Drug Education��Dashiding AS

OBJECTIVES

• Empower students with information about drugs and its ill-effects.
• Enhance prevention and intervention services in the school.
• Create drug free school

Information on Drugs

What is a drug?

• “Any substance, with exception of food and water, which when taken into the body, alters its function physically and or psychologically”. World Health Organization.

What is drug abuse?

• Drug/substance abuse is the wilful misuse of drugs to alter mood and perception for pleasure and excitement or escape reality—despite its destructive effects

What is drug addiction/dependence?

• Drug addiction/dependency means to rely on drugs for existence. A person suffers from withdrawal symptoms (shaking, tremors, profuse sweating, and mental suffering).
• Tolerance level increases and larger amounts of the substance are needed to be taken to have the desired effect.
• “Uncontrollable, compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences” is the essence of drug addiction. (www.helpguide.org.com )

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• Psychological dependence as “the subjective feeling that the user needs the drug to maintain a feeling of well-being."  Using a drug to numb unpleasant feelings, to relax, or to satisfy cravings are examples of psychological addiction.
• Physical dependence refers to the physiological effects of drug use.
• Physical addiction is characterized by:
• tolerance—the need for increasingly larger doses in order to achieve the initial effect.

• Physical dependence – A state of becoming physically adapted to alcohol or other drugs. There are two important aspects to physical dependence:
• Tolerance – The need for higher and higher doses to achieve the same effects.
• Withdrawal – The appearance of physical symptoms (e.g., nausea, chills, and vomiting) when someone stops taking a drug too quickly.

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How drug use can lead to addiction

• You cross the line from drug abuse to drug addiction;
• when using drugs stops being a choice and becomes a necessity,
• when it controls you and not the other way around.
• You’re convinced that the drug is necessary for you to have a feeling of well-being or even just to get through the day.
• Your craving for your drug of choice crowds out most other thoughts,

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Continuation

-your pursuit and use of the drug become what takes up most of your time.

• Nothing is more important than getting high: not your studies, not your parents, not your friends etc.
• Getting high, in fact, becomes so important that you’re willing to sacrifice your studies, Parents, and home.
• Denial that you have a addiction problem.

SIGNS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

• Change in appetite and sleep patterns
• Deterioration of physical appearance.
• Withdrawal from social or important activities.
• Unexplained need for money or secretive about spending habits.
• Sudden change in friends or locations.

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Continuation…….

• Increased interpersonal or legal problems.
• Neglecting responsibilities.
• Absenteeism at school
• Deteriorating grades
• Diminished drive and ambition
• Significant change in quality of school work

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Continuation……..

Red Flag Behaviors

• Stealing.
• Running away from home.
• violent behavior.
• Threatening or attempting

suicide.

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CONSEQUENCES OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Health problems

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Chemicals

5000 plus mixture of chemical of which 50 chemicals are cancer causing

Continue….

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Effects of Illegal Drugs as Teratogens

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State of Physical Health: � Before and Now

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• WHO’s criteria for diagnosing substance addiction or dependences
• A strong desire to take the substance
• Difficulties in controlling its use
• Continuing to use despite harmful consequences
• Higher priority given to substance use than to other activities and obligations
• Increased tolerance
• A physical withdrawal state

Why do youths abuse substances?

• To relieve boredom—No engagements during free time
• Self medication
• Curious to experiment
• To look and Feel grown up
• To rebel
• Readily available
• Social culture

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Continuation……

• Poor parental supervision
• Adolescent autonomy and freedom offer opportunities for use.
• Peer pressure

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RISK FACTORS TO SUBSTANCE USE

• Unstable home life or

dysfunctional family

• Parents who are substance abusers
• Ineffective parenting style
• Lack of supervision
• Victim of physical or sexual abuse,
• Neglect

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Continuation

• Victim of bullying
• Undiagnosed mental health issues
• Association with drug abusers
• Drug Availability
• Social tolerance

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Effects of drug use/Substance abuse

• Overdose
• Accidents and injuries
• School failure
• Legal problems
• Family problems
• Financial problems
• Employment problems
• Relationship problems
• Unplanned pregnancies

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What you should know?

• Good food and exercise build

physique –beer or drugs does not !

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• Don’t compromise on your beliefs

just to buy ‘friends’

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• Talking with friends can ease stress- drugs cannot

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• Celebrate great times with friends not with drugs

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• Deal with problems squarely -

drugs are no solution

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• Ways to QUIT IT
• Substitution
• Minimizing
• Coping skills
• High determination to change

How can youngsters stay drug free?

When someone offers drugs / alcohol

• Look at him right in the eye
• Say ‘No’ - clearly, emphatically and repeatedly
• Walk away if he persists
• Stick to your decision to say ‘No’

• Giving reasons for your decision may prolong the conversation – beware

What to do if a child is having substance use issues?

• If substance use is severe:

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• Refer to the counselor/school administration.
• Develop treatment plan.
• Refer to TAP
• Refer for detox to the hospital
• Refer to treatment centers:
• Rehabilitation centers
• Drop In Centers
• School counselling services.

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THANK YOU