1. Grades 7-8

2. Overview The home where children and adults live should be a safe place. Because of the nature of children, anything that can cause any harm should be removed from their play area. Adults have the added responsibility of making the home free from the abuse of drugs.

3. Purpose This lesson should bring out necessary guidelines for making the home safe for both parents and children. The safe use and storage of drugs should be discussed.

4. Objectives Students will be able to:

i. Define the word "drug" as used in the home
ii. Explain how drugs can be abused
iii. Describe how to prevent drug abuse in the home.

5. Resources/materials

• A collection of some sharp objects usually found around the home
• Nails and other sharp objects found around the home
• A First Aid Box

6. Activities and Procedures Safety in the home should be guaranteed for both children and adults. It is the responsibility of everyone to make the home safe to live in. Because of the nature of activities in and around the home, there are certain materials found around which can cause body injuries to those who live there. Sharp objects like nails, cooking utensils, pointed sticks should be removed and kept in safe places. The teacher should lead discussion first to establish how these harmful materials get into most homes. The reasons may differ from home to home.

In recent times, many parents in Africa resort to self medication because there are no doctors around. Simple drugs are bought and kept in the home for later use. In other cases, drugs prescribed by medical doctors are brought home and kept in places accessible to children. Here in lies the danger. Some children who have access to drugs may not be in a position to know how to use them. To them, these may be regarded as things which go straight into the mouth. So children may swallow drugs that could be injurious or poisonous to them. It is for this reason that prescribed drugs are to be kept in safe places, away from the reach of children.

Here the teacher can introduce the concept of a safe place in the home for keeping drugs. A First Aid Box can be introduced and shown to the students. Some children may already be familiar with a First Aid Box. The teacher should discuss what sort of drugs are usually kept in First Aid Boxes. No matter what drugs have been kept in the box, they should be kept under lock and key. Only adults should have access to the drugs in the box. The students should be reminded that children should take drugs under the supervision of an adult. This basic principle should be emphasised to the students.

Then there are cases in some homes when an adult may decide to take doses of drugs far in excess of what the doctors have prescribed. In many villages in Africa, old people sometimes feel that the more of a drug taken, the faster is the curative effect not minding the doctors prescription. It is in cases like this that the term "drug abuse" is introduced. We can abuse a drug form the way we use such drugs. When we disregard a medical doctor's prescription and go on to use a drug indiscriminately, we are said to have abused the drug. Students in school could be the ones to educate the illiterate adults in their home against drug abuse.

Finally, certain items which are ordinarily taken in most homes have come under the general classification of "drugs". Alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco and certain activity enhancing tablets and plants have often been described as drugs. This may sound funny but it is true. These drugs , just like the prescribed ones, could be abused by the users. The teacher should remind the students of the problem of drugs in big time sports.

7.Tying it all together The wider definition of the term "drugs" should be emphasised by the teacher. Drug abuse sometimes happen out of the ignorance of the drug user. The golden rule to be underscored by the teacher is that " no drug should be taken without proper guidance". That rule, if adhered to can save many lives.

8. Assessment The teacher should encourage discussion among the students. The teacher should try to find out through participation in the discussion, how much the children have learnt from each other.

9. Author(s) S. T. Bajah [email protected]

10. References Bajah, Sam. Tunde et al (1996) Integrated Science: A New Approach for Junior Secondary Schools. Book One [New Edition] Ibadan: University Press, Plc.

Croft,G et al. (2000). Step Ahead 'O' Level Integrated Science. Harare: Longman Zimbabwe (Pvt.) Ltd.