News stories about drug busts, features about how people are trying to rebuild their lives after involvement with illegal drugs, and editorials and editorial cartoons that deal with the current illegal drug crisis are prominent in the news. Look for articles about drugs and drug abuse in the electronic edition of the St. Petersburg Times. You can use the e-mail notification feature to monitor this subject over the course of a few weeks. What is the main information being conveyed in these articles? Keep a journal of the main ideas of the articles. Be sure to jot down the who, what, where, when, why and how information in these articles. Share your thoughts about what you have learned with your class and here on the NIE Blogging Zone.

Many people choose to ignore gang and bullying activity in their neighborhoods and schools. Does silence hurt? Think about events in history that may have been prevented or had their impact lessened if people had spoken up and did not close their doors against violence. In your school media center, research a war crime or genocide that occurred during the 20th century. Discuss with your classmates what role bystanders played in these events. Look for articles in the St. Petersburg Times about current crimes that continue because of people’s silence. Write a short essay about the information you find. Share your information with your class and here on the NIE Blogging Zone.

A drug is any non-food substance that when put into the body changes the way the body or mind works – including tobacco. Newspapers, the Internet and television frequently contain advertising for smoking or smoking substitutes. Monitor the St. Petersburg Times and your favorite television station for a week. In your journal, write down each time you see an advertisement for tobacco or a tobacco alternative. Do you think you are being bombarded with these images? What is the message that is being conveyed in these advertisements? Share your thoughts and what you have learned here on the NIE Blogging Zone.

Teenagers often encounter peer pressure in which they feel pressured to do things that may be harmful to them. However, adults also can be pressured, especially when it comes to college campuses or the workplace. Find an article in the St. Petersburg Times or tbt* in which peer pressure may have played a role. In your journal, write about the peer pressure you see, read and hear about in your community. Explore why it is important for people to be prepared for situations where they may feel pressured to do something that may have negative effects on their life. Share your thoughts here on the NIE Blogging Zone.