DRUGS - Why use them?

Introduction:

Your best friend has just informed you that they want to try using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. They have heard how wonderful it is and want to join the crowd. Your job is to gather information on a specific drug of your choice and write up what are the pros and cons of using that drug.

Task:

Using various sources of information you will begin to research the facts of a specific drug. Remember your best friend is counting on you. Be sure your facts are accurate and complete, that you obtain information that tells both sides of the story, and that you give credit to the proper sources where it is necessary. At the conclusion of your article write a persuasive commentary depicting your view points of your finding.

Resources:

General drug information:

health organizational homepage:

drug free america homepage:

Cadapp homepage:

NIDA homepage:

MADD homepage:

sada homepage:

Dawn homepage:

teen survey statistics:

crime statistics:

admissions for treatment:

costs of:

drug tests:

inhalants

facts about:

facts about:

Smoking

facts about:

facts about:

smoking violations

Alcohol

facts about:

facts about:

marijuana

facts about:

facts about:

cocaine

facts about:

facts about:

LSD

facts about:

facts about:

heroin

facts about:

facts about:

Process:

Students at the completion of this assignment should be able to: 
Use the internet to complete parts of their report 
Learn how different drugs influence the body. 
What are the risks involved in use?
Discover what are the legal penalies are for the use of this drug.
Render an opinion either for or against the use of this drug based on             the facts found in your research. 

Learning Advice:

Make sure that you information is current and accurate.
Use Alta Vista web search ( __5__ facts) 

Evaluation:

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Focused Topic	The summary information rambles and does not pinpoint one particular drug for comparison	Briefly mentions a drug for comparison, but gives few details	Describes the reasons for comparing the drug and gives several reasons for selection	Article clearly defines drug effects for comparison and goes on to give specific details
Gives information that is unique to the drug	Never mentions any unique information	Gives very little unique information	Gives some information that is unique to the drug	Gives a great deal of interesting and unique information
Gives reasons about how the drug are harmful	Does not give reasons for the use of the drug	Only points out one or two reasons regarding the drug	Points out several reasons for the drug	Shows many reasons for the drug
Well organized	Lacks topic sentences and has no logical sequence	Article has only one topic sentence and its sequence is confusing	Article includes some topic sentences and is somewhat sequential	Every section begins with a clearly stated topic sentence and the sections follow a logical sequence
Clear and Understandable	Very difficult to follow	Mostly difficult to follow and understand	Mostly easy to understand	Easy to read and follow the information
Correct grammar and spelling	Very frequent grammar and/or spelling errors	A few grammar and/or spelling errors	Only one or two errors in spelling/grammar	All grammar and spelling are correct
				Total

Conclusion:

Create a summary report which includes:
1. what type of drug you chose and how you identify it 
2. how is it used 
3. how long does the effects last
4. symptoms from use
5. what are the risks - short/long term - of use
6. what are the legal penalties of use
7. what treatments are available if addicted 
8. success rate of treatment if addicted