Microsoft Word - Substance Abuse Conference Teaching Plan

Substance Abuse

Conference Teaching Plan

Evidence of a Problem

Alcohol

In a study, released in August 2005, underage drinkers said they found it easy to

obtain alcohol from an adult, particularly at parties. More than

one

fourth

of the teens

said they ha

d attended a party where kids consumed alcohol with parents present. And

almost one

third of the teens said it was easy to get alcohol from their parents with their

parents' knowledge.

The Monitoring the Future survey conducted by the University of Michi

gan has

found that, nationwide, about

75%

of high school seniors and

39%

of eighth

graders say

they have consumed alcohol in the last year.

"The perception out there is that 90% of teens get alcohol using fake IDs and by

going to bars. That's not true," sa

ys Dr. J. Edward Hill, president of the American

Medical Assn. "They are getting it from social sources: parents,

older friends

, older

siblings and others. Parents need to become aware of the fact that a large percentage of

alcohol comes from their own hom

es or the homes of other parents."

"The rationalization among parents is teens are going to do it anyway, let them do

it under my supervision," says Pat Hines, executive director of Safe Moves, a Los

Angeles nonprofit program on traffic safety education th

at recently developed a program

for teens on drinking and driving. "Parents think they can control it. I think that's a

fallacy. [Drinking] becomes almost acceptable when a parent establishes those

parameters."

Marijuana

According to a

1999

national surv

ey by the Hazelden Foundation, the vast

majority of parents (98 percent)

said they

would be upset if they discovered their teens

were using marijuana. However, less than half (

percent) of parents advised teens not

to use and just one in five (20 percent

) emphasized it's illegal during the most recent

dialog on the topic with their teens.

In 2002, an average of

7,000

Americans

per day

tried marijuana for the first time

and over two

thirds were under age 18.

Kids use marijuana far more than any other

illicit drug

(not including alcohol)

Among kids who use drugs,

percent use only marijuana.

Inhalants

Use of inhalants increased significantly in 2004 among eighth graders. Nearly

one

five

have used an inhalant.

According to the 2004 Monitoring th

e Future Study, the proportion of young

people who believe it is dangerous to use inhalants has declined among eight and 10th

graders over the past th

ee years.

Inhalants are the

third

most abused substance among 14 to 15 year olds.

Steroids

The percenta

ge of boys in 2001 who reported using steroids in 8th, 10th and 12th

grade was 2.3%, 3.3% and 3.8%, respectively, while percentages for girls remained

constant at around 1% across the three grade segments. Sadly, only 59% of 12th graders

perceive a "great

risk" with taking steroids. Apparently there is no lack of availability for

steroids as

44%

of 12th graders say steroids are "fairly/very easy" to get.

Risk Factors

All youth are at risk of developing substance abuse problems if they are exposed

to addi

cting substances and use them repeatedly. But a number of risk factors increase

the chances that they will become drug involved, including:

Family History



Alcoholism or

addiction

in the family

Family Environment



Domestic violence

or child abuse



Lack of

adult

supervision

Psychology



Childhood aggression



Lack of

problem

solving

skills



Depression



Compulsiveness

School



Rejection by

peers



Lack of commitment to school

If a student has some of these risk factors, he or she is not doomed to become a

substance

abuser. Even kids at high risk may never develop an addiction. By taking

steps now, you can help student avoid or delay any drug experimentation. And delay is

key: kids who start experimenting at an early age are at considerably higher risk for

developi

ng addictions. Someone who makes it to age

without abusing drugs or

alcohol is less likely to develop a substance abuse problem.

The Cycle of Addiction

When a person uses marijuana or methamphetamines over a period of time, the

body becomes unable t

o completely eliminate it all. Marijuana and meth are broken down

in the liver. These metabolites (the substances the body converts the marijuana and

methamphetamines into) although removed rapidly from the blood stream, become

trapped in the fatty tissues

. The problem that needs to be addressed is that these

marijuana and meth residues remain for years. Tissues in our bodies that are high in fats

are turned over very slowly. When they are turned over, the stored marijuana and meth

metabolites are released

into the blood stream and reactivate the same brain centers as if

the person actually took the drug. The former addict now experiences a drug re

stimulation (or "flashbacks") and drug craving. This can continue to occur for years, even

decades.

