INTRODUCTION:

• What do we need to be aware of?

• Addiction

• Tobacco

• Alcohol

• Drugs

What do we need to be aware of?

• Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug use can lead to the following 3 main risks:

1. Adverse Health Affects

2. Addiction

3. Other risks and dangerous behaviour

ALCOHOL

• Alcohol is a sedative hypnotic drug that depresses the central nervous system, making you feel more relaxed.

• Alcohol is socially accepted as something everyone drinks and is not illegal.

• As such, it is not seen as something dangerous or a problem.

• Addiction and alcoholism are big problems in society.

TOBACCO

• Cigarettes and other tobacco products contain nicotine

• Nicotine is the most widely used drug of abuse• Nicotine is generally recognised to be one of the

most addictive of all drugs.• Smoking or chewing tobacco is not illegal • Nicotine has few adverse effects on physical hea

lth, it’s the other chemicals taken in along with nicotine which do much of the damage.

DRUGS

• There are many drugs, both legal and illegal.

• They all have various different effects.

• Drug abuse is common.

• Abuse can lead to addiction.

• Treatment, rehabilitation and recovery from addiction is a long hard road!

ADDICTION:

• Addiction is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by continuous or episodic impaired control over drinking or drug use, preoccupation with alcohol or drugs, use of alcohol or drugs despite adverse consequences, and distortion in thinking, most notably denial.

• Simply put, Addiction means a person has no control over whether he or she uses a drug or drinks. Someone who's addicted has grown so used to the drug that he or she has to have it. Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both.

What Are Substance Abuse and Addiction?

• The difference between substance abuse and addiction is very slight.

• Substance abuse means using an illegal substance or using a legal substance in the wrong way.

• Addiction begins as abuse.• You can abuse a drug (or alcohol) without

having an addiction. • People can get addicted to all sorts of

substances.

Why is this important to you now?

• Because ADOLESCENCE is the time when most substance abuse occurs, and where people start forming their first addictions.

• Why at this age?– Invincible– Subject to peer pressure– Risk-taking– Want to be independent

Some Factors Affecting Drug Experimentation/Continued

Use/Addiction

Genetics Peer Pressure

Stress

Availability

Trauma/abuse Curiosity

Boredom

Psychiatricproblems

Cycle of Addiction

Drug Use

Physical dependence

Withdrawal symptoms

Need for drugs

Obtain money for drugs

Obtain drugs

Consequences of Addiction

• Inability to attend classes/do schoolwork

• Breakdown of relationships

• Decrease in self-care

• Inability to work

• Financial problems (cash flow)

• Illegal behavior

• Medical risks

• Psychiatric illness

Challenges

• Accept the disease of addiction

• Commit to sobriety

• Acknowledge that XYZ is a drug

• Engage in treatment

• Finances

• Managing free time/boredom

How Can You Help A Friend?

• Remember that addiction is a disease.

• Addiction is treatable.

• Refer your friend to someone for help.

• Support your friend’s recovery.

• Relapse is part of the disease process.

• Don’t give up hope.

• Keep trying.