Essential Standard Clarifying Objective 7.ATOD.1.3 7.ATOD.1 Predict consequences of abuse of over Understand the health risks the counter medicines from associated with alcohol, tobacco, and information provided by the other drug use. manufacturers of these medicines. Materials Needed:
Appendix 1 – sets of cards in envelopes, cut apart from Matching Definitions
Appendix 2 – quotation about drugs by Martin Minty
Appendix 3 – teacher copy of Tylenol Tampering Scare of 1982
Computer access, http://www.webmd.com/drug-medication/otc-pain-relief-10/videospain-medication and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTm3_NhzdcU&feature=related
Appendix 4 – Understand Over-the-Counter Drug Labels
Collection of OTC medicines– suggest cough syrup with DMX, Tylenol, weight loss or
laxative (empty bottles and packaging)
Appendix 5 – copies of How to Read an OTC Drug Label
Appendix 6 – copies of OTC Use and Abuse
Review:
Prepare ahead of class sets of cards for students to match terms and definitions. Make
sufficient copies (one for every two students) of Appendix 1, Matching Definitions:
Types of Drugs and Misuse. Place each set in an envelope and give students a few
minutes to sort cards and match the term and definition. Ask these follow up questions:
o What is the difference between prescription and OTC medicine?
o List some OTC medicines a family might keep in their medicine cabinet.
o What are some benefits provided by prescription and OTC medicines?
o Do both OTC and prescription medicines have potential risks? What are
examples?
Focus:
Write the quotation about drugs by Martin Minty (Appendix 2) on the white board. Read
the quotation and ask what it means. Tell students, Medications have risks and benefits
and for most people, a drug will have benefits which far outweigh the risks. For some
individuals, the risks are worse than the problem for which the person took the drug in
the first place. (for example, if they had an allergic reaction) Medicines need to be taken
only if a health professional recommends it and only if directions are followed.
7.ATOD.1.3, page 1 NC School Health Training Center NC Association for the Advancement of Health Education Statement of Objectives:
We hear in the news about illegal drugs and the abuse of substances. We also know
there are legal drugs (medications) which can improve health. Some people have been
harmed by drugs which were legal and taken for health purposes.
Today we will study over-the-counter medicines and their potential for harm. By the end
of the lesson, you will be able to tell the difference between use, misuse, and abuse of
medicines.
Teacher Input:
Read to students the story of the Tylenol Tampering Scare of 1982 (Appendix 3). Share
with students, Companies and federal agencies are charged with making certain that
drugs are safe as well as effective. Tylenol set the standard for responding to a crisis by
developing tamper-proof packaging so the crime of product tampering could not happen
again. It is extremely important that consumers (average citizens who use the products)
do so carefully.
Preview the following two short videos and show one of them:
• Web MD at http://www.webmd.com/drug-medication/otc-pain-relief-10/videospain-medication which focuses on the importance of reading labels of OTC drugs
and prescription drugs so acetaminophen is not taken in larger quantities than
safe.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTm3_NhzdcU&feature=related tells the story
of a 22-year-old male who dies from an over dose of acetaminophen.
Many commonly abused OTC drugs contain the ingredient DXM (dextromethorphan)
which is used to treat cough, cold and flu symptoms. Also, OTC medications believed
to help with weight loss; i.e. laxatives, diuretics and diet pills are often abused. All of
these medications can have serious and potentially fatal side effects over time.
The consumer has responsibility to be educated about medicines. An important skill is
reading drug labels. The labels include information about when and how to take the
medicine, the dosage, and what to do if side effects are experienced.
Distribute copies of Understand Over-the-Counter Drug Labels (Appendix 4). Ask them
to read silently and they will have an opportunity to apply the information to correctly
read an OTC label.
Guided Practice:
Ask students to pair up for the next activity. Provide each pair of students with an empty
medicine bottle or package. Distribute copies of How to Read an OTC Label (Appendix
5). Ask them to complete the information about the product assigned to them.
After sufficient time, ask each group to name the product and tell its purpose. Explain,
OTCs are usually recommended to alleviate symptoms rather than to cure the problem.
7.ATOD.1.3, page 2 NC School Health Training Center NC Association for the Advancement of Health Education A good example might be a product for the common cold. The person taking the product
would experience less sneezing and coughing, but would still have a cold.
Continue going over the worksheet, asking for two or three groups to give examples of
warnings, contraindications, and possible side effects. Re-emphasize it is the
responsibility of the consumer of the product to be well-educated and responsible in his
or her use of the drug.
Independent Practice:
Option 1
Provide each student with a copy of OTC Use and Abuse (Appendix 6). Have students
answer the questions and call on them for responses.
Option 2
Ask students to research on the web the terminology Combined drug intoxication (CDI),
also known as multiple drug intake (MDI) and submit a brief report of their findings.
Closure:
Today we learned the difference between proper use and abuse of over-the-counter
medicines. Consumers share equal responsibility with drug companies, physicians,
pharmacists, and government agencies for the safe use of medicines.
7.ATOD.1.3, page 3 Matching Definitions
Types of Drugs and Misuse
Over-theCounter
Medicine
Medicines and remedies
which may be purchased
without a doctor’s
prescription
Prescription Drug products which may
Medicine
have greater side effects
and therefore need to be
prescribed by a physician
Drug Misuse Using a drug for other
than its intended purpose
or by someone other than
person for whom the drug
is intended
Drug Abuse Drug use which is
physically, socially, legally,
or emotionally harmful to
self or others
7.ATOD.1.3, Appendix 1 No drug is perfectly safe.
