Opioids and Prescription Drugs
Lesson Plans
Drugs in the Cupboard: Brain Power!
- Grade level: 6-8
- Includes 1 step-by-step module, resources for students, parent guides, and online activities
- Teaches about the effects of prescription drugs; how these drugs affect the brain and body when not used properly; and, understanding why it is important to use medication as instructed
- Duration: 1 class period (with additional activities (e.g. public service announcement) for subsequent periods)
- Standards aligned with: National Science Education Standards
Operation Prevention: Our Brain and Body on Opioids
- Grade level: 6-8
- Includes Educator’s Guide, PowerPoint Presentation, and digital lesson
- Teaches the effects of opioids on the body and brain and symptoms of addiction
- Duration: 3+ class periods
- Standards aligned with: National Health Education Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and Common Core English Language Arts
- Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education
Operation Prevention: Malachi’s Medication
- *Designed for 3rd-5th graders but can be adapted for 6th graders
- Includes Activity Guide PDF
- Teaches students how to identify and explain the dosage instructions on a medicine label; and, how to conduct an experiment
- Duration: 1-2 class periods
- Standards aligned with: National Health Standards, Common Core English Language Arts, Common Core Mathematics
- Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education
Operation Prevention: Sara’s Sister
- *Designed for 3rd-5th graders but can be adapted for 6th graders
- Includes Activity Guide PDF
- Teaches the importance of storing medication properly through analyzing a scenario and making recommendations
- Duration: 1-2 class periods
- Standards aligned with: National Health Standards and Common Core English Language Arts
- Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education
Operation of Prevention: Is our Community Influenced by the Opioid Epidemic
- Grade level: 6-8
- Includes Educator’s Guide, PowerPoint Presentation, activities, and videos
- Teaches students about the opioid epidemic, effects of opioids on the teenage brain; how to identify and find credible sources; and, design a research plan
- Duration: 3-4+ class periods
- Standards aligned with: Common Core English Language Arts
- Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education
Operation Prevention: Proactive Prevention
- *Designed for 3rd-5th graders but can be adapted for 6th graders
- Includes Educator Guide and PowerPoint Presentation
- Teaches students about what medication is and the importance of responsibly consuming over-the-counter and prescription medications
- Duration: 3+ class periods
- Standards aligned with: National Health Standards (Grades 3-5) and Next Generation Science Standards
- Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education
Opioids and the Overdose Epidemic
- Grade level: 6-8 (also contains adapted lessons for 4-6th grade reading level)
- Includes lesson plan with student article, student worksheet, vocabulary list, critical thinking questions, and writing prompts
- Teaches about epidemics and evidence to indicate an epidemic; that opioid medications should be used with extreme care; and, ways to stay safe if prescribed opioid pain medications
- Duration: 1 class period
- Standards aligned with: Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and National Science Education Standards
- Source(s): National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)/Scholastic
Over-the-Counter Medicine Safety
- Grade level: 6
- Includes four lesson plans with worksheets, posters/whiteboard images, videos, and family resources
- Teaches about medicine; understanding drug labels; medicine measuring tools, storage, and disposal; and, medicines and misuse
- Duration: 5 class periods
- Standards aligned with: Common Core State Standards (ELA, Science, and Health) and Next Generation Science Standards
- Source(s): Scholastic
Prescription Pain Medications
- Grade level: 6-8
- Includes lesson plan with student article, quiz and answer key, discussion questions, and optional essay/writing assignments
- Teaches about what opioids are and how they work; why opioid misuse is dangerous; and, critical thinking
- Duration: 1 class period
- Standards aligned with: National Science Education standards and McREL
- Source(s): National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)/Scholastic
Additional Resources
Mind Matters: Opiates Student Booklet
- Includes opiate student booklet
- Focuses on what opiates are and their addictive properties
- Sources(s): National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
NIDA: Drug Facts
- Includes links below to related opioid and prescription drugs
- Focuses on what opioid and prescription drugs are, their addictive properties, and their effects on the brain and body
- Sources(s): National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Cough and Cold Medicine (DXM and Codeine Syrup) Anabolic Steroids
NIDA: Prescription Drug Misuse: Choose Your Path
- Includes two interactive videos, role-playing activities, fact sheets, and discussion questions, and additional activities
- Teaches students about prescription drug misuse and reinforces refusal skills
- Duration: 1+ class period(s)
- Source(s): National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Operation Prevention
- Includes virtual field trip, classroom resources, self-paced module, parent toolkit, and video challenge
- Teaches students about true impact of opioids and aids teachers in facilitation conversations in the classroom
- Source(s): Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)/Discovery Education
Partnership for Drug Free Kids: Out of Reach
- Includes online documentary (Video password: Partnership)
- Teaches about the dangers of misusing prescription painkillers and teen addiction.
- Duration: 1 class period (video length: 26:52)
- Source(s): Partnership for Drug Free Kids