The Effects of Drugs Activity

Effects of Drugs

This activity can be introduced in AP Psychology or regular psychology as part of the unit on consciousness and how psychoactive drugs can impact consciousness.

In a health class, the project can be introduced as part of the drugs unit.

This group project will allow students to take an in depth look at a specific drug that has impacted society in order to answer the following questions:
1. What category does your drug belong?
2. Why do people use the drug?
3. What neurotransmitter and action takes place on a cellular level?
4. What are the short term biological, psychological, and social-cultural effects?
5. What are the long term biological, psychological, and social-cultural effects?

The group will research the drug to answer the questions and then choose a presentation format from a small project menu in order to organize the information and present it to their classmates who will take notes on a graphic organizer.

File Includes:
• Project Overview and Teacher Instructions
• Project Handout
• Project Grading Sheet

Materials Needed:
• Textbooks and laptops or computer lab access for research
• Photocopies of assignment sheet
• Ability to project information- LCD projector and (if necessary) document camera