Gender and age are important factors to consider when examining patterns of behavioral

health. Patterns of substance use vary by age, with these rates generally declining as
people grow older.

Children, Youth, and Families

Improving access to behavioral health services for children, youth, and their families is one
of SAMHSA’s core missions. Half of adult mental illness begins before the age of 14, and
three-fourths before age 24. More than 40% of youth ages 13 to 17 have experienced a
behavioral health problem by the time they reach seventh grade. In addition, suicide is the
third leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to 24 after accidents and homicide.
Compared with their peers, people within this age group with mental disorders are more
likely to experience homelessness, be arrested, drop out of school, and be underemployed.
Compared to all other chronic health conditions, mental disorders produce the greatest
disability impact within this age group.
Youth transitioning into adulthood have some of the highest rates of alcohol and substance
abuse. For instance, rates of binge drinking (drinking five or more drinks on a single
occasion) in 2014 were:

 28.5% for people ages 18 to 20

 43.3% for people ages 21 to 25

Learn more about SAMHSA programs that address underage drinking at the Underage
Drinking topic.
An estimated 1.3 million U.S. adolescents ages 12 to 17 had a substance use disorder in
2014 (5% of all adolescents). The 2014 rate of past-month illicit drug use was 3.4% among
those ages 12 to 13, 7.9% among youth ages 14 to 15, and 16.5% among youth ages 16
to 17. The highest rate of current illicit drug use was among youth ages 18 to 20 (22.7%),
with the next highest rate occurring among people ages 21 to 25 (21.5%).
Adolescents and young adults also face challenges with mental health issues:

 In 2014, about 1 in 10 youth ages 12 to 17 (11.4%) had a major depressive episode

(MDE) in the past year. Among adolescents with MDE, 41.2% received treatment or
counseling for depression in the past year.
 Combined 2010–2012 data from SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health
(NSDUH) indicate that 1 in 5 young adults ages 18 to 25 (18.7%) reported a mental
illness in the past year and 3.9% were diagnosed with a serious mental illness.
 In 2014, 1.4% of adolescents had a co-occurring MDE and a substance use disorder.

Children and youth are viewed and understood in the context of their families, their
communities, and their cultures. SAMHSA works to promote systems of care that involve
parents in treatment planning and decisions for children:
  Building Blocks for a Healthy Future is a website where parents, caregivers, and
educators can find great tips and tools that help children make healthy decisions as
they grow up.
 National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Dayraises awareness about the
importance of emphasizing positive mental health as part of a child’s overall
development from birth.
 The Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative is a program designed to prevent
violence and substance abuse among our nation's youth, schools, and communities.

Different drugs, different effects

Drugs affect your body's central nervous system. They affect how you think, feel and
behave. The three main types are depressants, hallucinogens and stimulants:
 Depressants slow or 'depress' the function of the central nervous system. They
slow the messages going to and from your brain. In small quantities depressants can
cause a person to feel relaxed and less inhibited. In large amounts they may cause
vomiting, unconsciousness and death. Depressants affect your concentration and
coordination, and slow your ability to respond to situations. It is important to not operate
heavy machinery while taking depressants. Alcohol, cannabis, GHB, opiates (heroin,
morphine, codeine) and benzodiazepines (minor tranquillisers) are examples of
depressants.
 Hallucinogens distort your sense of reality. You may see or hear things that are
not really there, or see things in a distorted way. Other effects can include emotional
and psychological euphoria, jaw clenching, panic, paranoia, gastric upset and nausea.
Ketamine, LSD, PCP, 'magic mushrooms' and cannabis are examples of hallucinogens.
 Stimulants speed or 'stimulate' the central nervous system. They speed up
messaging to and from the brain, making you feel more alert and confident. This can
cause increased heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, reduced appetite,
agitation and sleeplessness. In large amounts stimulants may cause anxiety, panic,
seizures, stomach cramps and paranoia. Caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines (speed and
Ice), cocaine and ecstasy (MDMA) are examples of stimulants.

