BSCS | Curriculum Development | Other Supplemental Programs

Curriculum Development > Middle School 6-8 > Other Supplemental Programs

Drug Abuse, Addiction, and the Adolescent Brain

Drug Abuse, Addiction, and the Adolescent Brain is a new curriculum supplement from the BSCS Center for Curriculum Development for middle school science. Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the unit's five classroom lessons focus on the science of how drugs change the function of the brain and why drugs may have different effects on the developing brains of adolescents. A DVD video is an integral part of Drug Abuse, Addiction, and the Adolescent Brain and includes interviews with expert scientists in the area of drug abuse research, experts in the area of drug abuse treatment, and recovering drug addicts. The video also includes animations to illustrate key concepts in neurobiology related to the effects of drugs. Although students are the primary focus for the materials, the unit also includes a facilitation guide for presenting the video to adult audiences of parents, school professionals, and other adults who play key roles in the lives of adolescents.