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How do drugs work???
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Nerve cells in the brain are called neurons. These
neurons "talk" to each other by passing chemicals
back and forth, just like passing notes in class.
The neurons' "notes" are called neurotransmitters,
and they are manufactured in vesicles in the
nerve cell. Neurotransmitters include serotonin,
acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine,
histamine and about two dozen others.
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How do drugs work???
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The nerve cells are separated by a small space
called a "synapse." When a message moves
down the axon of the pre-synaptic neuron,
neurotransmitters are released from the vesicle.
These chemicals (or notes) cross the synapse to
the post-synaptic neuron, where they bind with
receptors specifically designed to receive them,
much as a key is designed to fit into a specific
lock.
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How do drugs work???
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Many nerve cells have receptors that are
sensitive to various drugs. These drugs
operate on the "lock-and-key" principle,
where the drug can be thought of as the
"key" that either (1) fits into the "lock,"
causing the nerve cell (neuron) to
discharge its chemicals, or (2) "jams" the
lock, preventing the nerve cell from
discharging.
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How do drugs work???
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Ex.) -Narcotics mimic endorphins and lock into
opiate receptor sites.
- Hallucinogens mimic serotonin
- Cocaine blocks the re-uptake of
neurotransmitters → causing severe
depression when coming down.
- Methamphetamines cause the release
of neurotransmitters in greater amounts
- THC mimics anandamide and interferes with
the cannabinoid receptor sites.
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What is a Drug?
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Drug – any chemical other than food
intended to affect the structure or function
of the body.
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Why some people use Drugs?
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Many people believe that every problem,
no matter how large or small, has or should
have chemical solutions.
Examples:
For fatigue = caffeine
For insomnia = sleeping pills
For anxiety or boredom = alcohol/drugs
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Health Consequences of Drug Use
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Physical Consequences- Once a drug enters
the bloodstream, it can harm a user’s brain, heart
lungs, and other vital organs.
Mental & Emotional Consequences- drugs
cloud reasoning and thinking, and users lose
control of their behavior. (lose sight of values)
Social Consequences- substance abuse can
have negative effect on relationships with friends
and family members. List examples:
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DRUG USE… A HIGH RISK
BEHAVIOR!!
Substance abuse is a high risk behavior that
includes misusing legal drugs or using illegal
drugs or other chemicals
 People abuse drugs for a number of reasons,
none of them healthful!
1. Teenagers –
the highest percentage of use is with
people between the ages of 18-25
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Why do teenagers abuse drugs???
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A way to be accepted with peers
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Influenced by the media
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Curious
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A way of rebelling
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Escape pressures
- Adults?
- Athletes?
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What is the difference between drug
use and abuse?
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1.
2.
3.
Misuse
Using the drug
incorrectly due to
ignorance
Taking the drug with
the wrong food
Stopping the drug too
soon
Abuse
1. intentionally
misusing the drug
normally for a desired
effect
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Dangers of substance abuse
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Some drugs have side effects –
can range from minor to deadly.
Illegal drugs can be especially dangerous
because there are no controls or means of
monitoring these substances for quality,
purity, or strength.
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Dangers of drug abuse
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Overdose –
is a strong or fatal reaction to taking a large
amount of drug. Often, overdoses occur when
alcohol and other drugs are combined.
When drug abuse involves injecting substances
through a needle, hepatitis B or HIV can occur
People who experiment with drugs tend to lose
control…can lead to STD’s or pregnancies
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Dangers of substance abuse

Risk to unborn and newborns:
1. breast milk – can pass from mother to
infant.
2. Can cause miscarriage or premature
birth
3. Can cause birth defect,
mental retardation
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CLASSIFICATIONS OF DRUGS
(Psychoactive)
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Stimulants- Drugs that speed up activities of the
central nervous system (CNS)
Depressants- Psychoactive drugs that slow
brain and body reactions.
Narcotics (opiates)- natural or synthetic drugs
that relieve pain and cause drowsiness.
Inhalants- Drugs that are inhaled or breathed in
through the nose to produce the desired effect.