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Risk factors for drug-related harm

The effects of a drug, and how long they last, depend on a number of factors:
 the type and strength of drugs that you use
 how the drug was made -- substances manufactured in home labs may contain
bacteria, dangerous chemicals and other unsafe substances, and have an unknown
strength. Even one dose may cause an overdose that leads to brain damage or death
 your physical characteristics (including height, weight, age, body fat and
metabolism)
 the dose that you take
 how often and for how long you have been using drugs
 how you ingest the drug (by inhalation, by injection or orally). Compared with
swallowing a drug, inhalation and injection are more likely to lead to overdose and
dependence. If you are injecting drugs, sharing injecting equipment will increase your
risk of contracting serious diseases such as hepatitis and HIV. It will also increase your
risk of serious infection
 your mental health, mood and environment (that is, whether you are in a secure,
happy place or an unsafe place) can affect the experience you have when taking drugs.
If you have a mental health condition, drugs may exacerbate or complicate the
symptoms of that condition
 whether you mix drugs, including alcohol. In particular, alcohol use may lead to
high risk behaviour (such as drink driving) which can result in the serious injury or death
of yourself or others. 

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Physical harms from drug use

Drug use can affect short- and long-term health outcomes. Some of these health
outcomes can be serious, and possibly irreversible.

Drug use can lead to risky or out of character behaviour. When affected by drugs:

 You are more likely to have an accident (at home, in a car, or wherever you are). 
 You may be vulnerable to sexual assault or you may engage in unprotected sex.
Either of these could lead to pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection.
 You could commit a sexual assault or other violent act.
 You may find it hard to sleep, think, reason, remember and solve problems.

Drug use can also result in long-term health outcomes that include:
 harm to organs and systems in your body, such as your throat, stomach, lungs,
liver, pancreas, heart, brain, nervous system
 cancer (such as lung cancer from inhaling drugs)
 infectious disease, from shared injecting equipment and increased incidence of
risk-taking behaviors 
 harm to your baby, if you are pregnant
 acne, or skin lesions if the drug you are taking causes you to pick or scratch at
your skin
 needle marks and collapsed veins, if you inject regularly
 baldness
 male pattern hair growth in women, such as facial hair
 jaw and teeth issues due to clenching and grinding your teeth; or bad breath,
teeth cavities and gum disease
 mood swings and erratic behavior 
 addiction 
 psychosis (losing touch with reality)
 accidental overdose
 higher risk of mental illness, depression, suicide and death.

2. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/How-drugs-affect-your-body

1. https://www.samhsa.gov/specific-populations/age-gender-based

Sex and Gender Differences in Substance

Use
Men are more likely than women to use almost all types of illicit drugs,13 and illicit drug use is more likely to
result in emergency department visits or overdose deaths for men than for women. "Illicit" refers to use of
illegal drugs, including marijuana (according to federal law) and misuse of prescription drugs. For most age
groups, men have higher rates of use or dependence on illicit drugs and alcohol than do women. 14However,
women are just as likely as men to develop a substance use disorder.15 In addition, women may be more
susceptible to craving16–19 and relapse,20,21 which are key phases of the addiction cycle.
Research has shown that women often use drugs differently, respond to drugs
differently, and can have unique obstacles to effective treatment as simple as not being
able to find child care or being prescribed treatment that has not been adequately
tested on women.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/substance-use-in-women/sex-gender-
differences-in-substance-use
A study of drug addiction between the
genders

There’s no question that drug addiction is equally

devastating for both men and women. Yet nationwide studies have shown that males
and females tend to be drawn to different drugs, and that the disease of addiction
affects them differently. Recent research also indicates that gender can affect the
individual’s response to drugs and his or her likelihood of becoming addicted. In
studying drug abuse between the genders, it’s important to look closely at effective
recovery therapies as well as patterns and consequences of substance abuse.

Is drug abuse more common in men or women?

The study of how gender influences drug addiction is relatively new. As Tammy L.
Anderson, PhD, points out in Drug Use and Gender, male drug abuse set the standard
for addiction studies until the 1980s. At that time, researchers began to investigate the
specific ways that drug abuse affected females. Comparative studies from the 1980s
and 1990s showed that drug addiction was more common among men than among
women. In addition:

 Males start using drugs at an earlier age.

 Males abuse drugs more often and in larger amounts.
 Males are more likely to abuse alcohol and tobacco.
 Males are more likely to engage in binge drinking (the consumption of five or more
drinks in a short time period).

In the 21st century, nationwide surveys continue to show that males abuse drugs at
higher rates than females. The 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicated
that close to 12 percent of American males age 12 and older were currently using illegal
drugs, compared with just over 7.3 percent of females in the same age group. Multi-
drug use was also more common in males than in females.

