GREATER PALM SPRINGS CRYSTAL METH TASK FORCE

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GREATER PALM SPRINGS CRYSTAL METH TASK FORCE

• Crystal Meth 101

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OVERVIEW OF ADDICTION

• Crystal Meth Program
• AIDS Project Los Angeles

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The Disease Concept of Chemical Dependency

• Dis-ease
• A primary disease
• Progressive and fatal

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Signs and Symptoms of Chemical Dependency

• Tolerance
• Withdrawal
• Psychological dependence
• Physiological dependence
• Ritualistic behaviors
• The phenomenon of craving
• Denial

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Stages of Chemical Use

• Experimental use
• Social/recreational using
• Daily preoccupation
• Dependency

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Summary

• Addiction is a disease
• Addiction tolerance withdrawal ritualistic
  behavior craving

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The Feeling ChartExperimental Use

• 1 ? 2
• 3 ?
• pain normal
  euphoria

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The Feeling ChartSocial/Recreational Use

• 1 ? ? ? 2
• 3 ? ? ?
• pain normal
  euphoria

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The Feeling ChartChemical Abuse

• 1 ??? 2
• 3 ? ? ? ? ? ?
• pain normal
  euphoria

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The Feeling ChartChemical Dependence

• 1 ? ? 2
• 3 ? ? ?
• pain normal
  euphoria

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Progression of the Disease

• Occasional use of alcohol and other drugs
• Easy to get high
• Alcohol or other drug use with friends
• Thinking that everyone does it
• Feeling pride in being able to handle
  it
• Start having blackouts or overdoing it
• Use on weeknights begin
• Hiding how much you use
• Skipping work/school
• Feeling guilty
• Tolerance increases
• Making excuses about
  chemical use
• Planning your day
  around your chemical use
• Beginning to worry
  about your stash or supply
• Changes in friends
  and meeting places
• Decreased
  ability to stop
• Using alone
• Unwilling
  to discuss problem
• 
  Family/friends express concern

Experimental use More regular use Daily
preoccupation Dependency
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12-Step View of Addiction

• An allergy of the body, a malady of the spirit
  and an obsession of the mind
• Complete abstinence from all mind altering
  chemicals
• Recovery is slow and an on-going process
• Natural state of an alcoholic/addict is
  irritable, restless and discontent
• Abstinence requires daily work/maintenance
• Fellowship is a key part of recovery

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HARM REDUCTION

• Accepts, that drug use is part of our world and
  chooses to work to minimize its harmful effects
  rather than simply ignore or condemn them
• Acknowledges that some ways of using drugs are
  clearly safer than others
• Calls for the non-judgmental, non-coercive
  provision of services and resources to people who
  use drugs
• Affirms drugs users themselves as the primary
  agents of reducing the harms of their drug use,
  and seeks to empower users to share information
  and support each other
• Recognizes that the realities of poverty, class,
  racism, social isolation, past trauma, sex-based
  discrimination and other social inequalities
  affect both people's vulnerability to and
  capacity for effectively dealing with
  drug-related harm.
• Does not attempt to minimize or ignore the real
  and tragic harm and danger associated with licit
  and illicit drug use