Psychoactive Drugs and Young People in Australia, a prepared slide for an assessment which achieved the highest mark of the class.

1. Risks and strategies
associated with
psychoactive drug
use and young people
in Australia
ADDICTIONS AND PRACTICE
Edith Cowan University - SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 1
Patricia Gorman (10023313)

2. This development session is designed to assist people within the
community drug and alcohol sector to increase knowledge and
understanding of issues associated with psychoactive drug use
and young people, whilst exploring a range of strategies to
address these issues within a community environment context.
Handouts:
• Professional Development Worksheet 1.0
• Stages of Substance Use and Suggested Interventions – Tools
for Professionals (Bright Futures, 2017)
• Links to Free Resources
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 2

3. “As young Australians overdose on novel
psychoactive substances and teenagers
in the UK on ecstasy, there can be only
one certainty: drugs are here to stay.”
(Stevens, 2017)
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 3

4. Drug Induced Deaths
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Males 95 114 97 135 145 160 162 220 228 200 101
Females 50 50 46 44 68 47 75 74 87 70 43
Both 145 164 143 179 213 207 237 294 315 270 144
Drug induced deaths of 15-24 years ranging from 1991 - 2001
Males Females Both
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 4
“Drug-related deaths are those caused directly by drug abuse, including deaths from organ damage caused by
drugs. They include deaths from illegal drugs as well as the misuse of legal drugs.”
(Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2003)
Table 1. Drug Induced Deaths, data obtained from Australian Bureau of Statistics (2003).

5. Schaeffer’s Model - Patterns Of Drug Use
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 5
Experimental
Use
• Single use
• Short term use
Social or
Recreational
Use
• Social use
• Controlled use in
social setting
Circumstantial
Use
• Used for a
particular reason
• Self Medicating
Intensive Use
• Engaging in
Bingeing
• Consuming high
doses
Compulsive
Use
• Daily use
• Frequent use
• Experience of
side effects or
withdrawals
Figure 1. Displayed in this figure is the Schaeffer's Model - Patterns of drug use
(Department of Health, 2004)

6. Thorley's Model Of Harm Framework
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 6
Figure 3. Displayed is a
copy of a diagram known
as “Thorley's model of
harm relating to
intoxication, regular use
and dependency”
associated with young
people and drug use as
presented by the
Department of Health
(2004).
Regular Use – Continued use
over a longer period of time
poses the potential risks
Medical and Health
Problems
Child Neglect
Withdrawals
Family Breakdown
Relationship Problems
Financial Problems
Dependence – Risks and
harms associated with
dependence use
Discomfort when
refraining from use
Inability to relax
Phobias or paranoia
Isolation
Withdrawals
Anxiety
Social Problems
Homelessness
Loss of self control
Intoxication – Problems
and risks which can
present from a single
occasion of use
Accidents
Violent Behaviour
Marital Issues
Suicide
DUI
Drowning
Legal Problems
No matter what the
use, there is always
harms associated
with drug use.
(NSW Department of
Health, 2008)

7. SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 7
Individual’s
Stages of
Change
The Stages of Change is a
Transtheoretical Model and
indicates an individual’s readiness
to implement change, this particular
chart, enables the review of the
relevant key focus of practice,
change processes and
psychosocial interventions which
are beneficial to the individual when
promoting evidence based
strategies to facilitate positive skills
(Crane, Francis, & Buckley, 2013,
p. 50 – 51).
Figure 5. Individual Stages of Change,
cited by Crane, Francis and Buckley
(2013) this chart explores an
Individuals progress of change(p. 51).

8. What Risks Are Associated With Young
People And Psychoactive Drug Use?
• Experimental use – unknown reaction to the drug
• Binge use – internal organ damage, increased risks of sexual and physical assault, accidents
• Potential to become addicted – single use resulting in craving for more use
• Lack of tolerance and disrespect for a drug – ignorance to the potential psychological, sociological, physical, and biological
influences and affect of drugs
• Lack of cognitive behaviours including logical reasoning – only concerned about the short term future
• Easily influence by peers – eager to fulfil the request of others for social acceptance and friendships
• Developed personal beliefs and experiences relating to drug use – individuals previous experience resulting in an acceptable
nature of drug use
(Ryder, D., Walker, N., & Salmon, A., 2006, p. 50 – 59)
• Polydrug use
(Levinthal, 2014, p. 33)
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 8

9. Influences on Young Peoples Drug Use
• Individual
• Family and Friends
• Society
• Environment
(Issues in Society - Young People and Substance Abuse, 2000, p.13)
It would seem from a research report in 2013 that the main areas on influence are to be school, friends and
television (Kari Lancaster, Alison Ritter & Francis Matthew-Simmons).
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 9
Figure 2. This imagine displayed on
the reachout website, shows a group
of young people at a party engaged
in Alcohol consumption (no date).

