PRESENTATION ON

awareness about drug addiction

• Presented by: Aftab hussain

• Clinical psychologist
• Ph.D(scholar) ,Dip in clinical psychology,
• International Certified Addiction Professional(ICAP 1)
 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.
 A DRUG IS ANY SUBSTANCE OTHER
THAN FOOD WHICH CHANGES THE
WAY THE BODY OR MIND FUNCTIONS.
 INTRODUCTION OF DRUG

•A drug is any substance

that, alters normal bodily
function, resulting any
psychological or behavioral
change.
• Drug is a substance used to
treat an illness.
 Types of drugs

Stimulants (uppers) – Speed up the brain and

central nervous system. Examples are
caffeine (coffee, tea) nicotine
(cigarettes), amphetamines, speed,
cocaine and diet pills.
 Types of drugs
Depressants (downers) – Slow down the brain and
central nervous system. Examples are alcohol,
beer, wine, vodka, gin etc heroin, tranquilizers,
sleeping pills.
 Types of drugs

Hallucinogens – These drugs

alter the user’s state of consciousness.
(Distort auditory and visual sensations)
Examples are LSD, ecstasy, magic
mushrooms, marijuana.
 
       
                                                                                                  
NICOTINE
 MARIJUANA
• Marijuana is the most common illegal drug
around
• Comes from a plant called “cannabis”
• Some people call it pot, weed, grass, hash,
smoke or ganja
• Cannabis has the chemical
“tetrahydrocannabinol” or THC
• When you smoke a joint the THC goes into
the lungs, then into the heart which pumps
into the bloodstream which takes it directly
to brain
 MARIJUANA
• Only takes few minutes for THC to get
to brain when you smoke marijuana
• Eating takes longer to get to brain-
passes through digestive system first
• In brain, activates “receptors” gives you
the feeling of being high
• Marijuana changes physical and chemical
balance in your brain
WHY DO PEOPLE USE
DRUGS?
                                              
2.
Low
Self-Esteem..
65 percent of teens say they use
drugs to “feel cool.”
03/13/21
Self-Medication
These pent up emotions can take an emotional toll and can even
lead to depression or anxiety.
03/13/21
Parental Influence
If your teen sees you, a friend’s parent or
another authority figure using drugs, they
may think the behavior is normal and
acceptable.

03/13/21
 RISK FACTORS
• Friends who use drugs (this is the
number one predictor of who will
experiment with drugs/alcohol)
 RISK FACTORS
• Absence of healthy recreational or leisure
interests
• Early antisocial behavior (e.g., aggression,
hyperactivity, defiance)
 RISK FACTORS
• Parental drug use and a positive attitude toward use
 RISK FACTORS
• Academic Failure (low and failing grades)
• Little commitment to school
 RISK FACTORS
• Favorable attitude towards drug use
• Early first use of drugs
• Prenatal exposure to alcohol (FAS/E)
 PROTECTIVE FACTORS
• Involvement in alternative activities
• Sense of well being and self-confidence
 PROTECTIVE FACTORS
• Positive future plans
• Healthy coping strategies to deal with stress
• Positive attitude towards learning
 PROTECTIVE FACTORS
Knowledge about risks associated with substance use
PROTECTIVE FACTORS
Negative attitude towards substance use
PROTECTIVE FACTORS
• Positive relationships with adults
Signs and Symptoms of Substance Use
Problems in Older Adults

•Anxiety •Increased tolerance

•Blackouts, dizziness •Legal difficulties
•Depression •Memory loss
•Disorientation •New problems in decision making
•Poor hygiene
•Mood swings
•Seizures, idiopathic
•Falls, bruises, burns
•Sleep problems
•Family problems
•Social isolation
•Financial problems •Unusual response to medications
•Headaches
•Incontinence
 Symptom Identification
Applying quantity and frequency levels appropriate for
younger adults to elders may cause failure to identify
substance use problems
Warning signs can be confused with or masked by
concurrent illnesses and chronic conditions, or
attributed to aging
• Sleep problems associated with chronic conditions,
particularly cardiovascular disease and pain
• Falls attributed to poor lower body strength, poor balance, or
vision limitations
• Anxiety attributed to psychosocial concerns
• Confusion/memory problems associated with Alzheimer’s
disease or other dementias
 Psychosocial Manifestations of
Mild/Moderate Drug Disorders
Psychological/Behavioral
• Agitation, irritability, dysphoria, difficulty in coping,
mood swings, hostility, violence, psychosomatic
symptoms, hyperventilation, generalized anxiety, panic
attacks, depression, psychosis
Family
• Chronic stable family dysfunction, marital problems,
anxiety and depression in family members, divorce,
abuse and violence
(Brown, 1992)
 Psychosocial Manifestations of
Mild/Moderate Drug Disorders
Social
• Alienation and loss of old friends, gravitation toward
others with similar lifestyle
Legal
• Arrests for disturbing the peace or driving while
intoxicated, stealing, drug dealing
Financial
• Borrowing or owing money, selling personal or family
possessions

(Brown, 1992)
 Screening Instruments
Modified CAGE for drug abuse
• Examined for older populations (50 and over)
• Excellent sensitivity, poor specificity
(Hinkin et al., 2001)
Conjoint two-item screen
• "In the past year, have you ever drunk or used drugs more
than you meant to?"
• "Have you felt you wanted or needed to cut down on your
drinking or drug use in the past year?"
• Ages 50-59: Sensitivity 73.9, Specificity 84.8
(Brown et al., 2001)
Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10, 20, 28)
 Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-
20)
1. Have you used drugs other than those required for medical reasons?
2. Have you abused prescription drugs?
3. Do you abuse more than one drug at a time?
4. Can you get through the week without using drugs (other than those required for
medical reasons)?
5. Are you always able to stop using drugs when you want to?
6. Have you had "blackouts" or "flashbacks" as a result of drug use?
7. Do you ever feel bad or guilty about your drug use?
8. Does your spouse (or parents) ever complain about your involvement with drugs?
9. Has drug abuse created problems between you and your spouse or your parents?
10. Have you lost friends because of your use of drugs?
 Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-
11. Have you neglected your family20)
because of your use of drugs?
12. Have you been in trouble at work because of drug abuse?
13. Have you lost a job because of drug abuse?
14. Have you gotten into fights when under the influence of drugs?
15. Have you engaged in illegal activities in order to obtain drugs?
16. Have you been arrested for possession of illegal drugs?
17. Have you ever experienced withdrawal symptoms (felt sick) when you
stopped taking drugs?
18. Have you had medical problems as a result of your drug use (e.g., memory
loss, hepatitis, convulsions, bleeding, etc.)?
19. Have you gone to anyone for help for a drug problem?
20. Have you been involved in a treatment program specifically related to drug
use?
 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.