According to the 2012 Monitoring the Future Survey, which tracks drug use among
American adolescents and young adults, illicit drug abuse is more common among
males in high school and college. Among high school seniors, for instance, 9 percent of
males reported that they use marijuana daily, while less than 4 percent of females use
 the drug every day. However, in younger teens (8th to 10th grade), girls tend to abuse
drugs at the same rate as boys.

What accounts for the difference in male and female drug use? Research from
the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) suggests that more males use drugs at an
earlier age not because they are more susceptible to substance abuse, but because
they have more opportunities. Teenage males are more likely to be exposed to drugs
through their peer group than teenage girls, who are often introduced to drugs by boys.
A study sponsored by NIDA shows that after being initiated into drug use, males and
females are equally likely to continue using.

Further reading
 By the numbers: American’s spend on addictive drugs
 Drug overdose: How much is too much
 Drug trafficking by the numbers
 Drug use statistics
 Listing the health concerns of drug use, abuse, and addiction
 Signs of drug abuse and addiction
 The dangers of ‘legal’ highs
 The drug addiction pipeline: who supplies drugs to America?
 The synthetic drug epidemic: what we know
 What are the underlying causes of drug addiction?
 What professions have the highest rates of drug 

https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/drug-addiction/study-between-genders/#gref

SERVICE

Drugs are chemicals that affect the body and brain. Different drugs can have different
effects. Some effects of drugs include health consequences that are long-lasting and
permanent. They can even continue after a person has stopped taking the substance.
There are a few ways a person can take drugs, including injection, inhalation and ingestion.
The effects of the drug on the body can depend on how the drug is delivered. For example,
the injection of drugs directly into the bloodstream has an immediate impact, while ingestion
has a delayed effect. But all misused drugs affect the brain. They cause large amounts of
dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate our emotions, motivation and feelings of
pleasure, to flood the brain and produce a “high.” Eventually, drugs can change how the
brain works and interfere with a person’s ability to make choices, leading to intense cravings
and compulsive drug use. Over time, this behavior can turn into a substance dependency,
or drug addiction.
Today, more than 7 million people suffer from an illicit drug disorder, and one in four deaths
results from illicit drug use. In fact, more deaths, illnesses and disabilities are associated
with drug abuse than any other preventable health condition. People suffering from drug
and alcohol addiction also have a higher risk of unintentional injuries, accidents and
domestic violence incidents.

THE EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE ON

HEALTH
Substance use disorders are associated with a wide range of short- and long-term health
effects. They can vary depending on the type of drug, how much and how often it’s taken
and the person’s general health. Overall, the effects of drug abuse and dependence can be
far-reaching. They can impact almost every organ in the human body.
Side effects of drug addiction may include:
 A weakened immune system, increasing the risk of illness and infection
 Heart conditions ranging from abnormal heart rates to heart attacks and collapsed
veins and blood vessel infections from injected drugs
 Nausea and abdominal pain, which can also lead to changes in appetite and weight
loss
 Increased strain on the liver, which puts the person at risk of significant liver damage
or liver failure
 Seizures, stroke, mental confusion and brain damage
 Lung disease
 Problems with memory, attention and decision-making, which make daily living more
difficult
 Global effects of drugs on the body, such as breast development in men and
increases in body temperature, which can lead to other health problems
https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/substance-abuse-treatment-programs/effects-of-drug-abuse

Drugs abuse can affect the lives of those caught up in it in ways they might not expect.
It can affect health, relationships, job and education. Recognizing there is a problem
with drugs is an important first step in seeking help and treatment.

Drug addiction can be treated, but it’s important that the person using drugs seeks help
and support to figure next steps, rather than trying to deal with it on their own.

Drug abuse is often associated with illicit drugs such as speed, ice (crystal
meth) or heroin, but prescription or over-the-counter medicines can also be abused, as
can alcohol.

About 15% of Australians use an illicit drug and about 5% use a pharmaceutical drug for
a non medical purpose every year. More than 40% of Australians over 14 have used an
illicit drug in their lifetime, and illicit drugs are used by more than a quarter of people in
their 20s each year.
People from all walks of life take illicit drugs, and the type of drug they use can depend
on their socioeconomic status including things like their cultural background, where they
live and what their income is.

Risks associated with drugs abuse include physical and mental health problems,
personal relationship issues, work and financial problems, and drug addiction.