10. Strategies In Reducing Drug Use
In Young People
Levinthal (2014) reveals two principal core strategies in the prevention of substance use
1. Promotion of a constructive lifestyle and norms that discourage use
2. Development of social and physical environments that
facilitate drug free lifestyles which can “buffer against the
development of substance –abuse behaviors”.
Levinthal, explains there are 3 levels of intervention in substance
abuse protection these include;
• Primary Prevention
• Secondary Prevention
• Tertiary Prevention (p. 380 – 381)
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 10
Figure 4. Shows a screenshot from Google
Books displaying the front cover of
“A Little Book of Drugs: Activities to
Explore Drug Issues with Young People”
by Rogers, V (2012).

11. Evidence Based Strategies
Prevention and Protection
• Multifaceted programs
• Peer refusal development
• Increase coping, self relaxation and stress management skills
• Development of social and effective decision making abilities
• School-based primary prevention programs
• Abuse protection promotional campaigns
(Levinthal, 2014, p. 386 - 389)
Should society be implementation more strategies relating to Tertiary Prevention, such as identifying young
people who come from drug exposed environments and focus on the development of skills relating to resilience?
Could the implementation of evidence based strategies within the education system throughout each grade, be
more beneficial in equipping young people with assertive awareness, development of essential life skills and
drug related knowledge and understanding?
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 11
One life skills program which have
proven to be successful in the USA is the
Botvin LifeSkills® Training, which is an
“Evidence-Based Prevention” program
designed for Schools, Families and
Communities. Their website claims they
have experienced positive outcomes as
high as 80% and have been selected for
excellence by 9 professional organisation
and departments including the Coalition
for Evidence-Based Policy and is based
on the education curriculum (Botvin,
1999).

12. Interesting Facts
Levinthal, 2014, stated a young person is exposed to 84 references to drug use based on 2.4
hours of exposure to the most popular music (p. 380)
48% of young people have used Marijuana
("The Truth About Drugs - Program Guide“, 2016)
Young people identified the most common use for psychoactive drug use was to relax 96.7%,
become intoxicated 96.4%, keep going 95.9%, enhance activity 88.5% and to feel better 86.8%
(Boys, Marsden, & Strang, 2001, p. 465)
1/3 of young woman engaged in the particular research carried out by Boys, Marsden, & Strang,
related their reasoning for drug use for losing weight (2001, p. 465). This displays the impact of
social acceptance as a determining factor for use.
According to Brain, Parker, & Carnwath, 2000, despite a large range of government initiative to
implement a zero tolerance approach to drug use actually resulted in increased young people
engaging in risk taking drug use throughout the 1990’s.
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 12

13. Conclusion
Ultimately young people are at more risk of the dangers and harms associated with
psychoactive drug use, then other members of the community. It would seem that due to
limited exposure or experience to drug use posses a range of risks associated with
experiment and binge use, include sexual assault, violent behaviour, internal and external
injuries or damage to organs. Whilst lack of tolerance and respect for drugs is another risk
factor imposing a great deal of potential psychological, sociological, biological and physical
influences and affects of psychoactive drug use. Young peoples limited perception and care
for long term consequences posse greater risk to drug taking behaviours. Peer influence and
exposure to positive related experience with psychoactive substances presents young people
with the concept that drugs are beneficial and the short term effects outweigh the potential
dangers. However, the result from one singular use of a psychoactive substance, this can
have long term detrimental affect on a young person skills and abilities for life. In terms of
addressing the issue of young people and drug use the most effective measures within a
community context is suggested to be through the promotion of a healthy, proactive lifestyle,
by implementing prevention and protective strategies, through the use of multi faceted
services and school based education.
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 13

14. Review
• Reviewed statistics of drug induced deaths
• Schaeffer’s Model Pattern of Drug Use
• Discovered risks associated with drug use and young people
• Identified Individual’s Stages of Change
• Identified aspects which influence young people
• Explored prevention and protection strategies
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 14

15. Worksheet and Resources
• Please go ahead now and complete the Worksheet 1.0
• Review the attachment Stages of Substance Use and
Suggested Interventions – Tools for Professionals (Bright
Futures, 2017)
• Inspect the free list of Educator Resources
SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 15

16. SWK2108 Addictions and Practice - Assessment 1. 16
Thankyou for attending, and
participating in todays session.
If you have any questions or would like a
copy of this Powerpoint please send an
email to pgorman0@our.ecu.edu.au.