In this webinar we discussed strategies on how to help young adolescents with substance abuse, in addition to warning signs.

1. Presented by Sage Day & High Focus Centers

2. Meet The Presenters
Sage Day Clinical Director, Janet Bertelli, MSW, LCSW
jbertelli@sageday.com
Paramus Clinical Director for High Focus, Michelle Lane, MSW, LCSW
mlane@highfocuscenters

3. Introduction
About Sage Day Schools:
www.sageday.com
About High Focus Centers:
www.highfocuscenters.com

4. Today’s Agenda
¨ Why Adolescents Start To Use Substances
¨ Signs of Abuse
¨ Addiction
¨ Drug Trends
¨ Withdrawal Symptoms
¨ Treatment
¨ Protective & Risk Factors
¨ Helping Parents Lay the Foundation
¨ Snooping? Yes or No?
¨ In the Classroom
¨ Working With Families
¨ Resources & Q&A

5. Some Reasons Why Adolescents Start
To Use Substances
¨ To Relax
¨ To Feel Better (underlying
mental health problems)
¨ To Fit In
¨ To Relieve Boredom
¨ To Experiment

6. Warning Signs Of Drug/Alcohol Abuse
¨ Decreased motivation
¨ Sudden shifts in mood
¨ Chronic sleepiness
¨ Deterioration of physical appearance or
grooming
¨ Change in friend group
¨ Paranoia or depression
¨ Uncharacteristic display of money or possessions
¨ Students looking to sell possessions
¨ Chronic absenteeism
¨ Abrupt drop in academic performance
¨ Drug related jewelry/clothing; also may show up as
drawing on clothing, desks and self

7. Addiction Is A Disorder Of…
¨ Genes
¨ Pleasure
¨ Memory
¨ Stress
¨ Choice

8. Current Drug Trends
¨ Vaporizers
¨ E-cigarettes
¨ K2, Spice
(synthetic
cannabinoids)
¨ Kratom
¨ Coriceden “triple
c’s”
¨ Alcohol
¨ Marijuana
¨ Molly
¨ Ecstasy
¨ Adderall
¨ Vyvanse
¨ Klonopin
¨ Xanax
¨ Percocet
¨ Oxycodone
¨ Roxicet
¨ Oxycontin
¨ Hydrocodone
¨ Heroin/Fentanyl
laced
¨ Promethazine and
Codeine, e.g.,
Sizzurp
¨ Bath Salts,
e.g.,Flakka
(synthetic
cathinone)
¨ Energy drinks,
caffeine powder
¨ Synthetic
Hallucinogens
(e.g.,N-Bombs)

9. Did You Know?

10. Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
q Craving for drugs
q Diarrhea
q Large pupils
q Yawning
q Abdominal pain
q Chills and goose bumps
q Nausea and vomiting
q Body aches

11. Treatment Options
¨ Detox
¨ Inpatient Residential
Treatment
¨ Partial Hospitalization
Programs
¨ Intensive Outpatient
Programs
¨ Therapeutic School Placement
¨ Outpatient Counseling
(individual, group, family)
¨ 12 step programs & Smart
Recovery

12. Helping Parents Lay The Foundation
¨ Allow children to fail, to feel
unpleasant feelings.
¨ Encourage parents to make talking
and having conversations a part of
every day.
¨ It’s never to soon to discuss what is
good for our bodies and what is
not good.
¨ Include drug education in health
curriculum from early grades and
help parents know how to talk
about what was discussed at home.
¨ Hold forums to help parents
understand policies and prevention
programs.

13. Protective & Risk Factors
PROTECTIVE FACTORS RISK FACTORS
• Parental monitoring
• Implementing strong limits
and boundaries within the
family system
• Success in school
performance
• Pro-social institutions ( e.g.,
such as family school, sports
and religious organizations)
• Conventional norms about
drug use
• Ineffective parenting,
especially with children with
difficult temperaments and
conduct disorders.

14. Cartoon Strips

15. Snooping, Yes or No?
¨ Different opinions
¨ Do you need a
reason?
¨ Social Media
¨ Understand why you
are looking and what
you are looking for

16. Some Hiding Places
¨ Shoes
¨ Stuffed animal backpacks
¨ Books
¨ Floor & ceiling boards
¨ Cars
¨ Old toys from childhood
¨ Garages
¨ Inside zippers on jackets/
sweatshirts/5th pocket of jeans
¨ Siblings room
¨ Backs of cellphone cases
¨ Purses/backpacks
¨ Parent’s room
¨ Basements
¨ Underneath clothes, candy,
jewelry, tools
¨ In plain sight- “flush” items

17. In The Classroom
¨ Focus on health and
brain science.
¨ Schools should have a
plan for conversations
about substances
throughout the year.
¨ The dopamine
connection – how to help
kids to get dopamine to
release naturally.

18. “Making The Call” Helping Resistant
Parents
¨ If you see something say something.
Let parents know what behavior you are
seeing without speculation or accusation.
¨ It is not easy for parents to get a call that
their child is suspected of being under the
influence.
¨ Be calm and matter of fact.
¨ Expect to be challenged.
¨ Have your schools policy on hand.
¨ Explain that only a drug test
will confirm or negate the suspicion.
¨ Test within 24 hours.

19. Working With Adolescents & Their
Families
¨ Communication (I see, I hear, I feel, I relate to)
¨ Establishing Boundaries “the do’s & the don’t’s”
¨ Rolling with the Resistance
¨ Developing a Support System
¨ Understanding Relapse

20. Family Support Resources
¨ National Toll-Free Helpline 1855-DRUGFREE
¨ Parent Support Network of NJ
¨ NJ Connect for Recovery Warmline1-855-652-3737
¨ Prevention & Community Services of Bergen County, Morris Co. Prevention
is Key
¨ Al-anon, Nar-anon, Families Anonymous
¨ Smart Recovery Online Meetings for Families

21. Q&A