Transcript By: Lauren Grussaute and Mary Travis Barkley

Substance Abuse
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substance abuse is the the overindulgence in
and dependence of a drug or other chemical
leading to effects that are detrimental to the
individual's physical and mental health, or the
welfare of others
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Alcohol
Tobacco
Over the counter Cold and Cough Medicines
Hallucinogenic
Opiates
Stimulants (crystal meth, cocaine, adderall)
Club drugs
Depressants (alcohol, barbiturates,
benzodiazepine, muscle relaxers)
Inhalants
Prescription drugs
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq_ZdsEh
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The average age when youth first try alcohol is
11 years for boys and 13 years for girls.
By age 14, 41 percent of children have had least
one drink.
The average age at which Americans begin
drinking regularly is 15.9 years old.
Teens who begin drinking before age 15 are five
times more likely to develop alcohol dependence
than those who begin drinking at age 21.
"Adolescents are particularly at risk of adverse reactions from
hallucinogen use as they enter puberty, a time of rapid physical
and emotional changes. Hallucinogens are particularly
dangerous because the effects are so unpredictable. They can
cause violent behavior in some and suicidal tendencies in
others. As memory, perception, and judgment are clouded
under the influence, users are at risk of severe injuries,
overdose, and death from drowning, burns, falls, and car
accidents. Sometimes, hallucinogen use can uncover severe
mental disorders, such as schizophrenia or severe depression."
Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
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Club drugs are a
pharmacologically
heterogeneous group of
psychoactive compounds
that tend to be abused by
teens and young adults at a
nightclub, bar, rave, or
trance scene. Gamma
hydroxybutyrate (GHB),
Rohypnol, and ketamine are
some of the drugs in this
group along with MDMA
(ecstasy) and
methamphetamine.
Ecstasy is the most commonly
abused of the club drugs.
Rave or rave party is a term first used in the 1980s and
90s to describe dance parties (often all-night events)
with fast-paced electronic music and light shows. Club
drugs are easily found at these parties.
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Steroids: Anabolic
steroids are a group of
powerful compounds
closely related to the
male sex hormone
testosterone. From 1998
to 1999, there was a
significant increase in
anabolic steroid abuse
among middle school
aged adolescents.
Many adolescents use steroids to
increase their body muscle mass.
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Stimulants:The possible
long-term effects include
tolerance and dependence,
violence and aggression,
malnutrition due to
suppression of appetite.
Crack, a powerfully addictive
stimulant, is the term used
for a smokeable form of
cocaine. In1997, an
estimated1.5 million
Americans, age 12 and older,
were chronic cocaine users.
Crystal meth is a stimulant
that has become very popular
in recent years.
Crystal Meth is similar to cocaine in
its euphoric effects, but is longer
lasting.
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The average age of first marijuana use is14, and alcohol use
can start before age12.
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Alcohol, Marijuana, and Tobacco are the most common
abused substances of adolescents
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Drug use is associated with a variety of negative
consequences, including increased risk of serious drug use
later in life, school failure, and poor judgment which may put
teens at risk for accidents, violence, unplanned and unsafe
sex, and suicide
An estimated 19.9 million Americans aged 12 or older were
current users of an illicit drug in 2007. This estimate
represents 8.0 percent of the population.
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The 1960’s and 70’s had an increase in adolescent substance
abuse. Many youth turned to marijuana, stimulants, alcohol, and
hallucinogens. This was due to social and political unrest.
The use of drugs among secondary school students declined in
the 1980’s but began to increase in the early 90’s.
In the late 90’s, and early part of the 21st century, the number of
secondary students reporting the use of drugs decreased. The
overall decline in drug use of adolescents during this time frame
is approximately 1/3rd for 8th graders, 1/4th for 10th graders,
and 1/8th for 12th graders.
The most notable declines in drug use by U.S. adolescents in the
21st century have occurred for marijuana, LSD, cocaine, ecstasy,
steroids, and cigarettes.
Even with this decrease the U.S still has one of the highest rates
of adolescent drug use of any industrialized nation.
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Being born in a high-risk family (especially a poor,
single, and/or teenage mother)
Experiencing an increase in harsh parenting in
childhood
Having conduct problems in school
Rejection by peers in childhood
Increase in conflict with parents in early adolescence
Having low parental monitoring
Hanging out with deviant peers in early adolescence
Having parents that are substance abusers
themselves.
Traumatic childhood experiences (molestation, rape,
loss of a parent…)
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Parents and parental control and monitoring
Good peer influence
Parents who are more involved in their adolescents
life help with the decrease in the probability that their
child will become involved in substance abuse
Not engaging in delinquent behaviors
Community wide prevention plan (Schools, media,
role models, parents, peers, police, courts, and youth
service agencies can be effective in reducing
adolescent substance abuse). Evaluations of the
community wide prevention plan after 18 months and
after four years, revealed significantly lower rates of
alcohol and marijuana use by adolescents and their
counterparts in other areas where the program was
not in operation.
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School work has declined; grades suddenly slipping or dropping
dramatically
Missing school (skipping secretly or too "tired" or "sick" to go)
Mood changes (irritable, crying jags)
Dropping out of usual activities (music, sports, hobbies)
Physical appearance changing (poor hygiene, unusual style changes)
Friends suddenly change; doesn't introduce new friends
Money or valuables missing from parents' purse, from home
Furtive or secretive behavior (e.g., bedroom door locked and takes
long time to answer)
Hostile, aggressive outbursts
Seems to have "lost" motivation
Forgetfulness
Unusual sleeping habits (changing over time or dramatic change)
Depressed
Anxious
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Personal and family therapy
Treatment centers
(intensive out-patient and
in-patient rehabilitation).
Includes hospitals and
rehab facilities.
Training school (military
style rehabilitation for
juvenile offenders- (last
resort)
Adolescent offender
programs (drug courts and
probations for people 1217 years old)
The typical success rate of most
adolescent drug rehabs is 2% to
20%.
The success rate is lower for
adolescents than it is for adults.