Illicit drugs and the law

People who use illicit drugs can also get into legal trouble. Australia’s drug laws cover
using, possessing and selling drugs, and driving while under their influence. Penalties
include fines, being disqualified from driving and even going to jail. Some states have
random roadside testing for cannabis and amphetamines.

Drug addiction
Regular or continued use of a drug can lead to a drug addiction. Addiction is a physical
or psychological need to use a substance, often caused by regular continued use. The
likelihood of addiction depends on factors related to the type of drug and the individual
person. Signs of addiction can include:

 avoiding people who don’t use drugs

 having problems with relationships
 using drugs to cope emotionally, socially or physically
 neglecting activities like work, study or social commitments
 participating in dangerous activities due to drug use, such as driving under the influence
of drugs
 lying about how much you are using
 financial problems associated with buying drugs
 selling belongings or stealing from others to pay for drugs
 being uncomfortable if you don’t have drugs or needing more of the substance to
experience the same effects
 having withdrawal symptoms
 being dependent on the drug
 losing weight.

Where to get help

The first step is recognising there is a problem with drugs. If you have a problem, you
could try talking to someone such as a family member, teacher or doctor about what to
do next. If you’re concerned about someone else, find out how you can help them with
their drug problem.

You can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Druginfo on 1300 85 85 84 if you need to talk to

someone about drugs abuse, addiction and rehabilitation.
Sources:
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Alcohol and other drugs), ReachOut.com (The facts about
drug addiction), Lifeline (Substance Abuse & Addiction), Druginfo (Statistical Trends),Druginfo (Drug law
in Australia)

Last reviewed: March 2017

AGENCY

Alcohol and drug abuse by employees cause many expensive problems for business and industry
ranging from lost productivity, injuries, and an increase in health insurance claims. The loss to
companies in the United States due to alcohol and drug-related abuse by employees totals $100
billion a year, according to The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information.

These staggering numbers do not include the cost of diverting company resources, that could be
used for other purposes, toward addressing substance abuse issues. Nor does it include the "pain
and suffering" aspects, which cannot be measured in economic terms.

Drinking and drugging among U.S. workers create costly medical, social and other problems that
affect both employees and employers. Substance abuse among employees can threaten public
safety, impair job performance and threaten their own safety.

Problems Caused in the Workplace

In addition to deaths and accidents, absenteeism and loss of production, other problems that
alcohol and drug abuse can cause on the job include:

 Tardiness/sleeping on the job

 Hangover or withdrawal affecting job performance
 Poor decision making
 Loss of efficiency
 Theft
 Lower morale of co-workers
 Increased likelihood of having trouble with co-workers/supervisors or tasks
 Preoccupation with obtaining and using substances while at work, interfering with attention and
concentration
 Illegal activities at work including selling illicit drugs to other employees
 Higher turnover
 Training of new employees
 Disciplinary procedures

Measuring the Costs of Substance Abuse

However, costs to businesses can be measured at the expense of absenteeism, injuries, health
insurance claims, loss of productivity, employee morale, theft, and fatalities. According to
NCADI statistics alcohol and drug users:
  Are far less productive.
 Use three times as many sick days.
 Are more likely to injure themselves or someone else.
 Are five times more likely to file worker's compensation claims?

One survey found that nine percent of heavy drinkers and 10 percent of drug users had missed
work because of a hangover, six percent had gone to work high or drunk in the past year, and 11
percent of heavy drinkers and 18 percent of drug users had skipped work in the past month.

Factors Contributing to Employee Substance Abuse

Research has shown that several factors can contribute to problem drinking and drugging in the
workplace. Factors that can encourage or discourage workplace substance abuse include:

 Workplace culture and acceptance of drinking/drugging

 Workplace alienation
 Availability of alcohol and drugs
 Existence and enforcement of workplace substance abuse policies

Workplace Culture

The culture of the workplace can play a large role in whether drinking and drug use are accepted
and encouraged or discouraged and inhibited. Part of this culture can depend on the gender mix
of employees.

In predominantly female occupations research shows that both male and female employees are
less likely to have substance abuse problemscompared to employees of both genders in male-
dominated occupations.

Studies have found that male-dominated occupations create heavy drinking cultures in which
employees drink to build solidarity and show conformity. Therefore, these occupations have
higher rates of alcohol- and drug-related problems.

