Drug and Substance Abuse By Young People

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Drug and Substance Abuse By Young People
Hafizi Harun PENGASIH MALAYSIA
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WHAT IS ADDICTION?

• Drug use or addiction is a disorder of the whole
  person
• Addiction is a symptom of a more major problem
  hiding behind the person.

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Teenagers and Drugs?
Young People like to try out new things. They use
drugs out of curiosity, to feel good, to reduce
stress, to feel grown up or to fit in.

• THE RISKS
• Some will experiment and stop
• Some will continue to use occasionally without
  significant problems.
• Some will develop a dependency, moving on to
  more dangerous drugs.

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GATEWAY TO DRUGS

• Using alcohol and tobacco increase the risk of
  using DRUGS later.
• It gives the feeling of being high
• It alters the mood
• It influence behaviours / habit
• It brings about dependency on substance
• It becomes a new subculture for the users

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Who is At Risk?

• Teenagers at risk of getting hooked on alcohol
  and drug problems include those -
• With a family history of substance abuse
• Who are depressed
• Who have low self esteem, and
• Who feel like they don't fit in anywhere

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Teenage Risk Factors

• Community Risk Factors
• Availability of drugs
• Community laws and norms
• Low community values
• Extreme economic and social deprivation

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Teenage Risk Factors

• Family Risk Factors
• Family history of high-risk behaviours
• Family management problems
• Family conflicts
• Parental attitudes

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Teenage Risk Factors

• School Risk Factors
• Academic failure
• Lack of commitment to school
• No career objective

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Teenage Risk Factors

• Individual and Peer Group Risk Factors
• Friends who engage in substance abuse and other
  problematic behaviour
• Lack of motivation to be successful

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Warning Signs of Teen Substance Abuse

• Physical
• Fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and
  glazed eyes and lasting cough.
• Emotional
• Personality change, sudden mood changes,
  irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self
  esteem, poor judgement, depression and a general
  lack of interest.

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Warning Signs of Teen Substance Abuse

• Family
• Starting arguments, breaking rules, or
  withdrawing from the family.
• School
• Decreased interest, negative attitude, drop in
  grades, many absences, truancy, and discipline
  problems.
• Social Problems
• New friends who are less interested in standard
  home and school activities, problem with the law,
  and changes to less conventional styles in dress
  and music.

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INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

• We have 4 intervention strategies that we do in
  Malaysia -
• 1. Outreach Programmes
• 2. Community Programmes
• 3. Schools Activites
• 4. Family Involvement

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INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

• 1. OUTREACH PROGRAMME
• Educational we go to schools, colleges and
  universities where we set up exhibitions
  and organized drug awareness talk, forum or quiz
  for students.
• Entertaining and creative organize rock
  concert at shopping malls, clubs, schools,
  college and universities. We also do plays,
  pentomine with positive messages.
• Media outreach radio talk show, tv
  interviews,internet, magazine and
  newspapers, where we can outreach not only the
  young people but all levels of society.
• 2. COMMUNITY PROGRAMME
• Community service - we also do outreach
  programmes in the rural and
  residential areas by organizing spring cleaning,
  exhibition and drug awareness
  talks
• Religious program getting religious leaders to
  give religious / spiritual talks to enhance
  community / spiritual values among village
  people.

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INTERVENTION STRATEGIES

• 3.SCHOOLS ACTIVITIES
• Extra Curriculur activities sports, including
  anti drug syllabus or campaign in
  every club in school.
• The use of peer presure as an effective form of
  education for young people. (peer educators
  / counselors). Providing training for peer
  educators on counseling and life skills.
• Parents Teachers' Association
• 4. FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
• Family education getting the family involve in
  schools and also when the teens are in
  treatment. Giving them information and providing
  them with education on topics like -
  'why people use drugs', 'signs of addiction',
  'effective parenting', 'drugs and its effects'
  etc.

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CONCLUSION
1. For an effective intervention programmes, we
must focus on the reducing of the
risk factors 2. Getting the participation from
all level of society (Teens, community
leaders, parents, teachers, law enforcers,
religious leaders.) 3. An ongoing and well
planned intervention programme to ensure
effective result.
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ADDRESS
PERSATUAN PENGASIH MALAYSIA 3201 JALAN SYERS OFF
LANGGAK TUNKU BUKIT TUNKU 50480 KUALA
LUMPUR MALAYSIA WEBSITE www.pengasih.net TEL
603-6201-3179 / 603-6201-0287 FAX
603-6201-3013 EMAIL fizi_at_pengasih.net
" PENGASIH Makes A Difference