The POP-D Teacher's Guide includes six lessons with a detailed instructional sequence, PowerPoint slides, and in-class activities.
In Lesson 1, students review basic brain anatomy, learn strategies to enhance healthy brain activity, and use their creativity to design an imaginary brain.
In Lesson 2, students learn basic brain functions and the process of neurotransmission. In addition, students will learn about prescription drugs and the risk of abusing prescription drugs.
In Lesson 3, students learn the difference between prescription drug use and prescription drug abuse. Then, they learn about controlled substances and one category of controlled substances, opioid painkillers (opioids).
In Lesson 4, students learn about depressants and why depressants are a categorized as a controlled substance. In addition, students contrast the beneficial effects of depressants taken for legitimate medical reasons and the dangers of abuse.
In Lesson 5, students learn about stimulants and why stimulants are categorized as a controlled substance. In addition, students contrast the beneficial effects of stimulants taken for legitimate medical reasons and the dangers of abuse.
In Lesson 6, students summarize what they learned in the previous lessons and then develop “refusal statements” to resist prescription drug abuse.