Any industry or organization can be affected by workplace alcoholism, but research shows it is
prevalent in these industries: food service, construction, mining and drilling, excavation,
installation, maintenance, and repair.

Workplace Alienation

Research shows that the job itself can contribute to higher rates of employee substance abuse.
Work that is boring, stressful or isolating can contribute to employees' drinking. Employee
substance abuse has been linked to low job autonomy, lack of job complexity, lack of control
over work conditions and products, boredom, sexual harassment, verbal and physical aggression,
and disrespectful behavior.
Alcohol Availability

The availability and accessibility of alcohol can influence employee drinking. More than two-
thirds of the 984 workers surveyed at a large manufacturing plant said it was "easy" or "very
easy" to bring alcohol into the workplace, to drink at workstations, and to drink during breaks. In
cultures where alcohol is prohibited, drinking on the job and drinking, in general, is decreased
significantly.

Supervision

The level of supervision on the job can affect drinking and drugging at work rates. A study of
evening shift workers, when supervision was reduced, found that employees were more likely to
drink at work than highly supervised shifts.

Casual Drinkers Are a Problem, Too

Remarkably, research shows it is the social drinkers, not the hard-core alcoholics or problem
drinkers, who are responsible for most of the lost productivity, according to a Christian Science
Monitor article, specifically tying the hangover issue to production in the workplace

This study also found that it was managers, not hourly employees, who were most often drinking
during the workday. Twenty-three percent of upper managers and 11 percent of first-line
supervisors reported having a drink during the workday, compared with only eight percent of
hourly employees.

Researchers also found that 21 percent of employees said their own productivity had been
affected because of a co-worker's drinking.

Prevention Works

When the issue of workplace substance abuse is addressed by establishing comprehensive

programs, it is a "win-win" situation for both employers and employees, according to the U.S.
Department of Labor.

A study of the economic impact of substance abuse treatment in Ohio found significant
improvements in job-related performance:

 91 percent decrease in absenteeism

 88 percent decrease in problems with supervisors
 93 percent decrease in mistakes in work
 97 percent decrease in on-the-job injuries.

https://www.verywellmind.com/substance-abuse-in-the-workplace-63807
 INTERVENTION PROGRAM

An intervention is a combination of program elements or strategies designed to

produce behavior changes or improve health status among individuals or an
entire population. Interventions may include educational programs, new or
stronger policies, improvements in the environment, or a health promotion
campaign. Interventions that include multiple strategies are typically the most
effective in producing desired and lasting change.

Interventions may be implemented in different settings including communities, worksites,

schools, health care organizations, faith-based organizations or in the home. Interventions
implemented in multiple settings and using multiple strategies may be the most effective
because of the potential to reach a larger number of people in a variety of ways.

Evidence has shown that interventions create change by:

 influencing individuals’ knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and skills;

 increasing social support; and
 creating supportive environments, policies and resources.
 The Intervention Program is a voluntary and confidential monitoring program for RNs
whose competency may be impaired by substance use disorder or mental illness.
 The Program protects the public by providing RNs access to effective treatment
services, monitoring their recovery through an individualized plan, and returning
them to safe practice.

Goal and Objectives

The goal of the Intervention Program is to protect the public. We achieve this goal through
the following objectives:

 Promoting early identification of nurses with substance use disorder (SUD) or mental
illness
 Encouraging intervention of impaired nurses through effective planning and
implementation
 Providing help and hope for nurse participants
 Effectively monitoring the recovery of nurses who have an SUD or mental illness
 Ensuring rehabilitated nurses are returned to safe nursing practice
 Reduce the gap between nurses with untreated SUD or mental illness and nurses
rehabilitated through a comprehensive recovery program.

DRUG TESTING

A drug test is a technical analysis of a biological specimen, for

example urine, hair, blood, breath, sweat, and/or oral fluid/saliva — to determine the presence or
absence of specified parent drugs or their metabolites. Major applications of drug testing include
detection of the presence of performance enhancing steroids in sport, employers
and parole/probation officers screening for drugs prohibited by law (such
as cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin) and police officers testing for the presence
and concentration of alcohol(ethanol) in the blood commonly referred to as BAC (blood alcohol
content). BAC tests are typically administered via a breathalyzerwhile urinalysis is used for the vast
majority of drug testing in sports and the workplace. Numerous other methods with varying degrees
of accuracy, sensitivity (detection threshold/cutoff), and detection periods exist.
A drug test may also refer to a test that provides quantitative chemical analysis of an illegal drug,
typically intended to help with responsible drug use

REGULAR CHECK UP

Healthy can mean different things to different people and everyone has their
own health goals. However there’s some truth in the old saying ‘an apple a
day keeps the doctor away’ — choosing healthier lifestyle habits may mean
less absenteeism and presenteeism, and better health outcomes over time.

