Fake Drugs – Basic 1 Security Education Lesson Note (Third Term)

A drug is a medicine that helps us when we are sick and makes us feel better. Fake drugs are not real medicine. Bad people make them, and they look like real medicine, but they do not work and can harm or even kill people.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• say what a drug is
• name four types of medicine
• say what fake drugs are and why they are dangerous
• state ways of avoiding fake drugs, including checking for the NAFDAC number
• state the important rules about taking medicine

What is a drug?

• A drug is medicine
• Medicine helps us when we are sick
• Doctors give us medicine
• Medicine makes us feel better

What are the types of drugs (medicines)?

1. Tablets/pills

• Small round medicines we swallow
• For headache, fever, etc.

2. Syrup/liquid medicine

• Sweet liquid we drink with a spoon
• For cough, fever, etc.

3. Injections

• Medicine given with a needle
• At the hospital or clinic

4. Cream/ointment

• Medicine we rub on skin
• For wounds or rashes

What are fake drugs?

• Fake drugs are not real medicine
• They are made by bad people
• They look like real medicine but are not
• They are very dangerous

How do fake drugs look?

• They may look like real medicine
• The packaging may look real
• They do not work
• They can harm you

Why are fake drugs dangerous?

1. They don’t cure sickness

• You remain sick
• Your sickness can get worse

2. They can make you more sick

• Instead of getting better, you get worse
• You can have new problems

3. They can poison you

• Fake drugs have bad chemicals
• They can poison your body

4. They can cause death

• In very bad cases
• Fake drugs can kill people
• This is very serious

5. They waste money

• Your parents pay for something useless
• The money is wasted

How can we avoid fake drugs?

1. Buy from a real pharmacy/chemist

• Don’t buy medicine from the street
• Go to a proper chemist shop
• The shop should have a licence

2. Check the packaging

• Real medicine has good packaging
• The name is clear
• The expiry date is clear
• NAFDAC number is on it

3. Check for the NAFDAC number

• NAFDAC checks if drugs are real
• Real medicine has a NAFDAC registration number
• Look for it on the pack

4. Don’t buy from hawkers

• Don’t buy medicine from people on the street
• They may sell fake drugs

5. Ask your parents

• Let adults buy medicine
• They know where to buy real drugs

What are the important rules about drugs?

1. Don’t take medicine without permission

• Only take medicine when adults give you
• Don’t take your own medicine

2. Follow the doctor’s instructions

• Take the right amount
• Take at the right time

3. Don’t share medicine

• Your medicine is for you only
• Don’t give it to friends

4. Keep medicine away from children

• Medicine should be locked away
• Small children can take it by mistake

5. Tell an adult if you’re sick

• Don’t look for medicine yourself
• Tell your parents or teacher

Evaluation

Choose the correct answer.

1. A drug is _____.
   • a) food
   • b) medicine
   • c) water
2. Fake drugs are _____ medicine.
   • a) real
   • b) not real
   • c) good
3. We should buy medicine from a _____.
   • a) street hawker
   • b) real pharmacy
   • c) friend
4. Real medicine has a _____ number.
   • a) NAFDAC
   • b) telephone
   • c) house
5. We should _____ take medicine without permission.
   • a) always
   • b) not
   • c) quickly

Assignment

1. Ask your parents to show you a real medicine with a NAFDAC number.
2. Draw a medicine bottle with NAFDAC written on it.
3. Write three dangers of fake drugs.
4. Write: Only take medicine when adults give you.