Hallucinogens- Psychoactive drugs that alter
perception, thought, and mood.
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CLASSIFICATIONS OF DRUGS
cont.
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Prescription Medicines – cannot be used
without the written approval of a licensed
physician.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines – you
can buy these without a prescription
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Psychoactive Drugs
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Psychoactive drugs – those designed to alter
a person’s experiences or consciousness.
(nicotine, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, steroids,
LSD, marijuana)
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Psychoactive drugs cause intoxication
Intoxication – a state in which sometimes
unpredictable physical and emotional changes
occur.

A person who is intoxicated may experience a difference
in emotions and judgment.
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1. STIMULANTS
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Drugs which cause the body systems to speed up
Effects: increased heart rate and breathing,
increased blood pressure, dilated pupils,
decreased appetite, dry mouth, dizziness,
sweating, headache, blurred vision,
sleeplessness, anxiety, moodiness
Very high doses: irregular heartbeat, tremors,
high fever, heart failure
How it enters the body: swallowed, snorted,
injected
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STIMULANTS
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Amphetamines - people use them illegally to stay
awake and alert, to improve athletic performance,
to lose weight, etc.
Methamphetamine – fumes alone can be deadly
Cocaine – powerful stimulant – regular use can
lead to depression, edginess, weight loss, and
physiological dependence
Con’t. use can destroy the nasal septum. Can
cause heart attacks due to disturbing electrical
impulses of the heart. Can occur on the first use!
The drug, not the user, control the shots
Crack - a form of cocaine
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Stimulants –slang names
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Speed
Uppers
Crank
Pep pills
Medical use Treats
hyperactive children
Treats narcolepsy
Used for weight control
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Bumble bees
Hearts
Footballs
Christmas trees
Black beauties
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“Meth Mouth”
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Experts believe that meth ravages teeth by
drying up saliva and leaving users with “dry
mouths.”
Without saliva, bacteria in the mouth
multiply, leading to decay.
Dentists report that healthy teeth can
become rotten from even a few months of
meth use.
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Long- Term Effects of Meth Use
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Hallucinations
Disorganized lifestyle
Violent and aggressive behavior
Permanent psychological problems
Behavior resembling paranoid schizophrenia
Poor coping abilities
Disturbance of personality development
Lowered resistance to illnesses
Possible brain damage
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2. DEPRESSANTS
Depresses or slows down the central nervous
system. alcohol can prove fatal. Users feel no pain
or fear.
 Effects: similar to the effects of alcohol
*small doses – calmness, relaxed muscles
* larger doses – slurred speech, impaired
judgment, impaired coordination
*very large doses – respiratory depression, coma,
death
How it enters the body: swallowed
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2. Depressants
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Medical use: to stop convulsions, relief of
tension and anxiety, to induce sleep
Slang names: yellow jackets, reds, red
devils, blues, ludes, barbs, downers,
yellows
Drugs: barbiturates, tranquilizers, alcohol,
methaqualone
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3. Narcotics
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Powders ranging from white to dark brown;
tablets, capsules, liquid. Comes from the
poppy plant or it is synthetic
Effects: stimulates a burst of euphoria,
often followed by drowsiness, nausea and
vomiting. Ravages the body and is
extremely addictive. When paired with
alcohol, heroin is easy to overdose on.
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3. Narcotics
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Short term problems: breathing problems,
nausea, vomiting, constipation
Long term problems: users must take the drug to
feel “normal.” A break of only one day can bring
on severe withdrawal symptoms – aches, chills,
sweating, muscle spasms and weakness. After a
break, the usual dose may be an overdose
Heroine is highly addictive.
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3. Narcotics
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Medical use: pain relief, cough
suppressant (codeine), pain relief, stops
diarrhea, relief from tooth pain
Morphine – used to reduce severe pain.
Exa. Relief from cancer
Slang names: smack, horse, brown sugar,
junk, mud, big H, Miss Emma, schoolboy,
dollies, blue velvet
How it enters the body: injected, smoked or
inhaled
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3. Narcotics
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Heroin – has no accepted medical use in
the US.
