Substance Use and Information
Drugs used for preventing disease are called:
A. vaccines
B. over-the-counter drugs
C. illegal drugs
A. Vaccines are shots that cause the body to make antibodies, which prevent illness by killing germs that might cause disease.
Someone is looking at your paper during a test.
The most responsible response is:
A. "Please look at someone else's paper."
B. "Please do your own work."
C. "Boy, you owe me."
B. "Please do your own work."
True or False?
Beer is a drug.
True. Beer is a form of alcohol, which is a drug.
Do people always know how you are feeling?
Explain why.
No. You cannot assume that people always know how you are feeling. You need to communicate your feelings to help others understand what you are going through. For example, when you feel tired you may look sad to others.
If you have a headache, what is one thing you can do instead of taking a drug like Tylenol?
Possible Responses May Include:
1. Try to relax
2. Take a nap
3. Massage your head and neck
4. Get away from noise
5. Get out of the sun
Where can young people go if they want information about alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs?
They can go to family members, relatives, teachers, school counsellors / CDA, school nurses or the library.
What should you do if you find a needle in the park?
A. Carefully pick it up and put it in the garbage.
B.Take it home and give it to a parent, so no one else will touch it.
C. Do not touch it because it may be infected.
C. Do not touch it because it may be infected. Tell your parents, a teacher, a police officer, or another adult you trust and let them handle it.
True or False?
There are drugs in medicines like cough syrups.
True. Although not all drugs are medicines, all medicines are made of some kind of drug. Medicines are also made in different forms. They can be solids (pills), liquids (cough medicines) or sprays (asthma inhalers).
Why is feeling good about yourself important?
A. You will have a good opinion of yourself and your abilities.
B. You will never fail at anything again.
C. Everyone will like you better.
A. Having a good opinion of yourself and your abilities gives you a strong sense of who you are and what you want in life. Feeling good about yourself helps you get through difficult times in a healthy way, instead of looking for a way to escape or using a substance to change the way you feel.
At school you tell a friend that you have a sore throat. Your friend tells you she has some medicine for your sore throat and she offers it to you. Should you take it? Explain why or why not.
No. You should only take medicine that is prescribed to you by your doctor or dentist, or given to you by a parent or guardian.
What is a drug?
A drug is a substance, other than food, that changes the way the body or mind works.
Drugs you cannot get from a store shelf, only from a pharmacist are called:
A. over-the-counter drugs
B. prescription drugs
C. illegal drugs
B. Prescription drugs are prescribed to people by doctors or dentists for specific reasons. The only legal way to get prescription drugs is from a pharmacist. You can by over-the-counter drugs from store shelves. Medicines for headaches, sore throats and stomach aches are examples of some over-the-counter drugs. Illegal drugs are drugs that are against the law to have.
True or False?
It is safe to try your friend's inhaler, even if you don't have asthma.
False. An inhaler is a hand-held device that delivers medicine in a measured dose while a person inhales. Inhalers are intended to be used by people who have a respiratory condition such as asthma. Using any medication for a condition that you do not have is not advised.
Why is it important to have supportive relationships with others?
A. You have positive role models to trust, to help you make decisions and to lean on during difficult times.
B. You are popular if you have lots of friends.
C. You know people who can do favours for you whenever you need them.
A. You have positive role models to trust, to help you make decisions and to lean on during difficult times.
Ryan is in Grade 6 and he wants to try smoking cigarettes. Can it hurt Ryan to try it? Explain.
Yes. Smoking causes many health problems such as cancer, lung disease and heart disease. The younger people are when they start smoking, the more likely they are to depend on it. Once people have smoked for a while, quitting is very difficult.
How can using medicines improperly be dangerous?
A. Medicines can be poisonous if you take too much of them or take them for a longer time than needed.
B. You can become very ill if you take a medicine that your body does not need.
C. It is unsafe to mix different kinds of medicines without a doctor's permission.
D. All of the above.
D. All are true. An important reasons for taking drugs is to prevent or treat illness. The drugs in medicines are helpful to many people when they are used properly and only when necessary. Using medicines improperly can be very harmful.
What is the drug in tobacco?
A. Kerosene
B. Tar
C. Nicotine
C. Nicotine. Nicotine is a stimulant drug, which means that is causes the heart to beat faster.
True or False?
Tobacco is a plant that can be smoked in cigarettes.
True. Cigarettes also contain nicotine, a chemical that is addictive. That means that if you start to use nicotine, your body and mind will become so used to it that you'll need to have it just to feel OK.
If an older student asked you to try alcohol, tobacco or another drug, what would be a good way to say no?
A. Be honest and say, "I'm not comfortable doing that."
B. Be polite and to the point by saying, "No, thank you."
C. Do not answer, simply walk away.
D. All of the above.
D. All are good ways of saying no. It is important to think about how you will answer if someone asks you to try something. Decide how you are comfortable saying no in a respectful way to avoid unnecessary conflict.
Describe one safety rule about taking medicines.
Possible responses may include:
Only take medicines that are prescribed to you by a doctor, dentist or given to you by a parent or guardian.
Take your medicine in front of a parent or guardian.
Never take substances from a stranger, or even a friend. Never share your medicines with anyone. Do not take more than the recommended amount. Never take different drugs at the same time, unless prescribed by your doctor. Always read labels carefully.
People use drugs to:
A. prevent or fight disease
B. help their bodies work normally
C. change the way they think or feel
D. all of the above
D. All are reasons for using drugs. Different people use drugs for different reasons.
True or False?
Using alcohol or drugs can affect young people's general health, physical growth, and emotional and social development.
True. Using alcohol or drugs can also change how well people make decisions, how well they think, and how quickly they can react. Using alcohol or drugs can make it hard for young people to control their actions and make the right choices.
Sometimes people use drugs, but not for medical reasons. Why would somebody want to try a drug like tobacco or alcohol?
Possible responses may include:
1. Out of curiosity
2. To deal with problems and feelings
3. To look cool or feel grown up
4. To rebel against authority
5. To fit in with others