Personal Development

1. Personal Development Substance Misuse (C) Krystle Attard 2012

2. Introduction • Mondi has lived with her aunt since she was 6 years old, after her mother passed away. She is now 13. • She has a pleasant and helpful character. She also does well at school. Since last year. Mondi moved to a different school where she did not know the other students. Since then, Mondi became unhappy and moody and was skipping school. She was also showing anger management problems. Her aunt wonders what has caused this change. • What do you think is causing Mondi’s behaviour change? (C) Krystle Attard 2012

3. Possible explanations • Substance abuse is one possible explanation • Use of substances (drugs, alcohol or inhalants) can produce changes similar to Mondi’s behaviour • There is no recipe to identifying substance abuse • Awareness of symptoms and drastic behaviour changes (C) Krystle Attard 2012

4. Definitions • Use- applying a substance correctly or for its intended purpose. • Misuse- wrong or unintentional purpose, usually harmful • Abuse- Illegal substances or misuse of legitimate substances (e.g. cocaine, heroin, alcohol, glue…) (C) Krystle Attard 2012

5. Why be concerned? • Effect on the individual • Substance abuse by youth can alter their lives permanently, destroying their health, productivity and relationships with others • Ripple effect within the abuser’s social circles • Widespread social consequences (C) Krystle Attard 2012

6. Why is it justified? • Feel less stressful and forget about problems • To feel good • Boredom (to give them something to do) • Curiosity • To feel more grown up • To fit in with peers • Why could Mondi be vulnerable to substance abuse? (C) Krystle Attard 2012

7. Warning signs to look out for • Change in appearance • Radical long-term change in personality • Radical changes in social life • ‘Sudden’ deterioration of social achievements (C) Krystle Attard 2012

8. Change in appearance • Smell of alcohol, smoke or other chemicals on breath or clothing • Change in dress, appearance and grooming • Deterioration in personal hygiene and physical appearance • Difficulty focusing • Glazed appearance of the eyes (C) Krystle Attard 2012

9. Change in attire • Wearing sunglasses at inappropriate times • Continually wearing long-sleeved garments in hot weather • Reluctant to wear short-sleeved attire when appropriate (C) Krystle Attard 2012

10. Personality Changes • Runaway and anti-social behaviour • Delinquent behaviour • General changes in overall attitude • Withdrawal from responsibility • Suicide attempts • Impaired interpersonal relationships (unexplainable termination of deep relationships) (C) Krystle Attard 2012

11. Behavioural changes • Frequent arguments, sudden mood changes, strange behaviour and unexplained violent actions • Abrupt changes: lower levels of self-discipline • Unusual flare-ups or outbreaks of temper. • Obvious drunkenness or dizziness • Loss of memory (blackouts) (C) Krystle Attard 2012

12. Radical changes in social life • Radical change in choice of friends • Change in eating and sleeping patterns • Association with known substance abusers • Unusual borrowing of money from friends • Changes in peer associations and friendships (C) Krystle Attard 2012

13. Deteriorated social achievements • Skipping school and failing grades • Stealing small items from home or school • Secretive behaviour about actions and possessions • Poorly concealed attempts to avoid attention and suspicion such as frequent trips to storage rooms, restroom, basement... (C) Krystle Attard 2012

14. References • Commonwealth of Learning (C) Krystle Attard 2012