Depresses the nervous system and slows
breathing and pulse rate
Coma or death may occur with large doses
Tolerance develops quickly
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4. HALLUCINOGENS
(Psychedelics)
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Drugs that distort the senses and cause
hallucinations
Could appear as liquid, capsules, powder,
blotter paper, thin gelatin squares, mushrooms
Effects: time distorted, senses distorted, may
produce bizarre, unpredictable behavior, person
may sit for hours in a quiet dreamlike state
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4. Hallucinogens
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Short term effects: a “bad trip” – intense
panic, confusion, deep depression, terrors,
scary delusions. Can cause fatal accidents
Long term effects: Out-of-the-blue
flashbacks – hallucinations without taking
the drug again for up to a few days to a
year after an acid trip. Severe depression
All are illegal –
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4. Hallucinogens
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PCP(angel dust) –considered to be one of
the most dangerous of all drugs. Time
seems to pass slowly, body movements slow
down, coordination impaired, dulls the
sensations of touch and pain.
Mescaline – is the psychoactive ingredient of
the peyote cactus.
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4.Hallucinogens
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LSD – (acid) effects are widely
unpredictable. Some users believe that
they can fly
LSD “acid” is odorless, colorless. Often
added to absorbent paper, such as blotter
paper, and divided into small decorated
squares.
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Hallucinogens
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The effects of LSD are unpredictable. Great
mood swings, delusions and visual hallucinations.
The user may “hear” colors and see sounds.
Trips are long – 8 hours – multiple days. Some
users experience severe, terrifying thoughts and
feelings, fear of losing control, fear of insanity and
death and despair.
Flashbacks – occurs suddenly, often without
warning, and may occur within a few days or more
than a year after LSD use
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ANABOLIC STEROIDS
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Powerful compounds that are similar to the
male sex hormone, testosterone. These
drugs are taken to increase muscle mass
and strength
Effects: may initially increase muscle mass,
body strength, and weight, purple or red
spots on the body, swelling of feet and legs,
unpleasant breath odor, depression,
increased risk of heart attack, stroke liver
cancer, acne
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Anabolic Steroids
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Males - sterility, withered testicles,
impotence
Females – irreversible masculine traits,
breast reduction, sterility
How it enters the body: swallowed,
intramuscular injection
Article
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Steroids
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INHALANTS
Dangerous fumes are concentrated in a bag,
on a cloth, etc. and inhaled
 Effects: nausea, sneezing, coughing,
nosebleeds, fatigue, lack of coordination,
loss of appetite,
* solvents – decrease in heart rate and
breathing, impaired judgment
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Inhalants
How it enters the body: Vapors are
inhaled through the nose or mouth
 A person can go into a coma from a
single use and be in a vegetable state
the rest of his/her life
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MARIJUANA
The dried leaves, stems, and seeds of the
cannabis sativa plant.
Hashish is the dark brown resin that is
collected from the top of this plant.
Effects: increased heart rate, bloodshot
eyes, dry mouth and throat, increased
appetite, short-term memory loss, altered
sense of time, damage to lungs and
circulatory system
How it enters the body: Smoked in joints,
pipes, bongs, eaten
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Marijuana
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Main active chemical in marijuana is THC.
Marijuana’s effects on the user depend on the
strength of the THC
Cannabis is a hallucinogen and has the effects of
both a depressant and a stimulant
Alters your senses, coordination, reaction time,
and can interrupt your ability to make rational and
healthful decisions
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Marijuana
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Short term effects: problems with memory
and learning, distorted perception, difficulty
in thinking and problem solving, loss of
coordination, increased heart rate, anxiety,
and panic attacks.
Effects on the lungs: same respiratory
problems that tobacco users have. (cancer,
etc,)
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CLUB DRUGS
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Are used by young adults at all-night dance
parties such as “raves” or “trances,” dance clubs,
and bars.
Some club drugs are colorless, tasteless, and
odorless. They can be added to beverages by
individuals to intoxicate or sedate others.
