Introduction:

The topic of drugs is a major societal issue that affects everyone, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. As teachers of Biology, English, Physical Education, and Spanish, we saw that the topic of drugs could be analyzed for educational, as well as social value. We felt that it was a controversial, yet interesting and pertinent topic, particularly for high school sophomores, as they will be faced with decisions surrounding drug use and politics for the rest of their lives. While there are many issues of critical importance to today's adolescent, the issue of drugs has unique social urgency. Students need to be educated about what is out there, and there is no better place for students to get a well-rounded perspective than in the classroom. It is our goal as teachers to create critically thinking citizens who can make informed and responsible decisions about their lives.

The drug issue is more than simply good or bad, legal or illegal. As such, we have taken an interdisciplinary approach to analysis and critique of the many factors that influence the role of drugs in our society. We hope that students will emerge from this course of study with a better understanding of the complete picture of how drugs can affect one's life, community, and the world at large.

School and Community Demographics:

Our high school is located in the Mission District within San Francisco. This area consists of a primarily Latino population with the majority of families coming from lower income backgrounds. There is a very active bilingual program within the school. The student population consists of the following: