Trinity High School �Parent Presentation on Drugs and Alcohol

SUSANNE BINFORD, DSW, LCSW�Licensed Clinical Social Worker��

​

​

Reasons

• The thrill of a new experience
• Peer motivation/pressure (acceptance, avoid rejection)
• Self-medicating (ADHD, anxiety, depression)
• Stress
• To perform better in school

​

(National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014)

Adolescent Emotional Development

• Normal Adolescence is characterized by……
• Sensation-seeking (or risk-taking) – differs with each kid how much risk is involved
• Increase in conflicts with family members
• Desire to be with friends and increased connection with social media
• Beginning to challenge rules/authority

​

​

(Arain et al, 2013)

Adolescent Development

• Physical development (body structure, puberty) has steadily accelerated in last 20 years.
• We know physical build and sexual maturity do not equal having the ability to make rational, socially responsible decisions.
• The brain undergoes a considerable amount of development during the teen years.
• Consequential thinking does not begin to develop until young adulthood (ages 22-27)
• The last area to develop is the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in planning, decision-making and impulse control.

(Arain et al, 2013)

Brain growth

• The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that enables a person to think clearly, to make good decisions and to control impulses.
• It is primarily responsible for how much priority to give incoming messages like ''Do this now'' versus ''Wait! What about the consequences?”
• Prefrontal cortex is the first part of the brain to be affected by substance use (hence some REALLY poor decisions made when drinking/using)
• A teenager's brain “has a well-developed accelerator but only a partly developed brake.” (Laurence Steinberg)

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.hhs.gov)

Alcohol

• Alcohol most widely abused substance for American teens:
• Used more than nicotine or marijuana
• Adolescents and young adults binge drink. (4 or more drinks in a row)
• Adverse effects:
• Brain development
• Impairs judgment which:
• Increases school and/or legal issues
• Increases likelihood of risky behaviors
• Increased risk of developing addiction
• 1:4 teens abusing substances will develop addiction (1:25 if abuse begins after age 21)

​

www.niaaa.nih.gov

(Monitoring the Future, 2024)

THC

​

• THC not “harmless”
• Decrease quality of connection in the brain which affects:
• Learning and memory
• Coordination
• Judgment
• THC use among teens dropped during pandemic
• Past 30-day use for 10^th graders
• 2022 – 19.5%
• 2023 – 17.8%
• 2019 – 28.8%

(Monitoring the Future, 2024)

THC

​

• Delta-8
• Derivative of cannabis sativa plant (hemp, marijuana)
• Similar effects to Delta-9
• 56% of adverse incidents involving Delta-8 were under 20 years old.
• Legal in Kentucky for 21 and over

(United States Drug Enforcement Administration, 2024)

(Monitoring the Future, 2024)

...myths and misconceptions...

• Just a plant. Also, cocaine and poison ivy are plants.
• Confusion about medical THC and legalization of THC. Many see those issues as an endorsement of its harmlessness.
• THC is not addicting. But lots of people can tell you how difficult it is to give up.
• Better than alcohol? Not legal for a reason and affects functioning and development.
• Be wary of information sources

(National Institute on Drug Abuse. www.drugabuse.gov)

Vaping

• E-cigarettes /Vapes
• Nicotine – concentrated
• Heated e-liquid has 25 times level of lead than before it is heated – Columbia University 2018
• THC
• CBD (often has THC in it and CAN show positive on a test)
• Synthetic mood-altering substances
• Prevalence dropped during the pandemic
• Nicotine – past 30-day use for 10^th graders concentrated
• 2019 – 30.7%
• 2022 – 20.5%
• 2023 – 17.6%
• THC - past 30-day use for 10^th graders
• 2019– 19.4%
• 2022 – 15.0%
• 2023 – 13.1%

(Monitoring the Future, 2024)

​

(Monitoring the Future, 2024)

(Monitoring the Future, 2024)

What to know

• Can buy online (including social media)
• More concentrated (nicotine, THC, etc)
• More difficult to detect (no smell on their clothes, looks like pen/flash drive/etc) (Office of Adolescent Health – 2018)
• Prevalence is concerning! Estimated 2,110,150 new nicotine vaping initiates in 8th-12th grade 9/2021-5/2024

​

(Monitoring the Future, 2024)

Fentanyl

• Increasingly found in “harmless” substances
• Pill presses more sophisticated
• 7 out of 10 counterfeit pills have a lethal dose (2 mg)
• Reason for additive
• More potent
• More addictive

(United States Drug Enforcement Administration, 2024)

Perception changes

• Perception of risk indicates likelihood of trying a substance
• 10^th graders perception of risk
• 2003
• Try it – 21.1%
• Occasional use – 34.9%
• Regular use – 63.9%
• 2013
• Try it – 15.7%
• Occasional use – 25.1%
• Regular use – 46.5%
• 2023
• Try it – 16.8%
• Occasional use – 24.4%
• Regular use – 47.0%

(Monitoring the Future, 2024)

​

Model of Progression

• No Use
• **Exploratory or Experimental**
• **Social**
• Emotional or Instrumental
• Dependent or Compulsive
• Impulsivity and reward-seeking is a vulnerability factor in progressive use

(Khurana et al., 2015)

Below is a list of tasks adolescents need to accomplish �(drug use interferes with those tasks)

• Learn to deal with feelings.
• Learn to think through things.
• Learn to entertain self.
• Develop social confidence.
• Learn to develop real relationships.

****Preparing to be healthy adults****

​

(Arain et al, 2013)

Stopping and/or getting help

• “The Need to Quit”
• “Get Trust Back With My Family”
• “Be a Positive Role-Model for My____”
• “Have Better Self-Esteem”
• “Be Happier and Cope With My Emotions”
• “I Don’t Have a Problem…I want prove I can quit!”
• “Too many consequences”

(Arain et al, 2013)

1 in 5…

…parents feel there is little they can do about their child’s substance use.

Parental Influence

• Research consistently shows that parents are central to preventing teen drug use. In fact, kids themselves say that losing their parents’ trust and respect are the most important reasons to not use drugs.
• Kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs and alcohol from their parents are up to 50% less likely to use than those who do not
• MYTH: You can TEACH your child how to drink or use drugs by letting them drink and use at home. That is inaccurate. It gives the message that it is okay to drink and use.

​

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.hhs.gov)

​

Parent Disapproval

• A majority of youths aged 12 to 17 (88.4 percent) reported that their parents would strongly disapprove of their trying THC once or twice.
• Current THC use was much less prevalent among youths who perceived strong parental disapproval for trying it at all vs those who think their parents don’t really care (4.1 vs. 29.3 percent).

​

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.hhs.gov)

​

Messages

�Parental Involvement�

• Parent behaviors that reduce the likelihood of teens using substances:
• Give a clear message about your stance on teen alcohol and drug use
• Make a plan to say “no”
• Be involved with homework
• Give responsibilities
• Praise them
• Appropriately monitor (peak time is 2p-6p)
• Limit screen time
• Get to know friends and do not be afraid to tell on a kid
• Eyeball teens when they come home

​

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.hhs.gov)

​

What is out there?

• Alcohol
• THC (vape, smoke, edibles, Delta 8/Delta 9)
• Nicotine (vape, pouches, dip, cigarettes)
• Stimulants - Adderall/ methamphetamine/ cocaine
• Benzos - Xanax/Klonopin/Ativan
• Opiates – heroin/ LorTab/ OxyCodone/Fentanyl
• Inhalants
• Club drugs (ecstasy, molly, etc.)

What do they call it?

Water

Smir (or other shortened name)

Hooch

Crunk

Mellow Yellow

K-pin

Xanax

Zannies

X

Molly

Huff

Whippets

Oxies

Tabs

Addys

Study Buddies

Dexies

Georgia Home Boy (GHB)

Blow

Booger Sugar

Snow

Velvet

Drank

Sizzurp

Ice

Crystal

Meth

Speed

Marijuana

Weed

Pot

Dabs

Devil’s lettuce

Devil’s spice

Herb

420

​

​

Dro

Dank

Chronic

MaryJane

Ganja

Garden

Blunt

Bud

Bush

Cheeba

Doobie

Exotic

Reefer

Spliff

Toke

Tree

Carts

Dab pens

Za

​

​

Text/Venmo

Photo Album

How do I know?

• Major behavior changes
• Sleep changes
• Attitude changes
• Friend group changes
• Activity changes
• School performance
• Communication changes

​

***LISTEN TO YOUR GUT!!***

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.hhs.gov)

​

Talking to your child about their substance use

• Start with love and concern.
• Give reasons for concerns (consequences of use, etc.)
• Let them know how you feel
• Listen to their response
• Talk about solutions with them
• What you will do to HELP them.
• Evaluation
• Counseling
• Treatment

(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.hhs.gov)

​

Questions?�Feedback?

Susanne Binford: susanne@binfordlcsw.com

Dr. Aaron Striegel: striegel@trinityrocks.com

References

• Arain M, Haque M, Johal L, Mathur P, Nel W, Rais A, Sandhu R, Sharma S. Maturation of the adolescent brain. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2013;9:449-61. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S39776.
• Khurana, A., Romer, D., Betancourt, L. M., Brodsky, N. L., Giannetta, J. M., & Hurt, H. (2015). Experimentation versus progression in adolescent drug use: A test of an emerging neurobehavioral imbalance model. Development and psychopathology, 27(3), 901–913. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579414000765
• Monitoring the Future: National Survey Results on Drug Use, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. www.niaaa.nih.gov
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. www.drugabuse.gov
• United States Drug Enforcement Administration. (2024). Children and teens make up majority of delta-8 THC exposures. United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Retrieved May 15 from https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/children-and-teens-make-majority-delta-8-thc-exposures
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. www.fda.gov
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.hhs.gov