SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THE ELDERLY

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE
prevention
PATH 216Mohamed M. B. Alnoor
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Contents

• Definitions

• Symptoms and Signs of substance abuse

• Initiation of substance use

• Why do people use alcohol and
• other drugs

• Consequences of substance abuse

• Risk factors Protective factors of
• substance abuse

• Prevention of substance abuse

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Definitions
SUBSTANCE ABUSE

• Substance abuse is the behavior of excessive
  use of a substance

to modify or control mood or
state of mind in a manner that is illegal
or harmful to oneself or others.
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Definitions
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Potential consequences of abuse include

• Accidents or injuries
• Blackouts
• Legal problems
• Poor job performance
• Family problems
• Sexual behavior that increases the risk of
  HIV infection

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Substance
Definitions
SUBSTANCE ABUSE

• The word substance in substance abuse, is any
  chemical agent (natural or artificial) that
  affects the mind and is abusively used .

• Alcohol
• Illegal street drugs
• Addictive prescription and over the counter
  drugs.
• Other mind altering substances , and
• Tobacco.

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Symptoms and Signs
Abuse of alcohol and other drugs affects people

• Emotionally
• Behaviorally
• Physically

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tolerance
Definitions
SUBSTANCE ABUSE

• "Tolerance" describes changes in the way an
  addict reacts to a drug, where he needs more of
  the drug to get the same effect as before.

OR

• When after repeated administration, increasingly
  larger doses of a drug must be administered to
  obtain the same effects with the original use.

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Substance dependence
Definitions
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
The physiological state
of neuro-adaptation produced by repeated
administration of the drug, necessitating
continued administration to prevent the
appearance of the withdrawal syndrome
Alcoholism means alcohol dependence
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Substance dependence
Definitions
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
additional problems

• Experiences withdrawal when not using.
• Seems unable to stop.
• Preoccupied by getting and using.
• Tolerance(needs more to get the same effect).
• Gives up important things in order to use.
• Compulsions or cravings to keep using.
• Rebound.

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Understanding Addiction
Definitions
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Substance dependence
For 10 of people, abuse addiction.
Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is

• Chronic

• Progressive

• Primary

• Terminal/Permanent

• Characterized by denial

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Internationally
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Initiation of substance use

• Smoking is the ENTERANCE
• Risk to move on to marijuana is 65 times greater
  for persons who smoke or drink
• Risk to move on to cocaine is 104 times greater
  for persons who used marijuana
• The more risk factors someone has the greater
  likelihood to use substances.

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use
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
people use alcohol and
other drugs
Ways that

• Experimentation
• Social/Recreational
• As a stress reliever

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use
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
people use alcohol and
other drugs
Why do

• Substance use as outlet for emotional
• and physical stressors in life
• Financial and work problems
• Used to boost self image.
• Used to fit in/be accepted
• Insufficient knowledge about drugs and their
  effects

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Consequences
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
In addition to effects on the body, other
consequences occur at

• individual level
• family level
• community level.

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RISK FACTORS
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Who uses substance ?
FACTORS
PROTECTIVE FACTORS
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PREVENTION
SUBSTANCE ABUSE

• Primary prevention
• Secondary prevention
• Tertiary prevention

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PREVENTION
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Primary prevention
To prevent initiation of substance use or
delaying the age at which use begins.
TWO STRATEGIES

• 1- to reduce supply

• 2- to reduce demand

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PREVENTION
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Primary prevention
To prevent initiation of substance use or
delaying the age at which use begins.
To reduce demand
RISK FACTORS
PROTECTIVE FACTORS
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PREVENTION
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Secondary prevention
To target individuals in the early stages of
psychoactive substance use, in order to prevent
substance use becoming a problem and thereby
limit the degree of damage to the individual.
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PREVENTION
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Tertiary prevention
To end dependence and minimize problems resulting
from use/abuse. This is to enable the individual
to achieve and maintain an improved level of
functioning and health.
This is also called rehabilitation and
relapse prevention.