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Lesson Plan

"The Most Dangerous Drug In America"

Lesson Objectives:

Students will examine:

• The historical development of meth use
• The impact that meth use has on individual users, their communities and the United States
• The problems of treating meth addiction

Materials Needed:

• Internet access and discussion questions
• Student worksheet [link] "The Meth Education Tool Kit"
• For classrooms that do not have Internet access teachers may print the materials for these lessons using the following links:
• "The Meth Education Tool Kit"
• Definitions for narcolepsy
• Letters and Poems

Time Needed:

• 5 minutes for large group discussion "What Do We Know About Meth?"
• 15 - 20 minutes for researching "The Meth Education Tool Kit"
• 20 minutes for groups to answer the discussion questions

Procedure:

Step 1: Large Group Discussion: "What Do We Know About Meth?"

Ask students the following questions:

• How is meth produced?
• What products are needed for production?
• How easy or difficult is it to obtain these products?
• What are the signs of meth use?
• What are the long-term effects of meth use?

Step 2: Small Group Discussion

• Distribute copies of the worksheet "The Meth Education Tool Kit."
• Divide the class into four or five groups.
• Students should answer the questions individually and then discuss their findings as a group.
• Students will turn in their completed worksheet.

Step 3: Homework: "The Most Dangerous Drug in America"

For homework, ask the students to write a two or three paragraph letter to the editor, for their school or local newspaper, that gives their opinion of "What Went Wrong?" Alternatively, students can draw an editorial cartoon that answers the question "What went wrong?"

• Ask the students to write a short paper evaluating the validity of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' statement that: "meth is the most dangerous drug in America." This information is found at http://www.newhouse.com/archive/suo122705.html
• The paper should include information from the readings and the group discussion.
• Teachers may wish to have students include additional research using materials from the Additional Resources section of this guide.

Method of Assessment:

• Completion of note-taking assignments
• Participation in group discussion
• Completion of homework