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Chapter 23: Medicines and Drugs

Chapter 23 Parent Letter and Activities

Dear Parent or Guardian,

More than any other topic we will study, drugs have a negative effect on society. On
one hand, countless lives are saved each year by modern medicines. On the other hand, Americans are estimated to spend over six billion dollars annually on illegal drugs, resulting in terrible personal consequences and hundreds of billions of dollars in lost work, medical care, and
legal costs. By studying the material in this chapter, your teen will gain knowledge that can
help her or him choose a drug-free life.

The following topics will be discussed in this chapter:

  • The Role of Medicines.
  • Drug Use—A High-Risk Behavior.
  • Marijuana, Inhalants, and Steroids.
  • Psychoactive Drugs.
  • Living Drug Free.

Please reinforce our classroom work by discussing with your son or daughter one or more
of the following topics: Discuss with your teen any questions or concerns she or he may have about the presence of drugs in the school and in the community. Ask your teen about her or his long-term goals and discuss the ways in which using drugs will interfere with realizing those goals. Use the telephone directory or Internet to locate resources in your community for
treating people who use drugs. Encourage your teen to discuss the reasons some teens feel compelled to try drugs. Discuss methods to overcome peer pressureShare strategies to help your teen defend his or her right to a drug-free environment.

By stressing the benefits of remaining drug free, I hope we can work together to create a
safer, stronger school and community. Thank you for supporting our classroom work. Feel
free to contact me if you wish to discuss your teen’s health education.

Sincerely,

Health Teacher

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