Here are some suggested
sites to help you start your research. Nettrekker
also has other excellent health websites.
Marijuana
http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/Marijteens.html
This
article, organized in question/answer format, provides information for teens
about marijuana use. Here, you can learn why teens smoke marijuana and how
marijuana affects the bodies and brains of those who use it.
http://www.bartleby.com/65/ma/marijuan.html
This
encyclopedia article, in addition to defining marijuana, and describing its
uses -- both legal and illegal -- provides some information on medical uses and
the debate over marijuana legalization.
Inhalants
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/inhale.html
This
website provides a very simple explanation of what inhalants are and how they
harm the body. Included is a chart showing the names of abused inhalants that
are common household items.
http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/Drug_Guide/Inhalants
This site
from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America is organized in question/answer
format, this website includes signs and symptoms of inhalant abuse and explains
both the short-term and long-term effects associated with huffing and sniffing
chemicals.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/grow/drugs_alcohol/know_drugs_inhalants.html
As part
of their "What You Need to Know About Drugs"
section, Kids Health provides a chart with information about inhalants. Find
out what they are called, how they're used, and what they do to your body.
Alcohol
http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/educators/lessons/alcohol1/factsheet.html
Here are
over 20 facts about alcohol! Topics include alcohol's effect on your body, your
brain, and your behavior, and facts about alcohol-related accidents and blood
alcohol level (BAL).
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html
This is a
thorough explanation of what alcohol does to the body and nervous system. Includes information about fetal alcohol syndrome and links to
further information.
What is
alcohol? Why do teens drink? Why shouldn't I drink? All of these questions and
more are answered by the Family Doctor at KidsHealth.
Tobacco
http://whyfiles.org/183smoking/index.html
Cancer
sticks. Coffin nails. Tarlboro Lights. The Why Files tackle the smoking debate. The site
discusses the effects of smoking, suggestions for quitting, and also the
chemical makeup of cigarettes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/interactive_area/flash_habit_cigs.shtml
Using
this interactive HabitKicker website will allow
someone to see how much money they've spent on cigarettes, what kind of
ingredients they're inhaling, and measure their overall level of addiction by
taking a quiz. Be aware that it is a British site, so currency is measured in
pounds instead of dollars.
http://kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/smoking.html
This
four-page article provides general information on cigarettes, nicotine, and
smoking by providing simple responses to questions such as "Why Are
Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco So Bad for You?" and "What Happens When
a Kid Tries Smoking or Smokeless Tobacco?"
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=39853
Read a
variety of factual and statistical data regarding smoking on this page.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/smokeless
This
website provides brief responses to several questions about smokeless tobacco
and the risks associated with its use including: "What harmful chemicals
are found in smokeless tobacco?," and "What
about using smokeless tobacco to quit cigarettes?."
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/chewing-tobacco/CA00019
At this
site from the Mayo Clinic, you can read about smokeless tobacco and the dangers
associated with it. This article includes information on how smokeless tobacco
can cause the same problems, such as addiction, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, that are caused by cigarettes.
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/tobacco/smokeless.html
This
three-page article explains what smokeless tobacco is and how it affects those
who use it. Included are tips for those who want to quit chewing tobacco.
General
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/interactive_area/flash_bodytour.shtml
This Body
Tour looks like a game where students click on general body parts to get
information, but they'll also learn how smoking and drug use affects those
organs or systems.