Lessons on Marijuana, the Teen Brain, and Self-Control

Students who feel empowered with the facts can make informed, healthy choices. That’s why NIDA and Scholastic have teamed up to provide educators like you with new lesson plans on the latest news and research about drugs and drug use.

Marijuana is one of the most used substances by youth. Close to 45 percent of U.S. teens have tried marijuana at least once by the time they graduate high school. In The Real Risks of Marijuana, students will think critically about the short- and long-term health effects of marijuana use and how it can affect their lives.

Pushing Pause is a leveled article that helps students understand that pausing, paying attention, and not giving up are key parts of self-control. They will learn how the brain creates and processes emotions.

In Wiring Your Brain, students learn that the choices they make today can help to shape and “wire” how their brains will operate when they are adults. They will also learn how drugs affect their development and the risks associated with drug use.

Students learn about the brain’s ability to make predictions and solve ambiguities and how drugs might compromise these capabilities in The Awesomely Evolved Human Brain.

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FACT: Marijuana is linked to problems in school. Marijuana dulls attention, memory, and learning skills—effects that can last for days and sometimes weeks, depending on how often it’s used.

Learn more about marijuana.