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.
Introducing
Personal 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…