Craving is

an extremely powerful urge and can cause a person to create all kinds

of "reasons" they should use marijuana or meth again. That person is now trapped in an

endless cycle of trying to quit, craving, and relapse.

Preventative Steps

Do a

family history

determine whether your family has shown signs of

alcoholism or other addiction.

(Exodus 20:5, There can be a cumulative effect to sin.)

so students are especially vulnerable. Let them know they can take steps to

abstain from substances that cause add

iction.

Evaluate your

own use

of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.

(Proverbs 23:26, nothing

communicates quite like the power and conviction

a living example)

If you walk in the

door at night and grab a beer or light up a cigarette every time you get tense,

what

are you conveying to your child about how to cope with life and its

’

stresses?

(Handout #1)

Foster strong

family bonds

to help counter powerful peer influences.

(Proverbs 4:3

4, Speak now or forever wish you had)

If kids have a sense of belonging wi

thin their

own families, they will be less likely to seek it elsewhere.

(Handout #2)

Set clear

expectations

for behavior.

(

Colossians 3:12

Your child needs to know more

directly that which will please you, than that which will discourage you.)

Thousan

ds of teens

reported that their biggest reason for choosing not to drink or choosing to drink

less than they would have is that their parents would be upset by it.

Let your kids know that they can talk to you about anything, without

harsh

judgment

or lectu

res.

(Ephesians 6:4, keep the lines of communication open)

And be on

the lookout for teachable moments, like when your child raises the subject of

drugs or when an anti

drug commercial comes on television.

Expose your children to activities like sports, a

rt, music, reading, or drama, so

that they develop

avid interests

(Ecclesiastes 5:20, God gives and sustains joy for living)

When kids are bored they are more likely to experiment.

Help your child feel apart of his or her

school

(Acts 18:24, Consistent

ly remind your

children that the goal of education is not so that they might get a better job, but rather to be better

equipped for God’s mission for their life)

Go to school functions with your child

whenever you can. Research shows that children who fee

l bonded with their

school are less likely to use substances.

Teach your child to make

independent

decisions.

(Proverbs 22:6, the goal is long

term

success)

Allow your kids to make some of their own decisions, so that when faced

with offers of drugs or al

cohol, they can resist pressure.

Teach your child to

cope

with frustration and stress.

(Mark 1:35, Healthy, biblical,

coping skills need to be communicated in word and deed)

When your child is upset, help

him or her to learn ways to feel better, such as t

alking about it, taking a walk,

praying, journaling,

or various other relaxation techniques.

10.

Teach your child to be

skeptical

of sales pitches.

(Proverbs 23:29

35, What often looks

good from afar, is often far, far from good.)

Whether watching commercials

or passing a

billboard advertising cigarettes or alcohol, help your child discern between the

salesman’s interest and his or her own.

Consider talking your child through

Proverbs 23:29

35 comparing the promises and the actual results of alcohol or

drug u

se.

PROVERBS 23:

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has

needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

Alcohol promises: Happiness,

Friendships

, Camaraderie, a Buzz

Alcohol delivers: Sorrow, Conflict,

Fractured

relationsh

ips, Bodily harm

Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

Alcohol promises:

Reliability

Alcohol delivers:

Addiction

Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down

smoothly!

Alcohol p

romises: Personal

satisfaction

In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.

Alcohol delivers: Personal

destruction

Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.

Alcohol promises: Higher

reality

You

will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.

Alcohol delivers:

Altered

reality

stupidity

"They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When

will I wake up so I can find another drin

k?"

Alcohol promises: A buffer, an

escape

Alcohol delivers: A beating,

enslavement

Sources

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la

drinking8aug08,0,265731

2.story

http://www.planetpsych.com/zPsychology_101/substance/teendrug.htm

http://family.samhsa.gov/moni

tor/usingpot.aspx

http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_truth_facts.asp

tp://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_inhalants_quickfacts.asp

http://www.cpyu.org/Page.aspx?id=76735

Fall 2005, Leading Student Ministry magazine, LifeWay Church Resources

http://www.narcononquebec.ca/marijuana.htm

Fall 2005, Leading Student Ministry magazine, LifeWay Church Resources

(Some scripture verses and references were added)