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Drug Prevention Education Strategies and Marijuana Awareness. 12 th Annual Adult Prevention Educator Conference Ralph Cantor Berkeley, CA May 6, 2009. Topics covered today . Goals of drug education/prevention Strategies for working with youth The case for delaying use The Reward Center
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Drug Prevention Education Strategies and Marijuana Awareness 12th Annual Adult Prevention Educator Conference Ralph Cantor Berkeley, CA May 6, 2009
Topics covered today • Goals of drug education/prevention • Strategies for working with youth • The case for delaying use • The Reward Center • Some understanding of marijuana • Raising awareness about alcohol • Promoting Resiliency • Messages for parents
Goals of drug education • Think more deeply about the issues • Make a more informed decision • Have a positive influence on their behavior • Know that adults care and will respond • Identify kids needing help • Delay initial usage or retard usage
How people learn Heart Emotions Thought PriorExperience and Knowledge
Stages of ChangeAge Appropriateness • Pre Contemplative Stage (Not even thinking about it) • Contemplative Stage • Planning Stage • 7th and 8th Delay Usage • 9th Transition • 10th thru 12th Nonjudgmental
Process • Establish credibility (Authenticity & Knowledge ) • Create a resilient learning environment (expectations, caring, and participation) • Present a non-judgmental approach • Stimulate discussion and serious thought, weaving in information w/balanced answers
Reasons for delaying message • Development of the prefrontal cortex • Pruning and myelination • Neuroadaptivity: dull pleasure center • Short circuiting developmental tasks • Greater need for dopamine • Pharmacological solutions resulting pharmacological insults • The research
Adolescent Brain Adult Brain
Pruning • “USE IT OR LOSE IT”– Reading, sports, music, video games, x-box, hanging out—whatever a child/teen is doing—these are the neural synapses that will be retained • How children/teens spend their time isCRUCIALto brain development since their activities guide the structure of the brain
Neuroadaptivity, Hypofrontality, Memory Loss • Neuroadaptivity – Dulling of the pleasure center of the brain • Hypofrontality – Interference with the decision making area of brain • Memory loss – Damage to the hippocampus
Developmental tasks • Boredom • Good times • Stress • Social Skills • Academic Skills
Percentage of U.S. Adults Aged 18 and Older Dependent on Alcohol, By Age of Drinking Onset
Reward System • The reward system is responsible for seeking naturalrewards that have survival value (food, water, sex, and nurturing) • Dopamine is the system’s primary neurotransmitter
Drugs Hijack the Brain’s Reward Circuitry • Immediate effect of drug use is an increase in dopamine • Continued use of drugs reduces the brain’s dopamine production • Because dopamine is part of the reward system, the brain is ‘fooled’ into ‘thinking’ that the drug has survival value for the organism • The reward system responds with “drug seeking behaviors” • Craving occurs and, eventually, dependence.
Dopamine vs. Serotonin • Dopamine produces a feeling of pleasure • Serotonin produces a feeling of well being • Difference between pleasure and happiness • Developing skills, interest, relationships, meaning (“getting a life”) • Wizard of Oz
MarijuanaCannabinoid Sites • Nucleus Accumbens • Hippocampus • Cerebellum • Amygdala • Hypothalmus
Hippocampus • Gateway between short term and long term memory • Draws information from long term memory • Discriminates relevant new information • Trashes unimportant information • Stores new information in long term memory
Concerns with Marijuana • Intrudes on the ecology of the brain at a crucial developmental time having an influence on present performance and future functioning • Hippocampus/Learning • Ultimately producing opposite results • Gateway to cigarettes • Pruning and Neuroadaptation
The Lungs • THC and resin • Damage to cilia • Viewing the bronchi • Marijuana/tobacco connection • Blunts • The power of nicotine and endorphins • Compromised immune system
Adolescents more susceptible to alcohol than adults • Reduced sensitivity to intoxication • Increased sensitivity to social disinhibitions • Greater adverse effects to cognitive functioning • It seems to be endorsed as a norm
Issues with alcohol: Why do kids have to drink? • Ever see a group of drunk teenagers • Binge drinking • Demeaning behavior • Accidents • Sexual Behavior • Brain damage • Addiction • Driving and deaths • Teenage Proofing your house
Risk of addiction How well does the drug work Positive and Negative Reinforcement If, in addition to producing pleasure (positive reinforcement), a drug is more addicting, if it relieves negative states: boredom, anxiety, depression or stress (negative reinforcement).
Anhedonia Pleasure Bored Interested “I feel negative” “I feel good” Pleasure Scale NORMAL RANGE Dysphoria Euphoria
Promoting Resiliency,Connection and Engagement • Supportive family (tuned in, time together, supervision, fair rules/boundaries) • Non using peers and role models • Developing interests and academic skills • Youth are connected (school, activities) • Social Skills • Dealing with boredom, stress, partying • Exercise, movement, sweat
Parents • Talk to your child I care, I see, I feel, Listen • Clear expectations and consequences • Communication & Monitoring • Integrity & Self Assessment – Modeling • Teen-proof your home • Promote Connection & Interests
The power of your presence • Self Care • This is work of the heart • Clarity of Intention
Personal Self Assessment • Ignorance that the substance is a drug and what it does to the body • Loss of desired effect with increasing frequency • Difficulty separating from the drug • Impairment of health or social function Andrew Weil – Unhealthy relationship
References S. Alex Stalcup, M.D. New Leaf Treatment Center 251 Lafayette Circle, Suite 150 Lafayette, CA 94549 Timmen Cermak, M.D. Mill Valley, CA Marijuana: What’s a Parent to Believe Hazelden Press 2005
Contact Information Ralph Cantor Alameda County Office of Education (510) 653-9410 rjcantor@aol.com