Substance Abuse
Parent Conference
Guide
Evidence of a Problem
Alcohol
More than
____________
of surveyed
teens said they had attended a party where
kids consume
d alcohol with parents present.
The Monitoring the Future survey conducted by the University
of Michigan has
found that, nationwide, about
_________%
of high school seni
ors and
_______%
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," says Dr. J. Edward Hill, president of the American
Medical Assn. "They are getting it from social sources:
parents,
_________ _________
,
older siblings and others. Parents need to become aware of the fact that a
large percentage
of alcoh
ol comes from their own homes or the homes of other parents."
Marijuana
According to a
1999
national survey by the Hazelden Foundation, t
he vast
majority of parents (98%
)
said they
would be upset if they discovered their teens were
using marijuana. Howeve
r, less than
half (
______%
)
of parents advised teens not
to use
and just one in five (20%
) emphasized it's illegal during the most recent dialog on the
topic with their teens.
2
In 2002, an average of
__________
Americans
per day
tried marijuana for the
f
irst time and over two
-
thirds were under age 18.
3
Kids use marijuana far more than any other illicit drug
(not including alcohol)
.
Among kids who use drugs,
________%
use only marijuana.
4
Inhalants
Use of inhalants increased significantly in 2004 among
eighth graders. Nearly
_____ ____ ______
have used an inhalant.
Inhalants are
the
_________
most abused substance among 14 to 15 year olds.
5
Steroids
O
nly 59% of 12th graders perceive a "great risk" with taking steroids. Apparently
there is no lack of a
vailability for steroids as
_______
%
of 12th graders say steroids are
"fairly/very easy" to get.
6
Risk Factors
All youth are at risk of developing substance abuse problems if they are exposed
to addicting 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
____________
in the family
Family Environment
_____________ ____________
or child abuse
Lack of adult
_______________
Psychology
Childhoo
d aggression
Lack of
__________________
skills
Depression
Compulsiveness
School
Rejection by
________
Lack of commitment to school
Someone who makes it to
age
______
without abusing drugs or alcohol is less
likely to develop a substance abuse problem.
7
The Cycle of Addiction
When a person uses marijuana or methamphetamines over a period of time, the
body becomes unable to 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 hig
h 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.
8
Preventative Steps
1.
Do a
________ __________
to determine whether your family has shown signs
of alcoholism or other addiction.
(Exodus 20:5, There can be a cumulative effect t
o sin.)
If so students are especially vulnerable. Let them know they can take steps to
abstain from substances that cause addiction.
2.
Evaluate your
_______ _____
of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.
(Proverbs 23:26,
nothing communicates quite like the power
and conviction
of
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?
3.
Foster strong
__________ ________
t
o help counter powerful peer influences.
(Proverbs 4:3
-
4, Speak now or forever wish you had)
If kids have a sense of belonging
within their own families, they will be less likely to seek it elsewhere.
4.
Set clear
____________
for behavior.
(
Colossians 3:12
-
25
,
Your child needs to know
more directly that which will please you, than that which will discourage you.)
Thousands of
teens reported that their biggest reason for choosing not to drink or choosing to
drink less than they would have is that their paren
ts would be upset by it.
5.
Let your kids know that they can talk to you about anything, without
________
____________
or lectures.
(Ephesians 6:4, keep the lines of communication open)
And be
on the lookout for teachable moments, like when your child raise
s the subject of
drugs or when an anti
-
drug commercial comes on television.
6.
Expose your children to activities like sports, art, music, reading, or drama, so
that they develop
_______ ____________
.
(Ecclesiastes 5:20, God gives and sustains
joy for livin
g)
When kids are bored they are more likely to experiment.
7.
Help your child feel apart of his or her
__________
.
(Acts 18:24, Consistently remind
your children that the goal of education is not so that they might get a better job, but rather to be
better e
quipped for God’s mission for their life)
Go to school functions with your child
whenever you can. Research shows that children who feel bonded with their
school are less likely to use substances.
8.
Teach your child to make
_____________
decisions.
(Prover
bs 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 alcohol, they can resist pressure.
9.
Teach your child to
_________
with frustration and stress.
(Mark 1:35, Healthy,
bibl
ical, 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 talking about it, taking a walk,
praying, journaling,
or various other relaxation techniques.
10.
Teach your child to
be
___________
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 inter
est 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 use.
9
PROVERBS 23:
29
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has
needless bruises
? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Alcohol promises: Happiness,
_______________
, Camaraderie, a Buzz
Alcohol delivers: Sorrow, Conflict,
_____________
relationships, Bodily harm
30
Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
Alcohol promis
es:
_____________
Alcohol delivers:
______________
31
Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down
smoothly!
Alcohol promises: Personal
______________
32
In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper.
Alcohol delivers: Personal
______________
33
Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.
Alcohol promises: Higher
___________
34
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.
Alcohol del
ivers:
__________
reality
--
____________
35
"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 drink?"
Alcohol promises: A buffer, an
__________
Alcohol delivers: A beating,
____
___________
Sources
1
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la
-
he
-
drinking8aug08,0,2657312.story
2
http://www.planetpsych.com/zPsychology_101/substance/teendrug.htm
3
http://family.samhsa.gov/monitor/usingpot.aspx
4
http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_truth_facts.asp
5
http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_inhalants_quickfacts.asp
6
http://www.cpyu.org/Page.aspx?id=76735
7
Fall 2005, Leading Student Ministry magazine, LifeWay Church Resources
.
8
http://www.narcononquebec
.ca/marijuana.htm
9
Fall 2005, Leading Student Ministry magazine, LifeWay Church Resources
.
(
S
cripture verses and references were added)