Bioethics: drugs and driving
Debate how society should treat slowed reaction times from legal drugs while driving, then post a CER.
One-paragraph CER taking a position on whether drivers impaired by legal medications should face the same rules as drivers impaired by alcohol.
- 1Do thisDebate how society should treat slowed reaction times from legal drugs while driving, then post a CER.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisCER: One-paragraph CER taking a position on whether drivers impaired by legal medications should face the same rules as drivers impaired by alcohol.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems) › Unit 2.1 Reflexes: Drug impacts on neuron signaling, reflex and reaction time, patient diagnosis challenge. › CEROpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: Many legal medications slow neural signaling and increase reaction time; this creates a genuine public-safety and fairness conflict that society has not fully resolved.
- 0-5Intro: how legal drugs affect neural conduction and reaction time
- 5-20Independent reading and safety/fairness argument list
- 20-40John Carroll bioethics debate
- 40-55Draft claim and strongest evidence
- 55-75Write and post CER
- 75-80Class share: how did the science shape the ethics arguments?
- • This week we measure reflexes. Before we do, here is the real-world question this science raises.
- • A legal antihistamine can slow your reaction time by the same amount as a blood-alcohol level that would get you arrested for DUI. Should those drivers be treated the same?
- • Your CER must take a specific position on legal liability, not just on whether drugs are dangerous. The danger is already established.
- • The neurophysiology you learn this week will let you evaluate the science behind the ethics argument more precisely.
- 1Read the prompt: should drivers on legal drugs that slow reaction time face the same rules as impaired drivers?
- 2List two safety arguments and two fairness arguments.
- 3Choose a side and write a one-sentence claim with your reasoning.
- 4Debate in your John Carroll bioethics group and note the strongest counterpoint.
- 5Post a CER response on reaction time, drugs, and public safety.
- • You can take a position on legal drugs and driving rules.
- • You can weigh public safety against individual fairness.
- • Depressants (antihistamines, benzodiazepines, opioids) reduce CNS activity by enhancing inhibitory neurotransmitters or blocking excitatory ones, slowing reaction time.
- • Reaction time is the interval between a stimulus and the motor response; it depends on sensory neuron conduction speed, synapse processing time, and motor neuron conduction speed.
- • Many prescription and over-the-counter medications warn against driving; the ethical question is whether legal use should change legal liability.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 2.1 Reflexes: Drug impacts on neuron signaling, reflex and reaction time, patient diagnosis challenge. · Bioethics: drugs and driving
Day 1 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open Lesson 2.1 Getting Nervous in myPLTW and complete the introductory reflex-arc task; connect a fact about reaction time or drug impairment to your driving-and-drugs CER.
Mark the introductory task complete after posting your CER.
You covered neuron anatomy and brain regions last week; this week focuses on reflex arcs and signaling within Lesson 2.1, and the task should be checked off today.
myPLTW completion status plus CER screenshot.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Unit 2.1 Reflexes: Drug impacts on neuron signaling, reflex and reaction time, patient diagnosis challenge. · Bioethics: drugs and driving
Open Lesson 2.1 Getting Nervous in myPLTW and complete the introductory reflex-arc task; connect a fact about reaction time or drug impairment to your driving-and-drugs CER.
You covered neuron anatomy and brain regions last week; this week focuses on reflex arcs and signaling within Lesson 2.1, and the task should be checked off today.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Debate how society should treat slowed reaction times from legal drugs while driving, then post a CER.
- Read the prompt: should drivers on legal drugs that slow reaction time face the same rules as impaired drivers?
- List two safety arguments and two fairness arguments.
- Choose a side and write a one-sentence claim with your reasoning.
- Debate in your John Carroll bioethics group and note the strongest counterpoint.
- Post a CER response on reaction time, drugs, and public safety.
CER: One-paragraph CER taking a position on whether drivers impaired by legal medications should face the same rules as drivers impaired by alcohol.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Read the prompt: should drivers on legal drugs that slow reaction time face the same rules as impaired drivers? | _______ |
| List two safety arguments and two fairness arguments. | _______ |
| Choose a side and write a one-sentence claim with your reasoning. | _______ |
| Debate in your John Carroll bioethics group and note the strongest counterpoint. | _______ |
| Post a CER response on reaction time, drugs, and public safety. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You can take a position on legal drugs and driving rules.
- You can weigh public safety against individual fairness.
Resources & readings
Vetted readings and references for this unit. Use them to prepare, to catch up if you were absent, or to go deeper on today's target.
Lab & supplies
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Read the linked overview on drug reactions, then post a written CER on how slowed reaction time from legal drugs should be treated for drivers, citing one fact from the resource.
MedlinePlus: Drug reactionsThen submit your CER on Schoology.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
Khan Academy: Neurons and Synapses- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Wed, Oct 14, 2026 · Bioethics: drugs and driving here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project