PREVENTING YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE Stephen Moss, Ph.D January 26, 2010 In Collaboration with the

1. PREVENTING YOUTH SUBSTANCE ABUSE Stephen Moss, Ph.D January 26, 2010 In Collaboration with the Billerica’s Substance Abuse Prevention Committee All Content / Presentation Suggestions to: stephenbmoss@gmail.com

2. TOPICS TO BE COVERED • Prevalence of Billerica Survey Results • Substance Abuse Prevention—Basics • Improving Parenting Skills • Setting Expectations, Rules, and Consequences • Monitoring Your Pre-Teen / Teen • Addressing Mental Health Issues • Confronting Suspected Substance Abuse • Obtaining Necessary Outside Help • Helping as an Outsider • Resources and Websites

3. Prevalence of Youth Substance AbuseBillerica Student Survey ResultsApril, 2007Section 1

4. BILLERICA YOUTH SURVEY: Key Findings • Alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes are most commonly abused • Early adolescence (6th-8th grades) most dangerous time • 11% of seniors actively use pain relievers (narcotics) • Billerica prevalence rates above national norms

5. Middle School Active Substance Use Rates Skyrockets! • Alcohol: Quadruples! (7% to 30%) • Marijuana: Triples Each Year! (2% to 14%) • Cigarettes: 6-fold Increase! (2% to 12%) • Inhalants: Peaks in Middle School! (6% in 7th grade) • Prescription drugs: • Painkillers: 6-fold increase (1% to 6%) • Stimulants: Quadruples (1% to 4%) • Tranquilizers: Doubles (1% to 2%) • “Hard drugs” / Illicit drugs: • Inhalants, Ecstasy, “Speed,” Cocaine LSD/Psychedelics, & Heroin (other than marijuana) • (3% to 8%)

6. Prevention Basics

7. KNOW THE BASICS • Virtually all youth are exposed to alcohol/drug situations • Recreational use often evolves to active use, abuse & addiction • Adult substance abuse problems usually have roots in middle school years • Intervene early for success!

8. Early Initiation of Drug Use Extraordinarily Dangerous • Drinking at an early age is strongly associated with later alcoholism and other drinking problems • Early use of marijuana is a significant risk factor for future drug use and drug-related problems • Early use of marijuana reduces perceived barriers against other drug use and provides easy access to these drugs

9. REASONS YOUTH USE DRUGS 1. Desire to satisfy curiosity & experiment 2. Deal with boredom or “nothing better to do” 3. Self-medication for mental health problems 4. Fit In & Belong 5. Take Risks or Rebel 6. Feel Grown up

10. Improving General Parenting Skills

11. Six (6) Action Steps for Improving Parenting (SAMHSA. Keeping Youth Drug Free. CSAP, DHHS Publication No. (SMA)-3772, Rockville, MD, printed 2002, revised 2004; Adapted.) 1. Communication 2. Involvement 3. Rules 4. Example 5. Guidance 6. Monitoring

12. Action Step #1Est. & Maintain Good Communication • Initiate Daily Conversation • Validate your child’s feelings • Practice active listening • Ask Questions

13. Action Step #2Get Involved in Your Child’s Life! • Spend 15 Minutes a Day in “Their” Fun • Create One Special Opportunity a Week • Support your Child’s Activities • Recognize Good Behavior Often • Use Meal Times to Share News & Discuss Topics

14. Action Step #3Make Clear Rules & Enforce Them Consistently & Appropriately • Plan ahead • Make, explain, & enforce rules • Ensure your disapproval is known • Regularly enforce rules • Be not too harsh or too permissive • Build warm family relationships

15. Action Step #4Be a Positive Role Model • Avoid unhealthy habits • Don’t involve child in ‘bad’ behaviors • Point out examples of bad behavior • If you have a substance abuse problem, seek help

16. Action Step #5Teach Your Child to Choose Friends Wisely • Teach your child how to say no and resist pressure • Unhealthy friends or peer groups are major factors

