Download
1 / 35
350 likes | 487 Vues
Addictions Awareness. Substance Use and Abuse. Substance Use. ‘Substances’ are anything that change the way you feel, the way your body works, and/or the way you see the world.
E N D
Addictions Awareness Substance Use and Abuse
Substance Use • ‘Substances’ are anything that change the way you feel, the way your body works, and/or the way you see the world. • Many teens experience substance use. Someone may start using drugs or alcohol out of curiosity, peer pressure, boredom, low self-esteem, looking for acceptance or a need to escape the realities of their life. • May teens do not have a problem with substance use if they use alcohol/drugs once in a while or socially.
Choices • If you are choosing to use drugs or alcohol, it is important to make sure you are making an educated choice and that you are aware of the risks. • Also, it is important to recognize that substance use behaviours are illegal for youth under the age of 18 and may be illegal for all persons under the criminal code.
Risks • Besides substance use being a risk on its own, there is also risk in doing things you might not normally due when you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. • Many substances lower people’s inhibitions or insecurities. • Many teens have sex for the first time when they are drunk or stoned and people often forget to use protection.
Risks • The only way you can be sure to not have problems with drugs is to never use them and if you choose to use alcohol, drink in moderation or have sober friends looking out for you. • It is important to think about ways to say ‘No’ and ways to stay safer if people choose to use!
Suggestions for how to say “no” • I’m driving tonight. • I’m allergic to alcohol • I’ve got a big game tomorrow. • I’m working/ babysitting/ studying tomorrow. • Nah, I’m cutting down. Thanks though! • I’m hung over from yesterday.
Levels of Involvement • There are many levels of involvement for drugs and alcohol • Non-use • Irregular use • Regular use • Harmful use • Dependent use
Levels of Involvement • The more often one uses drugs or alcohol, the more things in their life – like nutrition, school hobbies, friends, sports, job, family, parties, partner – are affected and end up disappearing. • Substance use can change someone’s relationships with the people in their life, as well as change their relationship with themselves.
Levels of Involvement • You or someone you know may have a substance use problem if there is a negative impact on their life including a person’s body, mind, relationships or finances. • Drug Reference Chart • Marijuana (weed, mary-jane, pot, grass) – depressant • Ecstacy(upper, E, MDMA) - upper • Alcohol (booze, hooch, hard stuff, liquor) - depressant • GHB (G, liquid ecstacy, scoop, soap) – depressant? • Cocaine ( upper, coke, blow, snow, C, rails) - upper • Other uppers (speed, meth, crystal meth, amphetamines, bennies, methamphetamines)
Drug EffectsEvery drug affects every person’s mind and body differently. Things that determine how a drug may affect you are: • Your weight • Your age • How fast you take it • How much you take • How strong the drug is • What other drugs you took (if you did) • How it gets into the body (eating, smoking injecting) • Your general physical and mental health • What is in your stomach • Your mood/emotions
Other Drugs • Tobacco • Cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco and snuff • Users become addicted to the nicotine in tobacco • Cigarettes have about 4,000 other harmful substances, like tar (for roads), carbon monoxide (gas from car exhaust), acetone (takes off nail polish), arsenic (rat poison), formaldehyde (used in embalming), methanol, ammonia, acids and more!
Other Drugs • Caffeine • Caffeine is approved by society. It is a stimulant, which means it can wake you up or give you a boost of energy. • Caffeine affects different people in different ways depending on how much you take • Caffeine is addictive and can have withdrawal symptoms (headache) • Bigger doses can cause headaches, jitteriness, abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia), convulsions and delirium
Alcohol and Other Downers • Downers (depressants) are any drugs that slow down the central nervous system (CNS), which helps you to many things, including sleep. Downers slow brain activity and leave you with a drowsy or calm feeling. Side effects are slurred speech, dizziness and loss of coordination. • Downers include: oxycontin, opiates, morphine, heroin, sleeping pills, drugs for anxiety and depression and rohypnol (roofies).
Tolerance and Dependence • Drinkers can become emotionally and physically dependent (addicted) on alcohol. Over time, drinkers become more tolerant to alcohol and need more to get the effect they want. Withdrawal from alcohol may be mild (headache, vomiting, shakiness). Withdrawal for heavy drinkers can include panic, seizures, hearing and seeing things that aren’t there, depression and even death. People who are dependent drinkers may need to look for professional care if they choose to stop drinking.
Did you know? • 5 oz of wine=1.5 oz of liquor=12 oz of beer • All of the above contain the same amount of absolute alcohol!
Other Risks • Alcohol and other downers slow down important things that are working in your body, so mixing them with anything can be dangerous. • Chugging and binge drinking can cause alcohol poisoning, which is an overdose of alcohol that can cause vomiting, passing out, and sometimes death. • Alcohol used during pregnancy can cause long term damage to the fetus – FASD.
Other Risks cont’d • People can put themselves in risky situations when drinking (driving while drunk, having sex or unprotected sex, doing things that result in injury.) • Teens who binge drink often (5 or more drinks at a time or more than one drink per hour) are 7 to 10 times more likely than non-bingers to have unplanned sexual intercourse. • Heavy drinking and regular cannabis (weed) use patterns continue into adulthood (young binge drinkers become adult binge drinkers or alcoholics.)