A drug powerful enough
to do good is
powerful enough to do harm.
-Martin Minty
7.ATOD.1.3, Appendix 2 Tylenol Tampering
Scare of 1982
In 1982, seven people in the Chicago area died
because of product tampering. Someone had placed on
store shelves bottles of Extra-Strength Tylenol with
capsules laced with cyanide. The amount of poison was
thousands of times stronger than what was needed to kill a human.
The makers of Tylenol, Johnson and Johnson, took action to alert the population
through the media and took all the products off their shelves. The company lost
millions of dollars, but thought it was more important to protect the public’s health
and safety.
In addition, the company researched methods to keep their medicines safer and
invented many of the “tamper-proof” features we see on medicines today. It takes a
few more seconds to open the product, but we can tell if someone has tampered with
the medicines we have purchased.
When you first open an over-the-counter product, what safety features are there?
(tape over lid of package, plastic around seal of top of bottle, foil seal on mouth of
bottle)
Drug companies must test their products, and the Food and Drug Administration
must approve these medicines. Because of these regulations, we know most drugs
are safe and effective. This is true only if the person for whom they are intended
takes them correctly. Listening to the doctor or pharmacist and reading drug labels
are our best defense against a harmful effect from a medicine.
7.ATOD.1.3, Appendix 3 Understand Over-the-Counter Drug Labels
WebMD Public Information with the FDA
Always Read the Label
Reading the product label is the most important part of taking care of yourself or your family
when using over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (those that are available without a prescription).
This is especially true because you probably take OTC medicines without first seeing a doctor.
The OTC medicine label contains important, easy-to-read and understand usage and safety
information.
An FDA regulation makes sure the labels on all OTC medicines (from a tube of fluoride
toothpaste to a bottle of cough syrup) have information listed in the same order; are arranged in
a simple, eye-catching, consistent style; and may contain easy-to-understand words. See the
example on this page.
If you read the OTC medicine label and still have questions about the product, talk to your
doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional.
What's On The Label?
All nonprescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medicine labels have detailed usage and warning
information so consumers can properly choose and use the products. You'll find this
information:
*Active Ingredient. Therapeutic substance in product; amount of active ingredient per unit.
*Uses. Symptoms or diseases the product will treat or prevent.
*Warnings. When not to use the product; conditions that may require advice from a doctor
before taking the product; possible interactions or side effects; when to stop taking the product
and when to contact a doctor; if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, seek guidance from a health
care professional; keep product out of children's reach.
*Inactive Ingredients. Substances such as colors or flavors.
*Purpose. Product action or category (such as antihistamine, antacid, or cough suppressant.)
*Directions. Specific age categories, how to take, how much, how often, and how long.
*Other Information. How to store the product properly, and required information about certain
ingredients (such as the amount of calcium, potassium, or sodium the product contains)
*The expiration date, when applicable (date after which you should not use the product).
*Lot or batch code(manufacturer information to help identify the product).
*Name and address of manufacturer, packer, or distributor.
*Net quantity of contents (how much of the product is in each package).
*What to do if an overdose occurs.
The manufacturers of OTC medicines sometimes make changes to their products or labeling
(new ingredients, dosages, or warnings). Make sure to read the label each time you buy the
product. Always look for special "flags" or "banners" on the front product label alerting you to
such changes.
Source: http://www.fda.gov/drugs/emergencypreparedness/bioterrorismanddrugpreparedness/ucm133411.htm
7.ATOD.1.3, Appendix 4 How to Read an OTC Drug Label
Look for these instructions.
Information:
•
Name
•
Symptoms
•
Quantity of contents
•
Active ingredients
•
Name and place of business
Directions:
•
Amount of each dose
•
How frequently to be taken
•
How taken (by mouth, with water)
Warnings:
•
Total dose each day
•
Limit on length of treatment
•
Possible side effects (drowsiness,
constipation)
•
Circumstances requiring MD’s
supervision
Contraindications:
•
Drug interactions
•
For people with special problems
“If symptoms persist, . . . .”
Example: if symptoms do not go away by
a specified time, see your doctor. (OTCs
are intended to relieve symptoms.)
7.ATOD.1.3, Appendix 5 OTC Use and Abuse
Decide whether the following scenarios are examples
of drug use or abuse. If the answer is abuse, what are
possible consequences and what should the person
have done differently? Include using resources such as
parents, pharmacists, or physicians.
Use or Abuse?
A Better Plan!
A college student is old enough to drink
alcohol. She has been taking a cold
remedy for two days. She drinks three
beers and decides the alcohol with the
cold medicine will help her sleep.
Possible consequences:
Use or Abuse?
A Better Plan!
A seventh grader is staying the weekend
with a friend. The friend suggests they
check out the medicine cabinet in the
parents’ bedroom. The suggestion is
made to take one of each pill to see what
might happen.
Possible consequences:
Use or Abuse?
A Better Plan!
A student has had diarrhea for a couple
of hours. He decides to double the
dosage of an antidiarrheal to see if the
problem will go away faster.
Possible consequences:
7.ATOD.1.3, Appendix 6