This document provides an overview of substance abuse for students. It defines substance abuse and distinguishes it from substance dependence. It discusses the prevalence of substance abuse among students, noting that marijuana and prescription drugs are the most commonly abused. The document outlines various signs and symptoms of substance abuse and how substances affect the brain. It also discusses factors influencing abuse, consequences of abuse, and medical treatments and resources available.

1. Substance Abuse
JOANNA ASARE
WORKPLACE WELLNESS AND HEALTH PROMOTION STUDENT
DECEMBER 11,2014

2. Objectives
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
• Understand what substance abuse is
•Know the prevalence among students
• Learn the main types of substances which students abuse
•Understand the factors contributing to substance abuse/ why individuals may not get treatment
•Identify signs and symptoms of substance abuse
•Identify how substance abuse affects the brain
• Identify the consequences of substance abuse
•Differentiate between substance abuse and substance dependence
•Know the types of medical treatments/resources to combat substance abuse

3. What is Substance Abuse
Substance abuse is the use of a substance, especially alcohol or any form of drugs. From a
psychological view, according to the DSM, substance abuse is a maladaptive pattern of
substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress occurring within 12 months:
- Recurrent substance use resulting in failure to fulfils major obligations (work, school, home)
- Recurrent substance use in physical hazardous situations (driving while impaired)
- Recurrent substance-related legal problems
- Continued substance use despite having persistent/recurrent social/interpersonal
problems
(MedicineNet, 2014)

4. Stats on Substance Abuse
•The harmful use of alcohol results in 3.3 million deaths each year
•On average every person in the world aged 15 years or older drinks 6.2 litres of pure alcohol per
year
•Less than half the population (38.3%) actually drinks alcohol, this means that those who do
drink consume on average 17 L of pure alcohol annually.
•At least 15.3 million persons have drug use disorders
•Injecting drug use reported in 148 countries, of which 120 report HIV infection among this
population
•In 2012 7.6% of deaths among males and 4% of deaths among females were attributable to
alcohol
(WHO, 2014)

5. Figures
No name, 2010 NIH, 2012

6. Type of Substances
The main type of substances which people can abuse include:
•Tobacco
•Alcohol
•Marijuana (grass)
•Cocaine (crack)
•Heroin (smack)
•Methamphetamines (crystal meth)
•Ecstasy (MDMA)
•LSD (Acid)
(WebMD, 2014)

7. True or False
High School and College Students are
experimenting with prescription
medications
True False

8. Incorrect, Try Again
Back

9. You Are Correct
According to 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and
Health, the use of prescription drugs are on the rise
for teenage/college students

10. Prevalence Among Students
There is an increase spike in substance abuse in
high school and college students including drug
overdoses and binge drinking. According to the
2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health,
marijuana and prescription drugs are the top
two substances being used by students.
(Drugwatch, 2014)

12. Substances Which Students Abuse
Adderall: “study drug”, used to treat ADHD. Students use it to increase their motivation, focus
and motivation, especially during exams. Able to access this drug through people with ADHD, or
doctors (mimic ADHD symptoms)
Alcohol: binge drinking is commonly associated with alcohol, also mixed with energy drinks.
Generally used in social settings
Cold Medicine: over the counter medication is also abused since it easy to access and you do
need a prescription for them. Some of the medications include: Tylenol Cold, Robitussin DM,
and DayQuil
OxyContin: widely pain reliever abused by students. Students take it since it is said that you
become loose, but will not experience the hangover effect
(Drugwatch, 2014)

14. Nine Lives- University of Western
England

15. Discussion Questions
Based on the video, think about the following questions?
1. Why do you believe that high school/post-secondary students believe that
they have “nine lives”?
2. What other factors besides the ones mentioned in this video can lead to
substance abuse in students?
3. If you were in the situation of the girl who was asked to take drugs and saw
the cat get killed, then resurrected, would you still partake in taking the drug,
like the girl did?

16. Substance Abuse in the News
Even After Campus Death, NIU Continues to Rack Up Dozens of
Alcohol Emergency: By Rob Stafford
Jessie Baskin, Ex-FAMU Band Member, Gets 1 Year In Hazing
Death: By KYLE HIGHTOWER
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida A&M band
member on Friday became the first person to be
sentenced to jail time for his role in the hazing death of a
drum major.
Despite the tragic, hazing university death of 19-year-old
David Bogenberger at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, NBC5
has learned that the problems of alcohol at the campus go
far beyond this one tragedy.

17. Factors Influencing Substance
Abuse
Some of the factors which influences substance abuse are:
• Genes (family history of abuse)
•Poor social coping skills
•Poor school performance
•Associating with a bad crowd/group
•Aggressive behavior
•Chaotic home environment
(WebMD, 2014)

18. Causes of Substance Abuse &
Addiction | Addictions- Howcast.com

19. Signs and Symptoms
Some of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse include:
•Declining grades
•Aggressiveness and irritability
•Forgetfulness
•Disappearing money or valuables
•Feeling rundown, hopeless, depressed, or even suicidal
•Getting drunk or high on drugs on a regular basis
•Lying, particularly about how much alcohol or other drugs he or she is using
•Avoiding friends or family in order to get drunk or high
•Planning drinking in advance, hiding alcohol, drinking or using other drugs alone

20. Signs and Symptoms (Cont’d)
•Having to drink more to get the same high
•Believing that in order to have fun you need to drink or use other drugs
•Frequent hangovers
•Pressuring others to drink or use other drugs
•Taking risks, including sexual risks
•Having "blackouts“
•Constantly talking about drinking or using other drugs
•Getting in trouble with the law
•Drinking and driving
(WebMD, 2014)

21. Substance Dependence
Substance dependence is the sudden or gradual dependence of a substance,
which leads to physical and psychological distress if stopped or decrease. The
two types of dependence are psychological and physical.
- Psychological: emotional and mental response to the stoppage or
decrease in substance use ( anxiety, uneasiness and depression)
- Physical: occurs when the body reacts to the stoppage or
decrease in substance use(pain, convulsions, trembles)
- Polysubstance: occurs when a person takes several substances
(cigarettes with alcohol, cocaine with heroin). Not part of
dependence, but can pose serious health risks
(Anoymous, n.d.)

