Drug Research Project
For your next research project, you will be researching and problematizing various
aspects one specific drug, selected from the list below. Your goal is to locate
credible materials (both academic and popular sources) in which you discuss four
major aspects of this drug: Historical, Legal, Scientific, and Socio-cultural.
• You will be writing about 5 pages of research (MLA Style).
• You will need 6 sources for this project, as described below.
• You will be required to use MLA or APA format when writing (in-text
citations, works cited page, etc.)
• You should be in this essay – your reaction, your voice, your tone, your
thoughts and reflections as you make your way through this project.
Your choices for this project are: (pick one)
• LSD-25
• Methamphetamine
• Psilocybin mushrooms
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• MDMA
Historical Section:
2 sources
1 page

When was this drug invented or discovered or when were some of the first recorded
uses? How was it received at the time? How has the opinion of this drug changed
over time? What history does this drug have? Famous users? Inventors?
Legal Section:
1 Source
1 Page

What laws or legal issues surrounded this drug in the past? When did the drug
become illegal, restricted, or otherwise “dangerous” according to American law?
What about other countries and other laws?
Scientific Section:
1 Source
1 Page
How, according to scientific research, does this drug work? What are its chemical
properties? What happens when humans consume or ingest this drug? What
happens inside the body or brain? Is there consensus among the scientific
community about if this is good or bad or indifferent?
Socio-Cultural:
2 sources
2 pages

What are some of the ways this drugs has been used by various cultures, including
our own? How has this drug influenced our culture or society (think, music, art,
literature, science, religion, etc.)? What are some specific examples of this drug at
work in our society or culture?
Evaluation Criteria:
20 The research is valid, credible, and relevant
20 The writing demonstrates proper use of MLA format, including in-text
citations and works cited page
10 Each section is properly labeled and organized.
30 The research is intertwined with the author’s own voice and style (not just
cutting and pasting research)
20 The work was relatively free of grammatical and surface level issues.
100 points