Teens and Alcohol and Other Drug Use

AIS/Dhaka Middle School Parent Night

Objectives

• To develop an awareness of teen use of alcohol and other drugs in the AIS/D community.

• To present and share ideas and strategies to help your child make intelligent decisions about alcohol and drug use.

Agenda

• Self Reflection

• Personal Experience Panel

• Middle School Health Program/Data

• Common Language

• Signs to look out for

• Developing and sharing strategies

• Workshop Debrief

Self Reflection

• When do you first remember being exposed to mind altering substances?

Personal Experience Panel: Purpose

• Purpose:

• To hear the stories and experiences related to a particular issue(s).

• To increase the listener’s understanding of an issue(s).

• To help us attach personal significance and commitment to a particular issue

Personal Experience Panel: Guidelines

• Guidelines:

• Each person is given equal time to talk.

• The listener does not interpret, paraphrase, analyze, give advice or break in with a personal story.

• Confidentiality is maintained.

IntroducingPersonal Experience Panel

• Julia Koczot- gr. 11

• Michino Hisabayashi- gr. 12

• Zaraif Hossain- gr. 11

• Ishaba Haque- gr. 11

Middle School Health Program/Units

• Tobacco

• Alcohol

• OTC`s

• Prescription Drugs

• Illicit Drugs

MS [Gr 7/8]

• Use, misuse and abuse of drugs.

• Effects drugs have on our bodies, minds and on society.

• Alternatives to drug use, treatment programs available for those addicted to drugs.

• Refusal skills, situations to avoid “wise decision making”

US Public School Data

• Tobacco use. . .

• There is a link between smoking and drug/alcohol use among students

• Alcohol and other drugs . . .

• Alcohol is the #1 drug problem among young people

• 50% of automobile accidents, violence, suicide, and sexual involvement are the result of alcohol use

Alcohol

• 78% of U.S. high school students have consumed alcohol (more than just a few sips) by the end of high school

• Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Marijuana

• 38% of all U.S. high school seniors have used marijuana in the last 12 months.

• 89% say marijuana is “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get.

• Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Illicit Drugs

• 53 % of American young people have tried an illicit drug by the time they finish high school.

• Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Ecstasy

• Club drugs such as ecstasy can lead to depression, drug cravings, paranoia (and in some cases psychotic episodes), blurred vision and dangerous increases in heart rate and blood pressure.

• Source: National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign

DRUG SITUATION IN BANGLADESH

• Bangladesh is not a major producer of narcotics, but is a trans-shipment point.

• Use and addiction rates among the local population have increased.

• Illegal substances are easily available at a very low cost.

WHAT IS READILY AVAILABLE?

• low grade heroin (brown sugar) (smoked)

• Marijuana

• Hashish

• phensidyl (codeine-based cough syrup)

• PCP (angel dust)

Where are drugs sold?

• Drugs can be bought anywhere at drug houses in Mohammadpur, tea stalls, Banga Bazaar, from rickshaw drivers, restaurant back doors, Nuton Bazaar, Kalachanpur and Badha behind Baridhara.

• The cough syrup, imported from India, can be bought at most pharmacies.

Common Language- A Continuum of Use

• Abstinence

• Experimental Use

• Social Use

• Regular Use

• Problem Use

• Chemical Dependency

Common Language- A Continuum of Use

• Abstinence: No use

• Experimental Use: “I heard about it.” “I want to find out how it feels.” “I want to try it out”

• Social Use: Strictly for social use with friends. Will drink or use other drugs with friends.

• Regular Use: Continual access to supply. Ritualized. Routine. Every night at dinner or almost every time hanging out with friends.

• Problem Use: Begin having problems with school, work, and/or family resulting from use. Problems with competence or with meeting challenges.

• Chemical Dependency: See next slide

Continuum of Use Chemical Dependency

• Creates problems for an individual, and he or she continues to use anyway.

• Afraid to talk about his/her chemical use, is hiding it, or is defensive when others bring up the subject.

• When a person uses alcohol or other drugs to achieve a feeling of normal well-being.

• Chemical controls the person rather than the person controlling the chemical.

• When a person craves alcohol or drugs for no good reason.

• When a person is in love with a chemical and their primary relationship is with his/her drug of choice.

Signs to look for

• Mood Swings & Attitude

• New Friends

• Bad Performance in school

• Physical Health

• “Evidence”

• Increased Secrecy

• Little Things - fashion, hairstyle, breath mints, untidy room

• Overt Signals

Parenting Strategies

• Set appropriate limits: based on your child’s needs, capabilities, age, and trust.

• Enforce limits: establish clear, specific limits and follow through with consequences.

• Continue relationship building: approach your children with a sense of love and trust. Expect the best not the worst.

• Team parenting: be predictable and work as a team.

• Modeling: demonstrate healthy and appropriate behaviors at home and in social settings.

• Communicate/Face it head on: talk openly to your teens about drugs and alcohol. Teach refusal skills.

Resources/Websites

• http://www.theantidrug.com

• http://www.drugfree.org

• http:// www.factsontap.org

• http:// www.zeenteen.org

• http:// www.girlsanddrinking.org

• http:// www.cdc.gov

• http:// www.toosmarttostart.com

• http:// www.pubs.niaaa.nih.gov

Resources/Books

• Parenting for Prevention by David J. Wilmes

• Choices and Consequences: What to Do When a Teenager Uses Alcohol/Drugs by Dick Schaefer

• Teens Under the Influence: The Truth About Kids, Alcohol, and Other Drugs- How to Recognize the Problem and What to Do About It by Katherine Ketcham

• Marijuana - What's a Parent to Believe? (Informed Parent) by MD Timmen L. Cermak

• The Big Deal About Alcohol: What Teens Need to Know About Drinking (Issues in Focus) by Marilyn McClellan

Debrief- Exit Cards

• I learned…

• I wish…

• In the future, I would like to learn about…