22. Consequences
• Organ damage
• HIV and AIDS
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Memory loss
• Aggression
• Risk for arrest and probation
• Large fines
• Extensive jail time
• Job loss
• Negative relationships
(Summithelps, 2014)

23. Substance Abuse and the Brain
Some drugs can mimic some of the brain’s
neurotransmitters
◦-Marijuana/ Heroin: fool the brain receptors to send abnormal messages
◦Cocaine/Meth: release a neurotransmitter (dopamine)
◦Affects motivation, emotions, and feelings
◦Long-term effects can affect other neurotransmitters in the brain
- Glutamate: affect learning
- Lead to poor judgment, decision-making, learning, memory and
behavioral changes
(NIH, 2012)

24. Effects Drugs Have on the Body
Painkiller Addiction,
2014

25. When to Seek Medical Treatment
If you suspect someone with substance abuse and they experience any of the following
symptoms, call a doctor or take them to the emergency room:
•Seizures
•Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
•Leg swelling
•Cough that will not go away
•Fever
•Chest pains
•Abdominal pain
•Severe tremors
•(WebMD, 2014)

26. Resources/Treatments
• Behavioral Treatment: how to cope with the substance abuse (Rehab)
•Treating mental illness if needed- counselling
•Nicotine patches/ Methadone
•Prevention
(WebMD, 2014)
Websites: Drug and Alcohol Helpline: www.drugandalcoholhelpline.ca/
CAMH:
camh.ca/Care_Treatment/Resources_clients.../treat_young_people.html
Teen Challenge: www.teenchallenge.ca › Get Help

27. Saboteurs Against Treatment
Though many individual do get help if they are suffering from
substance abuse, some individuals do not. Think of the following:
- Internal Saboteurs
- External Saboteurs
Why do these saboteurs have a huge impact on individuals not
seeking help?
What resources would you recommend to prevent these saboteurs
from occurring?

28. Examples of Saboteurs
Internal Saboteurs: “I cannot do it”
- Relapse
- Pointless to change
- Drug cravings
External Saboteurs
- Pressure from individuals to quit/ engage
- Little to no support
-Access to support
- No social support
DO NOT LET THESE SABOTEURS STOP YOU
FROM GETTING THE HEP YOU NEED AND
DESERVE!!

29. 83 Percent of Students Admit to
Drug Abuse- KTN Kenya

30. Discussion Questions
Based on the video you just watch, think about the following questions:
1. Do you believe that using drug enforcement dogs will help to combat drug
usage in students?
2. Are there any other reasons, besides the ones stated in this video to why
students start using drugs?
3. What other resources could you use to combat substance abuse among
students?

31. Quiz Time

32. Question 1
What is the most common use drug in Canada?
A. Heroin
B. Cocaine
C. Alcohol
D. Marijuana

33. Question 2
Name the three most commonly used drugs by teenagers
A. Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana
B. Alcohol, amphetamines, and marijuana
C. Amphetamines, tobacco, and marijuana
D. LSD, tobacco, and marijuana

34. Question 3
Crack is a particularly dangerous drug because it is:
A. Cheap
B. Readily available
C. Highly addictive
D. All of the above

35. Question 4
Which age group has the highest percentage of drug
abusers?
A. 10-17
B. 18-25
C. 26-35
D. 36-60

36. Question 5
Which of the following increases the chance for drug abuse?
A. Family history of addiction
B. Mood disorders (depression, anxiety)
C. Antisocial personality disorder
D. All of the above

37. Incorrect, Try Again
Back

38. Incorrect, Try Again
Back

39. Incorrect, Try Again
Back

40. Incorrect, Try Again
Back

41. Incorrect, Try Again
Back

42. You Are Correct
Alcohol is the most common substance
abused since it is the easiest one to get
Next

43. You Are Correct
Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. These three
drugs are known as "gateway drugs" because
they are generally the first drugs that
teenagers are exposed to
Next

44. You Are Correct
All of the answers are correct. Small
quantities of crack can be bought for as little
as $5.00. The low price makes it easily
affordable to young adults. In addition, crack
is thought to be one of the most addictive
drugs

45. You Are Correct
18-25 is has the highest age range of
substance abuse
Next

46. You Are Correct
Family History, Mood Disorders, and Antisocial
personality are all factors which could lead to
substance abuse
Next

47. After this webinar
You should now be aware of:
•What substance abuse is
•The prevalence among students
• The main types of substances which students abuse
•The factors contributing to substance abuse/ prevent individuals from getting treatments
•Identify signs and symptoms of substance abuse
•How substance abuse affects the brain
• Identify the consequences of substance abuse
•Differentiate between substance abuse and substance dependence
•The types of medical treatments/resources to combat substance abuse

48. Online Quizzes
What Do You Know About Drug Abuse?
http://healthcare.utah.edu/healthlibrary/related/doc.php?type=40&id=DrugAbuseQuiz
National Drug IQ Challenge
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/quiz/national-drug-facts-week/take-iq-challenge/2014

49. Resources: Drugs: Shatter the
Myths
http://drugfactsweek.drugabuse.gov/files/teenbrochure_508.pdf
This pdf talks about the myths about drugs and the effects it
has on the body. It also talks about the consequences of
taking these drugs.

50. Hope You Enjoy
The Webinar
Have A Wonderful Day