Meaning of Drugs (Primary 5)

Table of Contents

Subject : Social Studies

 

 

Topic : Meaning of drugs

 

 

Class : Primary 5

 

 

Term :  Third Term

 

Week : Week 5

 

Previous Knowledge : Pupils have previous knowledge of

 Forms of accidents

that have been taught in their former lessons and classes

 

Behavioural Objectives : At the end of the lesson , pupils should be able to

 

1 say the meaning of drugs

2 say why people abuse drugs

3 mention examples of drugs that are commonly abuse

4. Write out the effects of drug abuse

5. List examples of drugs that are commonly abused

6. mention some characteristics of drug abusers

 

 

Methods Of Teaching 

  • Discussion
  • Explanation
  • Dramatization
  • Dialogue
  • Story telling
  • Questions and Answers
  • Role Modelling

 

 

Instructional Materials 

  • Wall Charts
  • Pictures
  • Online materials
  • Textbooks
  • Scheme of work
  • Workbooks

 

 

 

Content 

What is the meaning of Drug ?

Drugs are define as substances that are taken into the body to maintain good health , sustain growth and

cure illnesses.

Drugs are also chemical substances either naturally occurring or synthetic that are used in the prevention,  diagnosis, treatment

and cure of diseases. Good drugs are also referred to as medicine . Drugs can either be in powder , tablets , liquid or syrups .

 

What are the reasons for taking drugs ?

 

We take drugs for the following reasons:

1 To prevent diseases.

2 To diagnose diseases.

3 To cure diseases.

4 To enhance physical or mental well-being.

 

What is drug abuse ? 

Drug abuse is the use of drugs or medicine without doctor’s advice or prescription . It is the abnormal excessive use of drugs for pleasure , stimulus or  physical enhancement or performance without speaking to someone’s doctor’

Some other people use drugs for reasons that are not normal.

This is an aspect of drug abuse. For this reason, any of the following could be called

drug abuse:

– Taking drugs without doctor’s advice.

– Taking drugs when you are not ill.

– Taking more or less than what the doctor prescribes.

– Habitual taking of illegal drugs.

Sources of Illicit drugs or ways of getting contact with drugs that are abused 

These drugs are classified into:

1 Common drugs – These are easily available at the medicine stores and can

be taken without doctor’s prescription. Examples include paracetamol and

pain-relieving balms.

2 Legal drugs – These are drugs that are not easily available but can be taken

with doctor’s prescription. An example is valium 5.

3 Illegal drugs – These are drugs that are not legally allowed to be taken. They

are called hard drugs. Examples include heroine, cocaine and Indian hemp.

There are two main ways of getting in contact with drugs. These ways are:

1 Proper ways

2 Improper ways

 

1 Proper ways

If we are given:

– by a doctor in the hospital,

– by a nurse,

– by a pharmacist,

– by our parents and

– by our teachers.

All these are proper ways of getting in contact with drugs.

The doctor, the nurse and the pharmacist are professional medical practitioners.

They know much about drugs and drug regulations. Our parents and our teachers

too can give us drugs in a proper way.

2 Improper ways

Some people when they are ill, do not go to the hospital. They collect drugs

from:

– their friends,

– their brother or sister,

– a visitor to their house, or

– a drug peddler or hawker (on the street)

All these ways are improper.

Some may even buy drugs just because it was advertised on the media. This

way is also improper. If we take drugs through all these means, it is called drug

abuse. Taking drugs on our own without doctor’s prescription is also known as self

medication.

Going by the definition of drug abuse, any drug can be abused. Both the common

and legal drugs can be abused if proper dosages and usage are not followed.

Commonly abused drugs and their street names

1 Pain relievers: Pain relievers are drugs that are taken by someone who suffers

from pain with the hope of getting relief from such pain. Examples include

Paracetamol, Panadol and Novalgin. People take these drugs at any time

without prescription. Some people even take an overdose. If we take drugs

without prescription or take more than what is prescribed, it is a form of drug

abuse. The street name for pain relievers is Karaole.