Does Somebody Else’s Drinking or Drug Use Affect You? Ask yourself these questions: • Do you sometimes worry about what may happen when someone you care about is drinking or drugging? • Do you avoid things where a friend or family member may be using alcohol or drugs? • Do you try to control how much someone else uses? (for example, do you water down or hide liquor?)
Cont’d • Do you sometimes feel hurt or angry because of how a friend/family member acts when using? • Have you given up things you enjoy to look after a friend or family member who is using? • Do you sometimes feel embarrassed by someone else’s drinking or drug use? • Do you worry that others might find out about a friend or family member’s drinking or drug use?
Cont’d • Have special occasions been ruined by someone else’s using? • Do you hide or lie about the drinking or drug use of someone you care about? • Do you blame yourself when a friend or family member is drinking or using other drugs? If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more, someone’s use may be affecting you. It is important for you to get the support you need.
The Law • The minimum legal drinking age in Manitoba is 18. It is illegal to buy alcohol for anyone under 18. • Bars, stores, restaurants cannot legally sell alcohol to someone who is already drunk and it is illegal to drink in public places without a permit. • Parents or guardians can legally give their child alcohol if at home or can buy alcohol for the youth if they are eating at a restaurant, bar, cocktail lounge, only if they are 16 or 17 years old. • It’s illegal and dangerous to drive a car, boat, snow mobile, or any other vehicle while impaired/drunk.
The Law cont’d • Impaired=.08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) (A person’s BAC depends on gender, body size, and how dehydrated a person is –drink water in between drinks.) • Penalties include: license taken away at once, fines ($600 - $800) and license reinstatement fees, prison (for injury/death of others), ban on driving for 3 years to a lifetime. • Not giving a breath sample is the same thing as being charged with impaired driving.
Harm Reduction • We can’t always stop people for doing illegal things are engaging in risky behavior but we can show people how to be safer. • If you choose to use alcohol or other drugs: • Get the facts about the drugs you are experimenting with. • Use in a safe place with people you trust. Drugs are likely to have a bad effect if you are feeling stressed, uneasy or confused. • Test first with a small amount. • Don’t take drinks or drugs from people you don’t know – you don’t know what is in them. • Stay with your friends and tell them what you have taken. • If you or a friend is not feeling well, tell an adult and go to a hospital.
Harm Reduction cont’d • Drink lots of water especially if you are hot, dancing, or moving around a lot and especially if you have taken ecstacy or other drugs. Try and drink up to two cups of water every hour. • Do not mix substances (mixing alcohol with marijuana makes the chance of alcohol poisoning higher because marijuana stops your body from getting rid of (throwing up) too much alcohol in your body. • Know the signs of an overdose and where to get help. • Use your own drug tools to lower the risk of Hep C or HIV. • Consider eating and drinking substances rather than injecting/smoking it (risk of overdose is usually less).
Harm Reduction cont’d • Understand the link between risky choices and substance use and make a plan. Do you have a safe way home? Is sexual activity a possibility? What can you do to make it safer? Consider that one can not legally give consent to sexual activity when drunk. • Use a buddy system and have a friend look out for you. • Know what your limits are and think about how you can avoid going past them once you have starting drinking/using.
Emergency Situations • Use the recovery position (on side with hand tucked under chin to keep mouth open) if someone is unconscious – this reduces the risk of choking if they throw up. Call for help. • Anxiety and panic can cause a person to shake, be scared and very jumpy – try to calm and reassure. • Sleepiness – some drugs can make a person sleepy – don’t scare or surprise them, never give coffee or drinks to wake them up, if they pass out put them in the recovery position and tell an adult or call for help.
Emergency Situations • Dehydration – some drugs affect the body’s temperature control and can cause overheating. Warning signs include cramps, fainting, headache and sudden tiredness. • Move them to a cooler, quiet area • Try to have them sip non-alcoholic drinks like water or juice • Call an ambulance of signs continue
Emergency Situations • Unconsciousness (passing out) – falling unconscious after taking drugs or alcohol can be very serious. If this happens to someone: • Call an ambulance right away • Put them in the recovery position • Check breathing and be ready to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation • Keep them warm but not too warm and loosen clothing • Stay with them at all times • If you know what drug has been taken tell the ambulance staff and give a sample of the drug if you have it
For Help • 911 to call an ambulance in emergency • Poison helpline – 787-2591 • Health Links – 788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257 • Take the person to the nearest clinic or hospital if you are worried about them, but it is not an emergency. • Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) has services for people who use and for people who are affected by other people using. AFM youth services: Winnipeg (24 hours) 944-6200
Partying Safer • The very safest thing is not to drink or use drugs. You can party without drugs are alcohol! But if you have a hard time saying ‘no’ here are some ideas: • I’m allergic to alcohol. • I’m driving tonight. • I’ve got a big game tomorrow. • I’m working, babysitting, studying tomorrow. • Nah, I’m cutting down. • I’m hung over from yesterday.
Things to do instead of drinking or drugs: • Movies • The mall • Doing your friends hair or make-up • Dancing • DJ-ing • Basketball in your driveway or soccer in your yard • What’s on your list?????
