Parent Drug Education Talk

1. Parent Drug Education Talk Willard Middle School November 5, 2012 Ralph Cantor

2. Ralph’s Perspective My history and contribution The subject of adolescent substance abuse is huge and complex - time I am not a neuroscientist or a doctor Nurturing you connection (triunal brain) Knowledge and the power of your words

3. Statistics CA v. Berkeley

4. Adolescent Brain Adult Brain

5. PreFrontal Cortex Parents’, therapists’ and our task: “Sometimes need to act as though they are their teenagers’ “frontal cortex . . . talking through possibilities and options. They have to function like a surrogate set of frontal lobes, an auxiliary problem solver.”

6. Adolescent (and Young Adult) Brain

7. Adult Brain

8. Pruning & Mylenation • “USE IT OR LOSE IT”– Reading, sports, music, video games, x-box, hanging out—whatever a child/teen is doing—these are the neural synapses that will be retained and those not worked get pruned away • Those neural synapses that are consistently used get hardwired in through mylenation

9. Drive, motivation, the what’s important filter

10. Developmental tasks • Boredom/ Developing Interests • Good times • Stress • Social Skills • Academic Skills • Answer the question “Who am I?”

11. Get a Life! Where’s your juice? What gets your interest? Where’s your energy? Where do you feel your spirit? Mechanics, the Arts, People, Science What moves you?

12. Dopamine vs. Serotonin • Dopamine produces a feeling of pleasure • Serotonin produces a feeling of well being • Difference between pleasure and happiness (short lived vs big picture) • Developing skills, interest, relationships, meaning (“getting a life”) • Resiliency

13. Increased THC Potency Hippies ‘60’s 1 - 3% Cannabis Sativa Vietnam 5 - 10% Cannabis Indica Growing females 10 - 15% Sensimilla Horticulture of Northern California Indoor growing 15 - 20% Weed, purple, pipes, bowls, buds, blunts, bongs, vaporizers

14. The Brain and Cannabinoid Sites Nucleus Accumbens Hippocampus Cerebellum Or how we trick the brain

15. Hippocampus, say what? Retrieves relevant information Stores new info it deems relevant

16. Cerebellum Controls internal and external coordination

17. Alcohol The anesthetic and disinhibitor

18. Are adolescents more susceptible to alcohol than adults? Most certainly YES • Reduced sensitivity to intoxication • Increased sensitivity to social disinhibitions • Greater adverse effects to cognitive functioning

19. What’s the big deal about kids drinking anyways??? • Have you ever seen a group of drunk teenagers? • Demeaning behaviors • Date rape • Accidents • Teenage brain effects before 18 yrs old • Do we want to continue the level of pain this pain and suffering this has caused – look what have done with cigarette smoking

20. Alcohol and Teenagers: • Date Rape – one to two-thirds of teen sexual assaults involve alcohol • 18% of Females/ 39% Males say it is acceptable for a boy to force sex if the girl is stoned or drunk • 40% of children who start drinking before age 15 will become alcoholics • In television 9 out of 10 drinkers are portrayed as having no effects or only positive outcomes from their alcohol consumption

21. Risk of addiction How well does the drug work Positive and Negative Reinforcement If, in addition to producing pleasure (positive reinforcement), a drug is more addicting, if it relieves negative states: boredom, anxiety, depression or stress (negative reinforcement).

22. Anhedonia Pleasure Bored Interested “I feel negative” “I feel good” Pleasure Scaleby Dr. Alex Stalcup NORMAL RANGE Dysphoria Euphoria

23. Messages for parents

24. Message for parent to teen Wait, Because…

25. Reasons for a delaying message • Safety • Prefrontal cortex less involved • Pruning and myelination • Altering the pleasure center • Short circuiting developmental tasks • The research

26. Recent AMA Report on Brain Damage Risks Under 18 “The brain goes through dynamic changes during adolescence, and alcohol can seriously damage long and short term growth processes…Short-term or moderate drinking impairs learning and memory far more in youth than adults.”

27. Percentage of U.S. Adults Aged 18 and Older Dependent on Alcohol, By Age of Drinking Onset

28. Talk to your child • I care, I see, I feel, Listen • Clear expectations • On-going Communication & Monitoring • Integrity & Self Assessment – Modeling • Teen-proof your home • Connection and Social Skills

29. Prevention Factors • Supportive family (tuned in, time together, supervision, fair rules/boundaries) • Non using peers and role models • Youth are connected (school, activities) • Social Skills • Resiliency (coping with stress, celebration)

30. Your toolbox • Internal • Self Self Care • External • Talk to other people

31. Get your act together • Have a few discussions with a friend or spouse exploring the impact of your own use. • Andrew Weil – Unhealthy relationship • Ignorance that the substance is a drug and what it does to the body • Loss of desired effect w/increasing frequency • Difficulty separating from the drug • Impairment of health or social function

32. Be Like Glinda

33. Bibliography / References • Marijuana: What’s a Parent to Believe? • Tim Cermak 2003,Hazelden • Uppers, Downers, All Arounders Darryl Inaba 1997, CNS Publications • Alcohol: What’s a Parent to Believe? Stephen Biddulph, 2004, Hazelden • Alex Stalcup : New Leaf Treament Center NLTC.com

34. Important Website • Partnership for Drug Free America • What to do if you suspect or know that your child is using drugs or alcohol? • http://timetoact.drugfree.org

35. Checklist Am I encouraging open dialogue? If your teen believes she can’t tell you how she’s really feeling, she’ll be more likely to turn elsewhere for comfort and relief. Even if you’re afraid of what you’ll hear, remind your child that she can always talk to you (or another caring adult) about anything – without judgment.

36. Am I setting aside one-on-one bonding time? If your whole family is going through a stressful transition, such as a move or divorce, your teen may feel neglected. Show your kid you love him by taking him shopping, bowling or out for ice cream – without any siblings tagging along. This special attention will remind him that you’re still interested in what’s going on in his life. It will also remind him that despite your preoccupation at the moment, you are going to pick up on problems or changes in his behavior.

37. Am I discussing the dangers of drugs and alcohol? Even if they’ve heard it a million times before, it never hurts to talk to teens about the consequences of drinking and drug use. Try prompting your teen to talk to you honestly about his experience with different substances by asking, “So, have you heard about any kids at your school smoking pot?” or “What’s your opinion on teens trying prescription pills?”

38. Am I monitoring and communicating more?* Asking nit-picky questions may annoy your teen, but it can also keep her safe! If you get an unexpected or nonsensical response, it can immediately alert you that something is off. You have every right to ask your child which friends she’s hanging out with, what they’re planning on doing, and where they’re staying – and you have the right to check her story or call her cell phone halfway through the night. Kids who are not monitored are 4 times more likely to use drugs than those whose parents monitor their activities.

39. Contact Information Ralph Cantor (510) 653-9410 rjcantor@aol.com