How Drugs Work

Introduction

One of my constant challenges as a high school chemistry teacher is designing lessons that make chemistry less inert and more alive and real to students. I want them to see that chemistry is more than memorizing terms and formulas and solving exercises. I want them to appreciate the relevance of chemistry in daily life and how it could help them make responsible and informed every day decisions and even participate in discussions over many public policy issues that affect them.

It is also important that the experience students get in my science classes will entice some of them to explore the possibility of a career in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). But many of them still ask the question: why is this necessary?

As former secretary of education William J. Bennett pointed out, in the last forty years, the United States has led the way in terms of technological development and economic growth ¹ . But we now live in a highly global competitive society. If the United States is to keep its place as the most competitive and innovative country in the world, it has to graduate students with strong STEM foundation. In fact, a report from the President''s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology released in February this year indicates that ""economic projections point to a need for approximately 1 million more STEM professionals than the U.S. will produce at the current rate over the next decade if the country is to retain its historical preeminence in science and technology. To meet this goal, the United States will need to increase the number of students who receive undergraduate STEM degrees by about 34% annually over current rates"" ² .

A positive and engaging experience in high school science classes, such as chemistry, helps students consider STEM as a career. And one way this could be done is by helping students see the real world applications of what they are learning. Incorporating a unit on over–the–counter (OTC) pain relievers in the chemistry curriculum is one example of how the course can be made more relevant to students.

Why pain relievers? Millions of Americans use OTC pain relievers every day. Advil, Tylenol, Bayer aspirin, among others, have become ""wonder drugs"" that can make a headache from a hangover or discomfort from sore muscles disappear, allowing many to continue with their daily routine. OTC pain relievers have become a staple in the medicine cabinet of many American homes. Many people carry extra tablets in their purses or vehicles.

Students in my chemistry classes are no different. Almost every day, at least one student asks if I have Advil she could take for her headache (we are not allowed to give any form of medication to students). Every time a student hollers in class ""Who has Tylenol or Advil?"", there is always one student who will offer to ""share.""

The prevalent use of OTC pain relievers poses risks. Many people think that because they do not require prescription, OTC drugs offer no danger. But a study conducted by Northwestern University showed that many American consumers are unaware of what is in the OTC pain relievers they are taking ³ . The study revealed that only 41% of those surveyed admitted to reading drug labels. Moreover, only 31% of the participants knew that Tylenol contains acetaminophen, 75% knew Bayer has aspirin, 47% knew Motrin has ibuprofen, 19% knew Aleve has naproxen sodium and 19% knew Advil contains ibuprofen ⁴ .

This lack of awareness about the active ingredient in OTC pain relievers is alarming. For example, acetaminophen overdose has become the leading cause of acute liver failure in the country. In addition, aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen belong to a group of medications called NSAID (non–steroidal anti–inflammatory drugs), which is one of the leading causes of stomach ulcers and have been associated with side effects ranging from stomach upset to stomach bleeding, which can be life threatening.