Photo analysis.

ANALYZE THE PHOTO

(1) This is Pine Ridge, a Lakota (Sioux) Indian reservation in South Dakota. What do the details in the photo suggest about the tribe's economic condition? Explain.

(2) Do you think a casino could help the Pine Ridge Lakota? Why or why not?

(3) What evidence does the photo provide that the Lakota are trying to preserve their heritage?

ESSAY

How do you think tribes like the Lakota could break out of poverty?

Dear Teacher:

The first two articles of this year's Heads Up series highlighted the damaging health effects of drugs on a teen's brain and body. This third article, "Drugs + Your Life," focuses on other real-life consequences of teen drug and alcohol use such as academic problems, violence, accidental death, and blackouts. In addition, the lesson to the right includes further thought-provoking statistics for you to guide students in grade/ age appropriate discussions about possible consequences of binge drinking. The accompanying work sheet helps students develop the skills to interpret and understand statistical data as well as apply information in decision making.

By sharing this article and working through these exercises with your students, you will provide them with critical information about the many risks teens face with drugs, as well as valuable tools to help them make informed and healthy decisions.

Sincerely,

Nora D. Volkow, M.D.

Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse

In This installment:

* Student article: Presents teens with statistics that illustrate other real risks of substance abuse in addition to health effects.

* Student work sheet: Helps to explain statistics in a relatable way, using real-life examples and mathematical context.

DRUGS + YOUR LIFE

Alignment With National Standards

* Science (NSES): Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Personal and Community Health

* Math (NCTM): Evaluate inferences and predictions based on data; probability

Before-Reading Questions:

* In addition to damaging a teen's health, how else can drugs and alcohol affect his or her chances for a successful and happy life?

* What do you know about statistics? What makes statistical data reliable?

* What factors influence your choices and actions when making decisions?

After-Reading Questions (factual responses in italics):

* What are statistics, and what can we learn from them? (Statistics can be used to indicate the probability, or likelihood, of something happening to a certain group of people.)

* How can a...