17. Action Step #6Monitoring 1. ASK QUESTIONS 2. BE RESPECTFUL 3.GET TO KNOW OTHER ADULTS 4. KNOW THEIR WHEREABOUTS 5. WATCH FOR PROBLEMS 6. INFORM OF MONITORING 7. FOLLOW-UP OCCASIONALLY 8. MANDATE “CHECK-INS” 9. DEVELOP “SAFE” PLANS 10. MANDATE END-OF-NIGHT CHECK-INS 11. MONITOR WEBSITES 12.MONITOR YOUR MEDICINE CABINET

18. Additional Strategies to Reduce the Danger of Teen Substance Abuse

19. Help Your Teen Cope with Easy Availability • Peer pressure/peer acceptance are very powerful forces • Parental clarity is the strongest motivation for youth to refuse offers to try alcohol/drugs • Establish a clear message often and early • Establish early a safe “escape plan”

20. Discuss All Common Drugs • Discuss drugs with your kids! • Prevent use by telling kids the risks • Four groups of drugs you MUST discuss: • Alcohol • Marijuana • Cocaine • Prescription Drugs & Inhalants • Recent research: less than half of teens report their parents discuss drugs other than alcohol or marijuana with them • (CESAR FAX, Volume 18, Issue 10)

21. Talk to Your Kids About Past Drug Use Wisely • Don’t put off having the conversation • Past drug experience can be a teachable moment • Don’t lie • Say what you mean to say • Listen: Two-Way Conversation

22. Reduce Family Conflict! • “Lower the temperature” • Improve communications: “Pass the Shell” • Resolve conflicts effectively • Strengthen family bonds

23. Set Expectations, Rules, and Consequences: - Action Steps - 1. Clarify your Expectations 2. Set and Enforce Rules 3. Establish Consequences 4. Stay Involved in Your Child’s Life

24. Monitoring Your Pre-Teen / Teen

25. Look for Warning Signs! (1) Be Vigilant. Look for Subtle Signs. Early Identification Saves Lives • Early Signs: • Increased moodiness • Changes in physical appearance, hygiene, and health • Secretive phone calls, texting, instant messages or emails • Decline in school performance, homework, etc. • Withdrawl/declining interest in hobbies, sports, and usual activities (Continued)

26. Look for Warning Signs! (2) Be Vigilant. Look for Subtle Signs. Early Identification Saves Lives \ • Signs for Concern • Endless excuses • Lies upon lies • Increasing oppositional behavior • Hostile, angry, uncooperative • Moving to a “less healthy” group of friends

27. Look for Warning Signs! (3) Be Vigilant. Look for Subtle Signs. Early Identification Saves Lives \ 3. Danger Signs • Sudden or increased use of air fresheners, scented candles, eye drops, gum, clothing/room sprays, incense • Increased dishonesty, secrecy or deceitfulness • Refusal to accept authority, truancy, police involvement, etc. • Lying, cheating, or destroying other’s property • Acting aggressively, hostile, or violently towards people or property • Disappearance of alcohol, cigarettes, prescription, or over–the-counter pills • Money or valuables missing

28. Confronting Known or Suspected Substance Abuse

29. Confronting Your Teen - 12 Key Steps - 1. Do it...its your parental duty 2. Remain calm 3. Gather information first 4. Work together 5. Prepare for questions about your use/past 6. Expect denial & anger 7. Formulate new rules ahead of time 8. Keep the conversation going 9. Work toward a desirable - and realistic – outcome 10. Research/share family history of addiction or mental illness 11. Be concerned, supportive and loving throughout conversation 12. Seek outside help for you and/or your child

30. Parent Checklist: What Should I Do First? • Talk with your spouse / partner • Prepare to be called a hypocrite • Gather your evidence and reasons for suspicion • Expect denial, possibly anger • Set an expected outcome • Spell out rules and consequences • Include family addiction history, if appropriate • Clarify your support, love, and commitment to their health

31. Obtaining Necessary Outside Help

32. OBTAIN OUTSIDE HELP • Almost always helpful • Offers a fresh perspective • Helps you overcome your fear of telling others

33. Professional Supports Are Often Crucial for a Positive Outcome • School Counselor • Pediatrician, family doctor, adolescent psychiatrist • Adolescent social worker or psychologist (with SA expertise) • Inpatient treatment or intensive outpatient treatment (9-20 hrs a wk)

