Substance AbuseJOANNA ASARE

WORKPLACE WELLNESS AND HEALTH PROMOTION STUDENT

DECEMBER 11,2014

Objectives By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

• Understand what substance abuse is

•Know the prevalence among students

• Learn the main types of substances which students abuse

•Understand the factors contributing to substance abuse/ why individuals may not get treatment

•Identify signs and symptoms of substance abuse

•Identify how substance abuse affects the brain

• Identify the consequences of substance abuse

•Differentiate between substance abuse and substance dependence

•Know the types of medical treatments/resources to combat substance abuse

What is Substance Abuse Substance abuse is the use of a substance, especially alcohol or any form of drugs. From a psychological view, according to the DSM, substance abuse is a maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress occurring within 12 months:

- Recurrent substance use resulting in failure to fulfils major obligations (work, school, home)

- Recurrent substance use in physical hazardous situations (driving while impaired)

- Recurrent substance-related legal problems

- Continued substance use despite having persistent/recurrent social/interpersonal problems

(MedicineNet, 2014)

Stats on Substance Abuse•The harmful use of alcohol results in 3.3 million deaths each year

•On average every person in the world aged 15 years or older drinks 6.2 litres of pure alcohol per year

•Less than half the population (38.3%) actually drinks alcohol, this means that those who do drink consume on average 17 L of pure alcohol annually.

•At least 15.3 million persons have drug use disorders

•Injecting drug use reported in 148 countries, of which 120 report HIV infection among this population

•In 2012 7.6% of deaths among males and 4% of deaths among females were attributable to alcohol

(WHO, 2014)

Figures

No name, 2010 NIH, 2012

Type of SubstancesThe main type of substances which people can abuse include:

•Tobacco

•Alcohol

•Marijuana (grass)

•Cocaine (crack)

•Heroin (smack)

•Methamphetamines (crystal meth)

•Ecstasy (MDMA)

•LSD (Acid)

(WebMD, 2014)

True or False High School and College Students are experimenting with prescription medications

True False

Incorrect, Try Again

Back

You Are Correct According to 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the use of prescription drugs are on the rise

for teenage/college students

Prevalence Among Students There is an increase spike in substance abuse in high school and college students including drug overdoses and binge drinking. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, marijuana and prescription drugs are the top two substances being used by students. (Drugwatch, 2014)

Substances Which Students Abuse Adderall: “study drug”, used to treat ADHD. Students use it to increase their motivation, focus and motivation, especially during exams. Able to access this drug through people with ADHD, or doctors (mimic ADHD symptoms)

Alcohol: binge drinking is commonly associated with alcohol, also mixed with energy drinks. Generally used in social settings

Cold Medicine: over the counter medication is also abused since it easy to access and you do need a prescription for them. Some of the medications include: Tylenol Cold, Robitussin DM, and DayQuil

OxyContin: widely pain reliever abused by students. Students take it since it is said that you become loose, but will not experience the hangover effect

(Drugwatch, 2014)

Nine Lives- University of Western England

Discussion Questions Based on the video, think about the following questions?

1. Why do you believe that high school/post-secondary students believe that they have “nine lives”?

2. What other factors besides the ones mentioned in this video can lead to substance abuse in students?

3. If you were in the situation of the girl who was asked to take drugs and saw the cat get killed, then resurrected, would you still partake in taking the drug, like the girl did?

Substance Abuse in the NewsEven After Campus Death, NIU Continues to Rack Up Dozens of Alcohol Emergency: By Rob Stafford

Jessie Baskin, Ex-FAMU Band Member, Gets 1 Year In Hazing Death: By KYLE HIGHTOWER

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida A&M band member on Friday became the first person to be sentenced to jail time for his role in the hazing death of a drum major.

Despite the tragic, hazing university death of 19-year-old David Bogenberger at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, NBC5 has learned that the problems of alcohol at the campus go far beyond this one tragedy.

Factors Influencing Substance Abuse

Some of the factors which influences substance abuse are:

• Genes (family history of abuse)

•Poor social coping skills

•Poor school performance

•Associating with a bad crowd/group

•Aggressive behavior

•Chaotic home environment

(WebMD, 2014)

Causes of Substance Abuse & Addiction | Addictions- Howcast.com

Signs and Symptoms Some of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse include:

•Declining grades

•Aggressiveness and irritability

•Forgetfulness

•Disappearing money or valuables

•Feeling rundown, hopeless, depressed, or even suicidal

•Getting drunk or high on drugs on a regular basis

•Lying, particularly about how much alcohol or other drugs he or she is using

•Avoiding friends or family in order to get drunk or high

•Planning drinking in advance, hiding alcohol, drinking or using other drugs alone

Signs and Symptoms (Cont’d) •Having to drink more to get the same high

•Believing that in order to have fun you need to drink or use other drugs

•Frequent hangovers

•Pressuring others to drink or use other drugs

•Taking risks, including sexual risks

•Having "blackouts“

•Constantly talking about drinking or using other drugs

•Getting in trouble with the law

•Drinking and driving

(WebMD, 2014)

Substance Dependence Substance dependence is the sudden or gradual dependence of a substance, which leads to physical and psychological distress if stopped or decrease. The two types of dependence are psychological and physical.

