3. Adolescence is a phase that each
one of us goes through.
It is an exciting phase but also a
period of confusion and masked
by myths,insecurities and worries.
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4. What do you understand by
drug & substance abuse?
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5. The estimated number of drug abusers in
India is around 3 million and that of drug
dependents is 0.5 - 0.6 million.
It is especially severe in the North-Eastern
states of the country.
Most drug users are in the age group 16-35
years.
Drug abuse rate is low in early adolescence
and high during late adolescence.
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6. Among current users in the
Age group 12-18 years,
21 percent were using alcohol,
3 percent cannabis and
0.1 percent opiates
(NHS-UNODC 2004).
21 percent of 40,000 male drug users
in a house hold survey were
in the age group 12-18 years.
Please reflect
•How can we reduce vulnerability
of young people to substance abuse?
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7. Substance Abuse is "the use of illicit
drugs for purposes other than those
for which they are indicated or in
quantities other than directed."
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8. Illicit drugs:
Heroine, marijuana, ganja,
Cocaine etc….
Over the counter drugs:
(drugs available at medical shops..
: cough syrups, aspirin etc.
Abuse:
“when a substance is used in a manner
not directed or in more quantities
Than indicated.”
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10. Dependence on any substance may
include these general characteristics:
Feeling that one needs the substance
on a regular basis to have fun, relax or
deal with one’s problems
Giving up familiar activities such as
sports, homework, or hobbies
Sudden changes in work or school
attendance and quality of work or
marks.
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11. Doing things that a person normally
wouldn’t do
to obtain the substance,
such as frequently borrowing
money or stealing items from
employer, home, friends or
school.
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12. Anger outbursts, acting irresponsibly and
overall attitude change.
No longer spending time with friends who
don't use substances and/or associating with
known users
Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors
such as frequent trips to toilet, keeping room
and things locked, always going out of the
house at particular hours, excessive
resistance to give an account of his
movements etc.
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13. Talking about substance all the time and
pressuring others to use
Feeling exhausted, depressed, hopeless,
or suicidal
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14. WHICH ARE THE
COMMONLY ABUSED
SUBSTANCES?
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM THESE?
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15. Cannabinoids (e.g., hashish and marijuana)
Stimulants (e.g., cocaine, nicotine, tobacco)
Depressants (e.g., alcohol)
Narcotics (e.g., heroin, opium,)
Hallucinogens (e.g., LSD and mescaline)
Other compounds (e.g., steroids and
inhalants)
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16. Commonly abused substances
among adolescents are tobacco and
alcohol which are a gateway to use
of other drugs.
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19. Cigarettes are full of poisons!
4000 chemicals…..
40 cancer causing agents…
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20. Risks associated with
smoking cigarettes
Diminished or extinguished sense of smell
and taste
Smoker's cough
Gastric ulcers
– Chronic bronchitis
Increase in heart rate and blood pressure
Premature and more abundant face
wrinkles
Heart disease
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21. Stroke
Cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx,
esophagus, lungs, pancreas, cervix,
uterus, and bladder
Smoking is particularly dangerous for
teens because their bodies are still
developing and changing
4,000 chemicals (including 200 known
poisons) in cigarette smoke can
adversely affect this process.
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22. Short-term effects
Distorted vision,
hearing, &
coordination
Altered perceptions
and emotions
Impaired judgment
Bad breath
Hangovers
Long-term effects
Loss of appetite
Vitamin deficiencies
Stomach ailments
Skin problems
Sexual impotence
Liver damage
Heart & central
nervous system
damage
Memory loss
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23. Financial: Spending money on substance instead of
essential needs; exhausting savings; borrowing
money etc.
Occupational: Inefficiency due to decreased
performance; unpunctuality; fights, quarrels,
thefts; absenteeism; accidents at work place;
suspension etc.
Familial: Arguments over substance use; neglect of
family obligations; quarrels and physical
violence; divorce; ostracization by family etc.
Social: Peer alienation; arguments, fights;
decreased social reputation etc.
Legal: Violation of rules; thefts and petty crimes;
arrests and court cases
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24. Reasons for teenagers
indulging in substance
abuse
Personal factors
Beliefs and perceptions about the
benefits of substance use
Lack of knowledge of consequences
Personality factors, e.g., depression,
low self-esteem
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25. Behavioral factors
Teenagers tend to be heavy and
frequent users of substances compared
with adults.
Teenagers often use more than one
substance.
Teenagers tend to engage in more high-
risk behaviours than adults.
Teenagers out of curiosity experiment.
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26. Protective factors
Individual
High self-esteem; high intelligence;
optimistic about future.
Family
Strong parent & youth attachment;
consistent discipline & supervision; no
family history of substance abuse
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27. Schools
Connectedness; quality school with
opportunity to succeed
Community and Society
Health, support &
recreational facilities;
safe neighborhood;
connectedness to culture, religion etc
Protective factors
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28. Common myths about Drug intake
Myth
There is no harm
in trying drugs
just once. If one
has a strong will
power one can
stop whenever
one wants
Alcohol enhances
sexual
performance and
desire.
Fact
Almost all drug addicts start by
trying just once. Drugs alter the
metabolism of our brain and body.
Once the drug is taken, the user is
always at a risk to increase the
drug intake, which becomes a part
of his/her habit.
Shakespeare’s quote that alcohol
“provokes the desire but inhibits
the performance” is well-known.
Alcohol interferes with achieving
erections. In research studies,
alcohol has been shown even to
reduce sexual desire
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29. Myths
Alcohol promotes
good sleep.
Will power alone
can help a drug
addict stop taking
drugs.
Facts
People dependent on alcohol
cannot sleep well without
alcohol. Those who do not use
alcohol regularly may have
disturbed sleep after alcohol
consumption.
A person dependent on
substances is suffering from a
disease and not just a failure
of will power. He or she
requires medical and
psychiatric treatment
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30. Myths
Alcohol
helps people
to forget
their
problems.
Facts
This has become a
‘truth’ because
regular and heavy
alcohol users often use
this excuse for their
alcohol drinking.
Alcohol only adds on
other problems.
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31. Cont…
Most of the
addicts get
their drugs
from a peddler
or a pusher.
Most of the addicts get
their first dose of
drugs from a friend or
a close associate.
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32. Cont…
Beer is not a
“hard liquor”
and can be
consumed safely.
Beer is an alcoholic beverage,
although it contains lesser
amount of alcohol than “hard
liquor” like whisky or rum.
Beer does contain 4 to 8%
alcohol. One 12-ounce (285
ml) bottle of beer is equal to
one peg of whisky. Thus, if
somebody drinks six bottles of
beer in an evening, he/she has
consumed the equivalent of
six pegs of whisky.
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33. Commonly abused substances among adolescents are
tobacco and alcohol which are a gateway to use of
other drugs.
Substance dependence involves tolerance, withdrawal
and disruption of psychological, occupational and
social functioning.
There are severe financial, occupational, familial,
social and legal consequences of substance dependence.
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