34. Drug Tests Can Sometimes Be Helpful • Drug tests are available, able to be manipulated, and must be part of a larger program • Resources • Doctors, pediatricians, family doctors • Specialized drug testing services • Internet – caution is the rule

35. Resources and Websites Section 8

36. Best Parent Websites • www.drugfree.org (Partnership for a Drug-Free America) • Excellent parenting website. Excellent, comprehensive, user-friendly, multimedia information, resources, & guidance for parents, with chat rooms • www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/ (White House: Office of Drug Control Policy - ODCP) • Excellent parenting website with many examples of ways to talk to your children around this difficult issue • www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/concern.htm (US Drug Enforcement Agency - DEA) • User Friendly Site to Clearly Identify Drugs of Abuse: (DEA) • http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/PHD711/getinvolved.aspx (National Clearinghouse of Alcohol and Drug Information -NCADI) • Extensive listing of superb free information about alcohol / drug abuse • www.family.samhsa.gov/ (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration - SAMHSA) • Provides parents with strategies to promote your child's mental health and reduce risk for becoming involved with alcohol or drugs

37. Best New Websites for Parents: 2010 • www.timetotalk.org • Partnership for Drug Free America • Provides information & multimedia tools • Provides easy-to-use guides and tips to help parents talk about alcohol & other drugs with their children. • www.timetoact.drugfree.org • Partnership for a Drug Free America with Treatment Research Institute • A new, first-of-its-kind online resource • Designed to help parentsspot signs and symptoms • Facilitates productive conversations with your teens • Provides tools to find outside help if needed • “Intervene” - parent online community • Online community of parents with kids with problems • Supporting each other with problems related to their teens’ alcohol and drug use

38. Best Teen Websites • www.checkyourself.org • Information, videos, and so forth for teens to question themselves about drug use • www.coolspot.org • “…A place to be yourself, think for yourself, and get the facts” • www.freevibe.com • Creative, graphic-oriented, fact sheets, posters, games, early intervention information, etc. • www.health.com • Free pamphlets & fact sheets about teen alcohol & drug use, & for those with parents with alcohol/drug problems • web.teens.drugabuse.gov/ • Federal web site to help adolescents ages 11 through 15 (as well as their parents) thrive in early adolescence

39. WWW.DRUGFREE.ORG • Partnership for a Drug Free America • The best parent resource – check it out • Interactive Tools • Interactive tools that translate the latest science and research on teen behavior, addiction and treatment into easy to understand tips and tools • Focused on raising healthy children • Unites parents, renowned scientists and communications professionals to help families raise healthy children • Motivates and equips • Motivates and equips parents to prevent their children from using drugs and alcohol • Provides numerous resources • Resources to find help and treatment for family and friends in trouble

40. Acknowledgements • Federal Agencies • Substance and Mental Health Services (SAMHA) • Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) • Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) • Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) • US Drug Enforcement Agency ( DEA) • National Clearinghouse of Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) • Substance Abuse Prevention Websites • Partnership for a Drug Free America • www.drugfree.org • www.timetotalk.org • www.timetoact.drugfree.org • Office of Drug Control Policy • www.TheAntiDrug.com/ParentResources • Key Publications • Keeping Youth Drug Free: A Parent’s Handbook for Raising Healthy Teens (ONDCP) • Keeping Your Teens Drug-Free: A Family Guide (ONDCP) • Keeping Youth Drug Free (SAMHSA, CSAP) • When It Is Not Your Kid, How Do You Deal With Drug Use and Drinking (CADCA) • Getting High on Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs is Dangerous (PDFA) • Good Mental Health is Ageless (SAMHSA)

41. Drugs in Your Home and Online • Don’t underestimate your vulnerability • Home medicine cabinets provide easy access • Take inventory and clean out your medicine cabinet regularly • Urge friends to do the same • Prescription drugs extremely easy to obtain, including on the Internet

42. Mental Health: Teen Depression, Anxiety • Mental disorders are real medical illnesses (e.g., just like diabetes) • Depression: more than “the blues” • Anxiety disorders: excessive worry, nervousness, and fear • Mental health treatment: Seek help, it works!