“Good health begins with prevention and that all starts with the individual,”
explains Dr Paul Bates, Chief Medical Officer at Bupa. “Establishing good
health habits means people may enjoy longer, healthier, happier lives.
Regular check-ups are an important part of a prevention routine and can help
keep people on track with their health goals.”

The aim of a health check is to help find, prevent or lessen the effect of
disease. It’s like getting a car serviced before it breaks down — after all, it’s
often better to pick up potential problems earlier rather than later. Health
checks can provide health care professionals with an opportunity to look at a
person’s lifestyle, medical history and family history to find out if they’re at risk
of any preventable health conditions.

“Getting the right checks at the right time throughout life may help people
detect potential health problems early on,” Dr. Bates says. “This may allow for
earlier treatment and better outcomes. Health checks can also identify areas
where improvements to lifestyle habits can help keep you on the right track”

Having regular health checks has several advantages. Health checks can help
a person understand their health needs, values and concerns, and help
identify some potential health risk factors where they can make healthy
improvements. It may also make them more likely to feel comfortable talking
openly with their health care team and may give them the confidence to
participate in decisions about their health.
Here are some health checks to consider at different life stages.

In your 20s and 30s

 Blood pressure
 Cholesterol and glucose levels
 BMI, waist and hip measurements
 Dental check and cleaning
 Skin cancer checks
 Testes self-checks (men)
 Breast self-checks (women)

If sexually active:
 Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) screenings
 Pap smear every two years (women) 

In your 40s
All of the same checks as in your 20s and 30s plus:

 Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment

 Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
 Mammogram (women)
 Eye checks for glaucoma

In your 50s and 60s

All of the same checks as in your 40s plus:

 Osteoporosis Risk Assessment

 Bowel cancer screening (also called FOBT – faecal occult blood test)
 Visual acuity and hearing impairment tests

https://www.bupahealthierworkplaces.com.au/employer/the-importance-of-regular-health-check-ups/

With heart disease remaining the number one killer of men and women nationwide, we should
always have an accurate picture of our heart health. And to learn about our cardiovascular health,
we must know about any risk factors that we might have, such as having high cholesterol,
hypertension, or diabetes or being overweight or obese. The problem is, however, that not all of
these risk factors are plain to see. In fact, blood pressure and high cholesterol can have virtually no
symptoms, yet can cause permanent damage to the arteries. They can also cause heart attack and
stroke—all without you ever knowing that you had these risk factors. That’s why nearly half of
individuals dying from a heart attack in 2008 had absolutely no symptoms of heart disease.

While it’s a scary thought, the good news is that we can take control of our heart health in many
ways. By having regular check-ups, primary care doctors can capture a picture of our health over
time, helping them notice any changes that might require further attention. They will also check for
the traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, and can treat or refer you to
a cardiologist when necessary. And for those of us who already know that we have risk factors for
heart disease, such as family history or high cholesterol, you should go ahead and make an
appointment with a trusted cardiologist. By addressing any risk factors that you may have, you can
work with your doctor to lower risk of heart attack or stroke by up to 30 percent. And that advantage
is something we should never put off until later.

IN SERVICE TRAINING
An in-service program is a professional training or staff development effort, where professionals
are trained and discuss their work with others in their peer group.
It is a key component of continuing medical education for physicians, pharmacists, and other
medical professionals. It is also common among public servants including educators [1]and public
safety officials.
In-service program also refers to some programs offered to enlisted members of the military while
they are in service.
In-service programs also refers to educators, where they discuss methods and cases and work
loads.

References
1. ^ http://www.wsaw.com/news/education/headlines/104310863.html
Drug abuse is now-a-days one of the gravest social harms. Recent years have experienced a drastic rise
in drug abuse among school and university students. Thus, the need for special attention to the issue is
deemed important. The present study was conducted with the aim of assessing the impact of life skills
training on promotion of drug abuse preventive behaviors.