Transcript Trends in the Use and Addiction of Alcohol and Other Drugs

Trends in the Use and Addiction
of Alcohol and Other Drugs
Among Michigan Adolescents
Introduction
• Speaker: Stacey Williamson Nichols
LMSW, CAADC
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified
Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug
Counselor
• Contact info: Pine Rest Main Campus,
Campus Clinic, 300 68th St., Grand
Rapids, Mi. 49548
• 616-285-7500
Types of Use
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Use
Misuse
Abuse
Dependency
Why do adolescents use?
• Age of experimentation
• The “cool” factor- how do others see me,
do I know something they don’t know
• Emotional need to feel better or avoid
feeling
What are they using?
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Cannabis/Marijuana
Synthetic Marijuana
OTC medication
Prescription Medication
Ecstacy
Synthetic Ecstacy
Cannabis/Marijuana
• Nationwide, 8th, 10th and 12th graders have
shown an increase in use and a decrease in fear
of use. (sampled between 2009 and 2010)
• 17.3% of 8th graders, 33.4% of 10th graders and
43.8% of 12th graders have tried Marijuana
• 1.2% of 8th graders, 3.3% of 10th graders and
6.1% of 12th graders use Marijuana daily
• While binge use of alcohol is decreasing
somewhat, use of Marijuana continues to rise
• Viewed as natural and safe
Synthetic Marijuana
• Sometimes called K2, Mr. Smiley, Spice
• Contains THC the psychoactive ingredient in Cannabis
• May cause a high similar to marijuana but there are concerns about
ingredients causing reactions similar to a psychotic break and
greatly affecting heart rate
• Unregulated, Michigan has attempted to ban but legislation was
flawed. They continue to work on this.
• Can be bought at gas stations, head shops and other community
shops
• Difficult to test for which is part of the draw
• May feel safer than Marijuana but as it is unregulated it may contain
many unknown and very dangerous chemicals.
• Can cause brown stains on hands when handled excessively
OTC Medication
• Robitussin, Vicks, Coricidin, Nyquil– usually
referred to on the streets as Syrup
• May also use things such as Dramamine, pain
medication (Excedrin), sexual enhancement
medications, diet pills
• Who supplies them with these drugs? WE DO!!
• Effects of these drugs: “Nod”, irritable, initial
euphoria, dilated pupils, constricted pupils,
severe health risks (ex: seeing blue)
Prescription Medication
• Adderol, Ritalin, Vicodin, Oxycotin, Tylenol with Codeine, Xanax,
Ativan etc.
• Usually “scored” from mom and dad’s medicine cabinet. It’s
accessibility and it’s prescribed nature may allow the belief that
these are “safe” drugs
• May start out as experimentation, but all drugs that are listed above
are addictive and change mood preceived mood drastically.
• To an addictive person, Vicodin, Oxy and Codeine (all opiates) may
cause feelings of euphoria and feeling up and motivated.
• Xanax and Ativan are “alcohol in a pill form”. A very quick way to get
drunk.
• Need to say up all night to study? Ritalin and Adderol will help with
that!
Ecstasy
• A recent rise in ecstasy use has been
noted for 8th and 10th graders.
• Ecstasy is seen as a party drug (raves)
and thus is safe.
• It is an hallucinogen that can cause
euphoria and intense sensory experiences
• Can cause a myriad of memory and
cognition problems.
Synthetic Ecstasy
• Has many different names
• Feels safe to use as it is seen as a nonserious drug
• Like Synthetic Marijuana, little is known
about the substances found in this
synthetic drug
• Variations of this have caused death
• Can be found on the internet
What should we take from this?
• Any mood/perception/sensory change in our children
could be an indicator of drug/alcohol
use/abuse/dependency
• Monitor drugs in your home. Count pills, flush old
prescriptions.
• Assess yourself for your own attitudes towards “safe
drugs”. If I’m stressed/sick/tired/unable to
sleep/anxious/depressed do I look for a pill to fix it? Or
do I attempt to work on the root of the problem? Our
attitudes GREATLY affect our children.
• Kids and adults may start out using because it’s fun but
tend to continue to use because it “works” in that it
changes reality or mood.
• Misuse can indicate mental health needs
Thank you!!
• Early detection of problematic behavior in
our children can help stop the cycle of
substance use in it’s tracks!