigate the many aspects of drug sources, chemical structures, and physiological effects. The dangers inherent in many drugs, however, and the need for intelligent understanding of the materials taken into the body is sufficient reason for all persons having some knowledge of drugs. Since the home will likely not supply this information, the school must. With a few general principles and sane facts available, the high school teacher can do much toward enlightening the future generation in regards to its own welfare with respect to drugs.