Lincoln County School District NursesJulie Turner RNBetsy Brooks RN

Drug and Alcohol Awareness

› Alcohol› Prescriptive medications› Illegal substances› Marijuana

Substances With Abuse Potential

› Influenced by person’s biology, social environment, and age or stage of development

› The more risk factors you have, the greater the chance that taking drugs/alcohol can lead to addiction

Why Do Some People Become Addicted and Others Don’t?

› Prevalence of Drinking: In 2012, 87.6% of people ages 18 and older reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime

› In 2012 approximately 17 million adults ages 18 and older (7.2% of this age group) had an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

› In 2012 an estimated 855,000 adolescents ages 12-17 (3.4% of this age group) had an AUD

› Nearly 88,000 people die from alcohol related causes annually, making it the third leading preventable cause of death in the US.

Alcohol

› Brain– Interferes with the brain’s communication pathways. Affects the way

the brain looks and works

› Heart– Cardiomyopathy-weakening of the heart muscle– Irregular heart beats– Stroke– High blood pressure

Alcohol Effects on the Body

› Liver– Fatty liver, fibrosis, cirrhosis– Alcohol hepatitis

› Pancreas– Causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can lead to

pancreatitis (dangerous inflammation of the pancreas)

› Cancer– Increased risk in certain cancers. Mouth, esophagus, throat, liver, breast

› Immune System– It can weaken your immune system. Making your body an easier target for

disease

Alcohol Effects on the Body (cont)

› Three classes of prescriptive drugs that are often abused:– Opioids

› Used to relieve pain—narcotics (Vicodin, codeine, OxyContin, OxyCodone)

– Central nervous system depressants—Benzodiazepines› Used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders (Aprazolam (Xanax)

clonazepam (Klonopin) or diazepam (Valium)– Stimulants

› Used to treat ADD, ADHD, Depression, Narcolepsy (Methlyphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin, Daytrana), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, ProCentra) or combo Adderall

Prescriptive Medication Abuse

› Unsure exactly why…the thought is the availability is there

– More doctors are willing to write prescriptions– Availability on the internet is endless– Not uncommon for teens to steal from parents

Why is Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise?

› Taking larger doses than your doctor prescribed

› Taking it more frequently

› Taking if for reasons other than prescribed

› Frequent refills

How Do I Know if I’m Abusing Prescription Drugs?

Commonly abused prescriptive medications

› Methamphetamine (Crystal meth)

› Marijuana (now legal in many states)

› Heroin

› Cocaine

Illicit Drug Use

› In 2012, an estimated 23.9 million Americans aged 12 or older—or 9.2% of the population—had used an illicit drug or abused a psychotherapeutic medication (such as a pain reliever, stimulant, or tranquilizer) in the past month.

› This is up from 8.3% in 2002

Illicit Drug Use in American Has Been Increasing

Percent Using in Past Month

If any of this information concerns you, you might need professional help

Help is available

› Counseling

› Rehabilitation centers

› Alternative non-addictive pain medications

› Employee assistance program (EAP)- available though the district under employee benefits, fringe benefits.

Treatment Options

Percentage of Admissions** Age Group

14.8 25-29

14.4 20-24

12.6 40-44

11.7 35-39

11.5 45-49

11.3 30-34

10.4 50-59

7.5 12-17

4.1 18-19

1.2 60-64

0.6 65 or older

Percentage of Admissions**

Substance or Drug

23.1 Alcohol only

18.3 Alcohol + another drug

17.0 Marijuana

14.1 Heroin

8.1 Smoked cocaine (crack)

6.5 Stimulants***

5.9 Opiates (not heroin) ****

3.2 Nonsmoked cocaine (e.g.,

cocaine powder)

0.6 Tranquilizers

0.2 PCP

0.2 Sedatives

0.1 Hallucinogens

0.1 Inhalants

0.4 Other drugs

2.2 None reported

Rehabilitation AdmissionsStatistics 2008

If you think you or someone you love has a problem with addition… contact your doctor

or a clinic near you

› http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics

› http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/abuse-of-prescription-drugs

› http://lincoln.k12.or.us/staff/documents/insurance/EAP.pdf

› http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/alcohol

› http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body

References