Drug Abuse Prevention

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Drug Abuse Prevention

• Developing healthy, responsible, productive
  citizens who will be less likely to experience
  drug-related problems in their lives and the
  lives of their families

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Trends in Drug Use(HS Seniors)

• Alcohol abuse appears on a slight decline
• daily use (3.4)
• consumption at one time or another (80)
• report having been drunk (62)
• binge drink (30.8)

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Trends in Drug Use(HS Seniors)

• Smoking / Smokeless tobacco use peaked in 1997,
  currently on modest decline
• smoking monthly use (34.6), daily use (23.1)
• smokeless monthly use (8.4), daily use (2.9)

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Trends in Drug Use(HS Seniors)

• Illegal drug use has leveled off after 2 year
  decline
• marijuana annual use (42.1), daily use (6)
• illicit other than marijuana annual use (20.7)
• amphetamines annual use (11)
• cocaine annual use (6.2)
• heroin annual use (1.5)

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Trends in Drug Use(HS Seniors)

• Exceptions to the general decline
• hallucinogens of all types annual use (9.4)
• tranquilizers barbiturates annual use (6)
• ecstasy (MDMA) annual use (5.6)
• anabolic steroids annual use (1.8)

For more information, explore the Monitoring the
Future website at the University of Michigan
www.monitoringthefuture.org
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The Macroapproach...
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unemployment
child abuse/neglect
teen pregnancy
violence
Etc.
poverty
school failure
substance abuse
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Drug use is associated with...

• assaults
• murders
• child / spouse abuse
• rapes
• suicides
• accidents
• drownings
• traffic fatalities

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Levels of Prevention

• Primary
• activities that focus on preventing drug abuse
  and related consequences before that drug use
  begins
• Secondary
• activities that focus on recognizing the early
  signs of drug abuse, intervention and referral to
  appropriate resources

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Levels of Prevention

• Tertiary
• activities that focus on the treatment of
  established drug abuse, and especially on the
  prevention of relapse during treatment (i.e.,
  aftercare)

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General Strategies to Prevent Drug Abuse

• Supply Reduction
• based on law enforcement related to manufacture
  and distribution of drugs
• lower, restrict or eliminate availability of drugs

? accessibility
? consumption
? problems
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General Strategies to Prevent Drug Abuse

• Demand Reduction
• activities that create positive, drug free
  attitudes and behaviors
• therapeutic treatment for those who are currently
  experiencing problems

? positivity
? alternatives
? problems
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General Strategies to Prevent Drug Abuse

• Harm Reduction / Inoculation
• activities that increase moderate and responsible
  drug use
• emphasis on responsible decision making

? awareness
? risk taking
? problems
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The Public Health Model
host
Public health activities focus on...
agent
environment
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Alternatives Approach
Based on the premise that individuals use drugs
for a wide variety of reasons and needs, and that
alternative activities can be identified that
may satisfy those same needs
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Alternatives Approach

• Physical Motives physical satisfaction,
  relaxation, desire for more energy

• exercise / sports
• working in the outdoors
• active hobbies

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Alternatives Approach

• Sensory Motives stimulation of senses,
  magnifying perceptions

• exploring nature
• intense adventures (sky diving, skiing, horseback
  riding, etc.)
• sensory awareness training

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Alternatives Approach

• Emotional Motives relief from psychological
  pain, escape from anxiety

• personal development
• stress management / coping strategies
• individual or group counseling

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Alternatives Approach

• Interpersonal Motives gaining peer acceptance,
  enhancing two person relationships

• assertiveness training
• volunteering
• sensitivity and encounter groups

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Alternatives Approach

• Social Motives promoting social change,
  identifying with a sub-culture

• community action activities
• helping the less fortunate
• tutoring mentoring

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Alternatives Approach

• Intellectual Motives escaping mental boredom,
  gaining new insight and awareness

• reading discussion groups
• creative games / puzzles
• exploring altered states (meditation, rebirthing,
  tanks)

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Alternatives Approach

• Aesthetic Motives improving creativity,
  enhancing artistic enjoyment

• instructive classes in art, music, drama,
  writing, crafts, cooking, gardening, etc.
• appreciation classes

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Alternatives Approach

• Philosophical Motives discovering meaningful
  values, organizing a belief structure

• readings, discussions seminars that explore
  meaning
• value clarification exercises

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Alternatives Approach

• Spiritual Motives transcending orthodox
  religion, reaching higher levels of consciousness

• study of world religions
• meditation
• introduction to applied mysticism

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Alternatives Approach

• Other Motives risk taking, kicks, pro-drug
  attitudes

• survival training
• exploring pro-naturalism
• meaningful employment

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Self-Test Where do the following activities
belong?

• drug testing
• employee assistance programs (EAPs)
• family activities
• traffic roadblocks and checks
• marijuana crop eradication
• taxation on cigarettes
• bungy cord jumping
• drug education classes

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Individual Activity What do you know about drug
use?

• Facts / Knowledge
• Perceptions / Appraisals
• Observations
• Beliefs
• Experiences

Students stand, introduce themselves, and
share one item on their lists...
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Group Activity How do you know about drug use?

• Students grouped by 3
• Conduct a round robin discussion
• Share
• personal background
• where drug education came from

Groups report back to class list of sources
is created