Substances, Addiction Mental Health

This next unit in HACE will be covering substance use, addiction and mental health by focusing on three substances only for the grade 6 level. As part of this unit, students will be put in pairs and will be responsible for researching, organizing, and presenting material on their substance.

Students will be expected to work cooperatively with their partner, break down responsibilities in the project and cite any sources they use. Students are to complete the first portion of the assignment in terms of collecting data, and then to choose from the list on how they wish to demonstrate their knowledge on the substance. Students may choose from a list on how they wish to present their information on substance use, abuse and addiction to the class.

This assignment will be due mid-May (Due date to be discussed with the class). A rubric and self-evaluation will be included, prior to submitting to the teacher. PLEASE talk to Mrs. Carruthers or email her as she is a very strong resource for this project. Email her at and she will answer any questions or provide resources to assist you.

SECTION #1: Information on Substance (40 marks):

  • Describe regions where or how this substance is made
  • Explain previous history, uses and cultural groups who used this substance and why.
  • Other names/street names used for the substance.
  • Include a description of the substance in a detailed
  • What the substance used for and what purpose would someone have for using it regularly. In this section you might consider the connection for some to use this substance based on mental health related issues that are either diagnosed or undiagnosed, and/or the use of this substance that later manifests a mental health concern (like anxiety, depression, mood disorder etc ) . This may need to be addressed in your research.
  • Pros and Cons of substance- included in this would be any legal changes that has affected our society and increase/decrease or influx in its use, purposes where the substance may assist or support an individual, and negative effects of this substance on an individual or society.
  • Short and Long term symptoms/side effects of substance and areas in the body where it would affect physiological (body) or neurological (brain) functioning over a short period vs. a long period. What does a high on this substance appear like in the short term, and how does it affect in the long term.
  • Treatment for an addiction to this particular substance
  • Outcome of addict ( ie, likelihood of recovery without relapse).
  • A Bibliography/Works cited list of resources must be included.

SECTION #2: Presentation Method (40 Marks)

To choose one of the presentation methods. Presentations MUST include visuals in some form with the presentation of proposed ideas.

  • With your partner you are to make an anti-smoking, alcohol or marijuana advertisement and include the information from section # 1 in this presentation. This can either be via a commercial, cereal box advertisement, billboard, webpage, etc. The information from section #1 should be submitted in a formal write up depending on method of presentation ( ie: if you choose to make an advertisement out of a pack/box of cigarettes, then please include a formal write up with the information from section #1).
  • Describe the substance and the pros and cons for use of this substance.
  • Describe the chemicals in the substance.
  • What are the physical health risks (lungs, liver, etc) and/or impacts of using this substance on your brain?
  • What are the short and long term effects of this substance?
  • What are some risks in using this drug/substance particularly if abused?
  • You and your partner are two lawyers who are in court debating the legalization of medicinal marijuana. This debate can be presented to the class via a Skit, Video, Role play, etc. Information to be included in this project is a formal write up with the information from section #1, your debate points and research that supports your debate. Information to be included in this project:
  • Describe Marijuana and the pros and cons of this drug
  • What are the purposes for people to use this drug?
  • What are some side effects of this drug both short and long term effects?
  • What are the positive and negative factors for legalizing this drug?
  • How has or how will legalizing marijuana impact and alter our society?
  • You and your partner are two lawyers who are in court debating the legal drinking age in Canada. This debate can be presented to the class via a Skit, Video, Role play, etc. . Information to be included in this project is a formal write up with the information from section #1, your debate points and research that supports your debate. Information to be included in this project:
  • Current standards around the drinking age in Canada
  • Reasons for altering the drinking age- pros and cons of current drinking age.
  • Health side effects of drinking on our bodies and on our brains. Short term and long term affects.
  • How does the development of adulthood and our brains correspond with a drinking age?
  • How would our society change if the drinking age changed?
  • You and your partner aredebating whether the new electronic cigarettes are causing more teenagers to begin smoking cigarettes. It is your job to discuss the pros and cons of e-cigarettes, propose health risks on a biological (body) sense and sociological (society) one. This debate can be presented to the class via a Skit, Video, Role play, etc. . Information to be included in this project is a formal write up with the information from section #1, your debate points and research that supports your debate. Information to be included in this project:
  • Current standards around the cigarette use vs. electronic cigarette use.
  • Reasons for changing laws around use of electronic cigarettes
  • Socially, describe the negative factors associated with electronic cigarettes.
  • What are the pros and cons of using electronic cigarettes
  • Health side effects
  • How would our society change with altered laws to the use of electronic cigarettes?
  • Create a made up scenario/case study of someone who would be more likely to form an addiction to either alcohol or marijuana and formulate reasons why. This presentation would thus focus on addictions to the substance chosen. Your goal is to explain and prove underlying reasons that person (in the made up scenario) may have for being more susceptible to an addiction to that substance vs. another person. Included in this assignment is the information from section # 1. This scenario should include:
  • Describe presentation of individual when you meet them (ie: seems well put together and nicely groomed, appears focused and responds well to questions vs. a haggard appearance, is unhygienic, hasn’t slept and is fidgeting and unable to listen).
  • A name, age, sex, sexual orientation, race, culture, work information or school performance and other information pertaining to the made up individual.
  • Genetic and Environmental factors such as: family environment, health status, family health history ( including mental health history), family and social relationships, drug and alcohol history, life difficulties, goals and coping skills, self-esteem, social pressures and weaknesses.
  • Detailed explanation of presenting symptoms: ( ie: Lack of sleep or appetite, racing thoughts, fidgeting, when without the drug they are panicked but calm while on the substance, etc).
  • From your findings, diagnose the substance they are addicted to and any mental health concern that’s in connection to it ( ie: depression, anxiety, ADHD, mood disorder, etc.).
  • What treatment recommendations would be made based on the above findings.
  • A Bibliography/Works cited list of resources must be included.

This scenario/case study may be more challenging to present and as such a discussion with the teacher is encouraged on whether you wish to have a discussion with the class around your substance and case study or presented in a different manner, such as a skit with a discussion.