Drug Addiction Project (TechYes Biology)
Project Idea: To study neurobiology through the lens of drug addiction. Students will also
focus on the negative consequences of drug abuse in their community and will propose
solutions in order to remedy this situation.
Based on the following objectives
L-1: SWBAT justify that specific brain regions have their own unique function or job.
L-2: SWBAT explain that neurons communicate with each other using electrical and
chemical signals, a process known as neurotransmission.
L-3: SWBAT explain how drugs can affect neurotransmission and how they can affect
individuals in different ways.
L-4: SWBAT explain that drug addiction is a brain disease.
L-5: SWBAT explain that drug addiction can be treated effectively by combining
medication as well as several behavioral interventions.
NGSS Standard: HS1-LS1-2. Develop and use a model to illustrate the hierarchical
organization of interacting systems that provide specific functions within multicellular
organisms.
Assignment Details
Driving Question: Should a young drug addict from Los Angeles who has been
arrested for drug possession several times enter a drug treatment program or go to jail?
First, choose ONE of the following illicit drugs to focus on:
1. Heroin
2. Marijuana
3. Methamphetamine
4. Cocaine
*Important note: If you choose heroin, then you will assume that the young adult from
the driving question is addicted to heroin. If you choose marijuana, then you will assume
that the young adult from the driving question is addicted to marijuana. If you choose
methamphetamine, then you will assume that the young adult from the driving question is
addicted to methamphetamine. If you choose cocaine, then you will assume that the
young adult from the driving question is addicted to cocaine.
After choosing a drug of interest, do the following:
Create a PREZI presentation with at least 10 frames:
Frame 1. Basic drug information about the drug that you chose to focus on
Frame 2. The Reward System and its importance with regards to drug abuse and
addiction
Frame 3. Explain how that particular drug affects/ alters neurotransmission in the Reward
System
Frame 4 and 5. Explain how addiction to this particular drug is considered to be a brain
disease- cite and discuss the data and trends that we saw in Lesson 4 (Rat Experiment)
Frame 6. Biological and social consequences of using this drug
Frame 7 and 8. Should the individual from the driving question enter a drug treatment
program or go to jail?- Explain your reasoning for your decision and discuss a possible
treatment plan for this individual. (Treatment should be specific to the drug of abuse that
you chose)
Frame 9. Include statistics for your drug within the LA county area and discuss the
importance of these statistics
Frame 10. What can we do to help more people like the individual from the driving
question? Based on the numbers and statistics that you discussed in Frame 9, what can we
do in order to alleviate the situation in LA County? What can we implement/ establish in
Los Angeles and in our community in order to get the lives of these individuals back in
track?
*Your Prezi must include all of this information and ideas. Also, there should be several
visuals and pictures thoughout your Prezi. You will cite all of the resources/ online
materials that you used at the end of your Prezi.
Rubric
Information and
Ideas presented in
Prezi
Visuals, pictures,
and references
presented in Prezi
3
2
The information
presented in the
Prezi is accurate and
well elaborated. The
student’s reasoning
throughout the Prezi
is clear and logical.
The information
presented in the
Prezi is for the most
part accurate and
well elaborated. The
student’s reasoning
is somewhat unclear
and/ or illogical.
0.5
The information
presented in the
Prezi is inaccurate.
There is a lack of
student reasoning
throughout the
Prezi.
Only a few images/
pictures are
included in the
Only a few
images/pictures are
included in the
1
The Prezi is
aesthetically
pleasing.
1
0
Appropriate images
and pictures are
included throughout
the Prezi. The Prezi
also has a references
frame/ slide at the
end.
Prezi. The Prezi has
a references
frame/slide at the
end.
Prezi. There is no
references frame/
slide at the end of
the Prezi.