There has been an increase in reports of club
drugs used to commit sexual assaults
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Club Drugs
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Ecstasy (MDMA) - mind altering drug with
hallucinogenic properties
Health hazards: psychological difficulties,
confusion, depression, sleep problems, drug
craving, severe depression.
Physical problems: muscle tension, nausea,
blurred vision, chills, sweating
Long term problems: damage to the parts of the
brain critical to thought and memory
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CLUB DRUGS
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GHB – is odorless and nearly tasteless.
Induces a state of relaxation
Can be slipped into someone’s drink
without detection. Has been reportedly
used in cases of date rape.
Physical problems: nausea, vomiting,
respiratory problems, seizures, coma
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CLUB DRUGS
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Rohypnol – people may unknowingly be
given the drug which, when mixed with
alcohol, can incapacitate and prevent a
victim from resisting sexual assault.
Physical symptoms: sedative-hypnotic
effects including muscle relaxation and
amnesia.
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Club Drugs
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Ketamine: “special k” is a powerful hallucinogen
that includes visual distortions and a lost sense of
time, sense and identity.
Profound physical and mental problems including
delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function and
potentially fatal problems
Special K is a powder that is usually snorted but is
sometimes sprinkled on tobacco or marijuana and
smoked.
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Signs and Symptoms
of Substance Abuse
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Emotionally/ Personality
Behaviorally
Physically/ Physical Appearance
Social Activity/ School Performance
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Emotional / Personality
Effects of Substance Abuse
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Aggression
Burnout
Anxiety
Depression
Paranoia
Denial
Withdraws from
family/ Friends
•Extreme Mood Swings
•Is secretive / Lying
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Behavioral Effects of
Substance Abuse
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Slow reaction time
Impaired coordination
Slowed Speech
Irritability
Excessive Talking
Inability to sit still
Limited attention span
Poor motivation
Lack of energy
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Physical Effects of Substance Abuse
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Weight Loss
Sweating
Chills
Poor Hygiene
Interrupted sleep patterns < or >
Loss of appetite
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Social Activity Effect
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Drops old friends and activities
Skipping School
Loses interest in school work
Low Grades
Sleeping in class
Loses concentration
Having trouble remembering things
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Addiction – what friends or family
members can do
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Many families, after recognizing that the problem exists,
will have an intervention.
Intervention - the interruption of the addiction
continuum before the addict hits bottom.
Meetings take place without the addicted person’s
knowledge.
Second step in this process is a surprise meeting with
the addict that forces the addict to face the seriousness
of the problem.
If addict refuses to recognize the problem, the addict will
be given an ultimatum - Wife will move out, etc.
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Recovery
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A process that happens over time -. A recovered
person never says “I am cured, but “I am
recovering.”
The first step in the recovery process is
detoxification – the removal of the drug from the
body, usually under medical supervision
This step also includes restoring one’s mental
health
Most experts recommend total abstinence
Relapse – slips from recovery, or periodic returns
to use can happen
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Treatment options
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Support group such as AA, narcotics
Anonymous, cocaine anonymous
Detoxification Units – a person is under a
Drs. care and may be given some
medication to ease the symptoms of
withdrawal
Inpatient treatment centers – involves detox
and counseling, both individual and group
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Treatment options
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Outpatient treatment centers –
involves follow up sessions, counseling
Halfway housespeople are admitted to this program generally
after they have completed at least a 28 day
recovery program where they stay for 6 months to
a year where they learn coping and living skills
they will need when they return to society.
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Choosing to be Drug Free!
Learn to say “no!”
*Give a reason (lie or truth)
*Provide alternatives
*Use eye contact to say no
*Take a definite action
 Realize that no drug will solve your problem
 Talk to trusted friend/counselor, etc.
 Learn to handle the stress in you life and get help
when you need it.
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Refusal Skills
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Developing good self-esteem
Have good eye contact
Respond with a clear and firm "no" that does
not leave the door open to future offers
How you say no is as important as what you
say.
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Refusal Skills
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Identify the consequences ("We'll get in trouble.")
Suggest an alternative
Delaying
Use humor
Just say no
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