NIDA Starts Drug Education Early

Elementary school teachers now have at their disposal a new curriculum created by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to teach students about the brain and the effects of drugs on it.

The goal is to give young students a foundation for acquiring future information on the brain and drug abuse and to enable them to understand the health risks associated with drug use.

“Brain Power! The NIDA Junior Scientist Program” is geared toward second and third graders and is presented in six modules. Each module includes a video, written materials for students, a parent newsletter, and a teacher guide. In the first module students learn about the process of scientific inquiry; other modules cover brain function and the harmful effects of illicit drugs on the brain and nervous system.

Materials can be ordered free on the Web site of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Service’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at www.drugabuse.gov/JSP/JSP.html.