- Psychological: emotional and mental response to the stoppage or decrease in substance use ( anxiety, uneasiness and depression)

- Physical: occurs when the body reacts to the stoppage or decrease in substance use(pain, convulsions, trembles)

- Polysubstance: occurs when a person takes several substances (cigarettes with alcohol, cocaine with heroin). Not part of

dependence, but can pose serious health risks

(Anoymous, n.d.)

Consequences• Organ damage• HIV and AIDS• Depression• Anxiety• Memory loss• Aggression• Risk for arrest and probation• Large fines• Extensive jail time• Job loss• Negative relationships (Summithelps, 2014)

Substance Abuse and the Brain Some drugs can mimic some of the brain’s neurotransmitters◦-Marijuana/ Heroin: fool the brain receptors to send abnormal messages◦Cocaine/Meth: release a neurotransmitter (dopamine) ◦Affects motivation, emotions, and feelings◦Long-term effects can affect other neurotransmitters in the brain

- Glutamate: affect learning- Lead to poor judgment, decision-making, learning, memory and

behavioral changes(NIH, 2012)

Effects Drugs Have on the Body

Painkiller Addiction, 2014

When to Seek Medical Treatment If you suspect someone with substance abuse and they experience any of the following symptoms, call a doctor or take them to the emergency room:

•Seizures

•Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)

•Leg swelling

•Cough that will not go away

•Fever

•Chest pains

•Abdominal pain

•Severe tremors

•(WebMD, 2014)

Resources/Treatments• Behavioral Treatment: how to cope with the substance abuse (Rehab)•Treating mental illness if needed- counselling•Nicotine patches/ Methadone•Prevention

(WebMD, 2014)

Websites: Drug and Alcohol Helpline: www.drugandalcoholhelpline.ca/

CAMH: camh.ca/Care_Treatment/Resources_clients.../treat_young_people.html

Teen Challenge: www.teenchallenge.ca › Get Help

Saboteurs Against Treatment Though many individual do get help if they are suffering from substance abuse, some individuals do not. Think of the following:

- Internal Saboteurs

- External Saboteurs

Why do these saboteurs have a huge impact on individuals not seeking help?

What resources would you recommend to prevent these saboteurs from occurring?

Examples of Saboteurs Internal Saboteurs: “I cannot do it”

- Relapse

- Pointless to change

- Drug cravings

External Saboteurs

- Pressure from individuals to quit/ engage

- Little to no support

-Access to support

- No social support

DO NOT LET THESE SABOTEURS STOP YOU FROM GETTING THE HEP YOU NEED AND DESERVE!!

83 Percent of Students Admit to Drug Abuse- KTN Kenya

Discussion Questions Based on the video you just watch, think about the following questions:

1. Do you believe that using drug enforcement dogs will help to combat drug usage in students?

2. Are there any other reasons, besides the ones stated in this video to why students start using drugs?

3. What other resources could you use to combat substance abuse among students?

Quiz Time

Question 1 What is the most common use drug in Canada?

A. Heroin

B. Cocaine

C. Alcohol

D. Marijuana

Question 2 Name the three most commonly used drugs by teenagers

A. Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana

B. Alcohol, amphetamines, and marijuana

C. Amphetamines, tobacco, and marijuana

D. LSD, tobacco, and marijuana

Question 3 Crack is a particularly dangerous drug because it is:

A. Cheap

B. Readily available

C. Highly addictive

D. All of the above

Question 4 Which age group has the highest percentage of drug abusers?

A. 10-17

B. 18-25

C. 26-35

D. 36-60

Question 5 Which of the following increases the chance for drug abuse?

A. Family history of addiction

B. Mood disorders (depression, anxiety)

C. Antisocial personality disorder

D. All of the above

Incorrect, Try Again

Back

Incorrect, Try AgainBack

Incorrect, Try AgainBack

Incorrect, Try Again

Back

Incorrect, Try Again

Back

You Are Correct Alcohol is the most common substance abused since it is the easiest one to get

Next

You Are Correct Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. These three drugs are known as "gateway drugs" because

they are generally the first drugs that teenagers are exposed to

Next

You Are Correct All of the answers are correct. Small

quantities of crack can be bought for as little as $5.00. The low price makes it easily

affordable to young adults. In addition, crack is thought to be one of the most addictive

drugs

You Are Correct 18-25 is has the highest age range of

substance abuse

Next

You Are Correct Family History, Mood Disorders, and Antisocial

personality are all factors which could lead to substance abuse

Next

After this webinar You should now be aware of:

•What substance abuse is

•The prevalence among students

• The main types of substances which students abuse

•The factors contributing to substance abuse/ prevent individuals from getting treatments

•Identify signs and symptoms of substance abuse

•How substance abuse affects the brain

• Identify the consequences of substance abuse

•Differentiate between substance abuse and substance dependence

•The types of medical treatments/resources to combat substance abuse

Online Quizzes What Do You Know About Drug Abuse?

http://healthcare.utah.edu/healthlibrary/related/doc.php?type=40&id=DrugAbuseQuiz

National Drug IQ Challenge

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/quiz/national-drug-facts-week/take-iq-challenge/2014

Resources: Drugs: Shatter the Myths

http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/files/teenbrochure_508.pdf

This pdf talks about the myths about drugs and the effects it has on the body. It also talks about the consequences of taking these drugs.

Hope You Enjoy The Webinar

Have A Wonderful Day