1 2. Discussion

Work in pairs or small groups. What habits do the following refer to?

1. I’m down to two packs a day now.

2. OK, just a drop.

3. My nails never grow.

4. Get your finger out of there!

5. He stays up all nights watching.

6. I get on and I can’t get off – I just surf all day long.

7. I just can’t throw things out.

8. I can’t resist a bargain.

9. I have a terrible sweet tooth.

L esson 72.

1. Discussion

Discuss the answers to these questions.

1. Which of these products contain something that might hurt you?

1. soda

2. cigarettes

3. chocolate

4. deodorant spray can

5. cold medicine

2. What substances do they contain? How can each one hurt you?

2 . Predictions

Quickly skim these articles. Circle the answers.

Which article …

1. discusses many drugs?

   Reading 1

   Reading 2

   Readings 1 & 2

2. talks about drugs in the past?

   Reading 1

   Reading 2

   Readings 1 & 2

3. tries to persuade people there is a problem?

   Reading 1

   Reading 2

   Readings 1 & 2

4. focuses on one age group?

Reading 1

Reading 2

Readings 1 & 2

3. R eading

Read the articles. Look for the answers to your questions.

READING 1

Cocaine: the nineteenth century miracle drug

Long ago, Incas in South America discovered coca. Coca is a plant that contains a very powerful chemical – a drug. The Incas chewed coca leaves for energy. The Spanish conquistadors learned about coca, too. They took coca plant to Europe. There, in 1895, a German scientist learned how to take the drug out of the leaves. He called the drug cocaine.

Cocaine immediately became very popular. People thought it was a wonder drug. You could buy products with cocaine everywhere. Until 1914, you could buy it at department stores in the medicines and even chocolate cocaine tablets. One popular drink was Vin Cola – coca wine. It contained 7.2. mg of cocaine per ounce of wine. In the 1880s, the psychiatrist Sigmund Freud said that cocaine was useful. He believed it cured depression and alcoholism.

One hundred years ago, cocaine was also an ingredient in the world’s most famous drink – Coca Cola. At that time, it was a medicinal drink. It was named for its two main ingredients – coca leaves and kola nuts. People believed that Coca-Cola was beneficial; it made them feel better and more awake. That’s not surprising. It contained cocaine from coca leaves and caffeine from kola nuts. Coca-Cola hasn’t been made with cocaine for over 75 years.

Despite its benefits, cocaine wasn’t popular for very long. People son discovered that it wasn’t really wonderful. Doctors saw that people quickly became dependent on the drug; they couldn’t live without it. It also made some people a little crazy. Still others died from cocaine poisoning – they tool too much of it. By the beginning of the twentieth century, companies were taking cocaine out their products. Soon governments around the world made it illegal. Today cocaine is considered one of the most dangerous drugs.

Reading 2