2 Stimulants: These are drugs or substances that make someone feel more

awake and thought to give more energy to work. Examples include kolanut,

cocaine, nicotine, caffeine, heroine and alcohol. Some people take these

drugs to enhance their performance. For example, the footballers, musicians

and artisans do take stimulants to enhance their performance at work. Some

people who read overnight also take stimulants to keep themselves awake.

There are different street names given to different stimulants. Some of the

common street names are:

General name Street name

a) cocaine coke

b) heroine coke

c) alcohol ogogoro, kaikai, burukutu

d) marijuana sepe, igbo, wewe, ganja, weed, Indian hemp.

e) kola nut obi, gworo

Alcohol

Cigarette

Kolanut

3 Depressants: These are drugs or substances that reduce the level of activities

in someone. Some people may take such drugs to enable them sleep well. An

example of such drugs is Valium 5.

When drugs are wrongly taken by a person, they are said to have been abused,

and can become harmful. Drugs must only be taken under proper guidance and

advice. Otherwise, they can be abused.

Reasons why people abuse drugs

Some of the several factors than can make someone to engage in drug abuse

are discussed below.

1 Ignorance or illiteracy on the part of the users can affect their attitudes

towards drugs. When people are not educated, they may do things wrongly.

2 Curiosity – Curiosity is the desire to want to learn or know about something.

Most young people are naturally curious and would like to experiment with

different experiences.

3 Environment factor – Some people live in communities where there are no

basic amenities and where there is high level of unemployment. In such

communities, drug supply and use are always very common. This makes them

to have easy access to hard drugs.

4 People think drugs will help relieve stress

5 Peer influence –

What are the effects of Drug Abuse 

Abusing drugs has the following social, economic and health effects:

1 Loss of control: Drug abusers always lose control and balance. They walk,

talk, sleep and eat carelessly.

2 Inability to cope with school activities: If a school child abuses drugs, he

would not be able to concentrate in class. This may lead to repetition or

dropping out of school. He may also be involved in various school offences

which may lead to his being sent out of school.

3 Health problems: Stimulants affect the nervous system of human beings, and

can cause some health problems. Some of the problems are inability to sleep,

or to rest, loss of appetite, convulsion, withdrawal syndrome, and mental

disorder.

4 Financial problem: People who abuse drugs may incur unnecessary debt in

order to keep up with the drug habit. In the long run, they may get involved in

such crimes as stealing and armed robbery.

5 Addiction: People who formed the habit of using drugs before they can sleep

or do some other things will always depend on such drugs. They would not be

able to do things normally without using drugs. They become drug addicts.

6 Death: Drug abuse can lead to death. There is a popular warning that

smokers will die young. Drugs like depressants can make someone dull in

reasoning. If such people drive, they may have accidents, which may lead to

death.

 

 

 

 

Presentation 

The topic is presented step by step

Step 1 : He revises the previous topics

Step 2 : The class teacher introduces the new topic

Step 3 : The class teacher allows the pupils to give their own contributions and he or she corrects them when the needs arise

 

 

 

Evaluation 

 

Assessment & Evaluation:

1 define drug abuse.

2 list the commonly abused drugs.

3 identify the commonly abused drugs by their street names.

4 mention some characteristics of drug abusers.

Exercise

A Choose the best answers for the following questions.

1 We must abstain from drug abuse because of _____________ substances

contained in most of the drugs.

A harmful B sweet C bitter

2 One strategy of preventing drug abuse is engaging in behaviours that our

mental well-being ______________.

A promote B disturb C flatter

3 A good or satisfactory condition of life that is full of health, happiness and

prosperity is called ____________.

A physical well-being B spiritual well-being

C social well-being

4 When an individual realises his own abilities and can contribute to his

community, it is called ______________.

A mental well-being B spiritual well-being C social well-being

5 When an individual is able to get along with other people in the society it is

called ______________.

A mental well-being B social well-being C physical well-being

 

Conclusion 

 

The class teacher gives out a short note and he or she goes round to do the necessary marking .

 

Assignment 

Please kindly prepare for the next lesson by reading about

 

Some substances abuse and their health and socio

Economic effects

 

Â