parent drug education talk
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Parent Drug Education Talk. Willard Middle School November 5, 2012 Ralph Cantor. Ralph’s Perspective. My history and contribution The subject of adolescent substance abuse is huge and complex - time I am not a neuroscientist or a doctor Nurturing you connection (triunal brain) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Parent Drug Education Talk
Willard Middle School November 5, 2012
Ralph Cantor
Ralph’s Perspective My history and contribution The subject of adolescent substance
abuse is huge and complex - time I am not a neuroscientist or a doctor Nurturing you connection (triunal brain) Knowledge and the power of your words
In Last 30 Days 7th grade 9th grade 11th grade
Used Alcohol 12% 26% 47%Used Marijuana 8% 29% 39%
Have ever ridden in car with
ANYONE under influence
7th grade
41%
Statistics CA v. Berkeley
Adolescent Brain Adult Brain
PreFrontal Cortex
Parents’, therapists’ and our task:
“Sometimes need to act as though they are their teenagers’ “frontal cortex . . . talking through possibilities and options. They have to function like a surrogate set of frontal lobes, an auxiliary problem solver.””
Adolescent (and Young Adult) BrainAdolescent (and Young Adult) Brain
Adult BrainAdult Brain
“USE IT OR LOSE IT”– Reading, sports, music, video games, x-box, hanging out—whatever a child/teen is doing—these are the neural synapses that will be retained and those not worked get pruned away
Those neural synapses that are consistently used get hardwired in through mylenation
Pruning & Mylenation
Drive, motivation, the what’s important filter
Developmental tasks
Boredom/ Developing InterestsGood timesStressSocial SkillsAcademic SkillsAnswer the question “Who am I?”
Get a Life! Where’s your juice? What gets your interest? Where’s your energy? Where do you feel your spirit? Mechanics, the Arts, People,
Science What moves you?
Dopamine vs. Serotonin
Dopamine produces a feeling of pleasure Serotonin produces a feeling of well being Difference between pleasure and happiness
(short lived vs big picture) Developing skills, interest, relationships,
meaning (“getting a life”) Resiliency
Increased THC Potency
Hippies ‘60’s 1 - 3% Cannabis Sativa Vietnam 5 - 10% Cannabis Indica Growing females 10 - 15% Sensimilla Horticulture of Northern California
Indoor growing 15 - 20% Weed, purple, pipes, bowls, buds,
blunts, bongs, vaporizers
The Brain and Cannabinoid Sites
Nucleus Accumbens Hippocampus Cerebellum
Or how we trick the brain
Hippocampus, say what?
Retrieves relevant informationStores new info it deems relevant
CerebellumControls internal and external
coordination
Alcohol
The anesthetic and disinhibitor
1. Reduced sensitivity to intoxication
2. Increased sensitivity to social disinhibitions
3. Greater adverse effects to cognitive functioning
Most certainly YES
Are adolescents more susceptible to alcohol than adults?
What’s the big deal about kids drinking anyways???
Have you ever seen a group of drunk teenagers? Demeaning behaviors Date rape Accidents Teenage brain effects before 18 yrs old Do we want to continue the level of pain this pain
and suffering this has caused – look what have done with cigarette smoking
Date Rape – one to two-thirds of teen sexual assaults involve alcohol
18% of Females/ 39% Males say it is acceptable for a boy to force sex if the girl is stoned or drunk
40% of children who start drinking before age 15 will become alcoholics
In television 9 out of 10 drinkers are portrayed as having no effects or only positive outcomes from their alcohol consumption
Alcohol and Teenagers:
How well does the drug work
Positive and Negative Reinforcement
If, in addition to producing pleasure (positive reinforcement), a drug is more addicting, if it relieves negative states: boredom, anxiety, depression or stress (negative reinforcement).
Risk of addiction
PleasurePleasure
“I feel good”“I feel good”
BoredBored
AnhedoniaAnhedonia
InterestedInterested
“I feel negative”“I feel negative”
NORMAL RANGENORMAL RANGE
DysphoriaDysphoria EuphoriaEuphoria
Pleasure Scaleby Dr. Alex Stalcup
Messages for parents
Message for parent to teen
Wait,Because…
Reasons for a delaying message
SafetyPrefrontal cortex less involvedPruning and myelinationAltering the pleasure centerShort circuiting developmental
tasksThe research
Recent AMA Report on Brain Damage Risks Under 18
“The brain goes through dynamic changes during adolescence, and alcohol can seriously damage long and short term growth processes…Short-term or moderate drinking impairs learning and memory far more in youth than adults.”
Percentage of U.S. Adults Aged 18 and Older Dependent on Alcohol, By Age of
Drinking Onset
Talk to your child
I care, I see, I feel, Listen
Clear expectations
On-going Communication & Monitoring
Integrity & Self Assessment – Modeling
Teen-proof your home
Connection and Social Skills
Prevention Factors
Supportive family (tuned in, time together, supervision, fair rules/boundaries)
Non using peers and role models Youth are connected (school, activities) Social Skills Resiliency (coping with stress, celebration)
Your toolbox
Internal Self Self Care
External Talk to other people
Have a few discussions with a friend or spouse exploring the impact of your own use.
Andrew Weil – Unhealthy relationship Ignorance that the substance is a drug and
what it does to the bodyLoss of desired effect w/increasing frequencyDifficulty separating from the drug Impairment of health or social function
Get your act together
Be Like Glinda
Marijuana: What’s a Parent to Believe?
Tim Cermak 2003,Hazelden Uppers, Downers, All Arounders Darryl Inaba 1997,
CNS Publications Alcohol: What’s a Parent to Believe?
Stephen Biddulph, 2004, Hazelden Alex Stalcup : New Leaf Treament Center NLTC.com
Bibliography / References
Important Website
Partnership for Drug Free America
What to do if you suspect or know that your child is using drugs or alcohol?
http://timetoact.drugfree.org
Checklist
Am I encouraging open dialogue? If your teen believes she can’t tell you how she’s really feeling, she’ll be more likely to turn elsewhere for comfort and relief. Even if you’re afraid of what you’ll hear, remind your child that she can always talk to you (or another caring adult) about anything – without judgment.
Am I setting aside one-on-one bonding time? If your whole family is going through a stressful transition, such as a move or divorce, your teen may feel neglected. Show your kid you love him by taking him shopping, bowling or out for ice cream – without any siblings tagging along. This special attention will remind him that you’re still interested in what’s going on in his life. It will also remind him that despite your preoccupation at the moment, you are going to pick up on problems or changes in his behavior.
Am I discussing the dangers of drugs and alcohol? Even if they’ve heard it a million times before, it never hurts to talk to teens about the consequences of drinking and drug use. Try prompting your teen to talk to you honestly about his experience with different substances by asking, “So, have you heard about any kids at your school smoking pot?” or “What’s your opinion on teens trying prescription pills?”
Am I monitoring and communicating more?* Asking nit-picky questions may annoy your teen, but it can also keep her safe! If you get an unexpected or nonsensical response, it can immediately alert you that something is off. You have every right to ask your child which friends she’s hanging out with, what they’re planning on doing, and where they’re staying – and you have the right to check her story or call her cell phone halfway through the night. Kids who are not monitored are 4 times more likely to use drugs than those whose parents monitor their activities.
