The truth about the abuse of prescribed painkillers is startling. Abused painkillers such as Oxycodone, Vicodin and methadone are responsible for more deaths than cocaine and heroin combined. According to the Centers for Disease Control, prescription painkillers have surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States. Students learn the dynamics of painkiller addiction and abuse through the personal stories of teens who have been hooked on legal pain killers. These teens describe the downward spiral of addiction that can eventually lead to death by overdose. Former users, physicians and drug education experts communicate the hard facts to viewers including how difficult it is for users to cope with withdrawal symptoms such as depression, anxiety, shakiness and lack of energy.
Grade Level: 7-College
Running Time: 21 Minutes
Includes: video, plus teacher’s resource book, student handouts and pre/post tests in digital format