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Trends in the Use and Addiction of Alcohol and Other Drugs Among Michigan Adolescents

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

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Trends in the Use and Addiction of Alcohol and Other Drugs Among Michigan Adolescents

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  1. Trends in the Use and Addiction of Alcohol and Other Drugs Among Michigan Adolescents

  2. 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

  3. Types of Use • Use • Misuse • Abuse • Dependency

  4. 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

  5. What are they using? • Cannabis/Marijuana • Synthetic Marijuana • OTC medication • Prescription Medication • Ecstacy • Synthetic Ecstacy

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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)

  9. 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!

  10. 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.

  11. Synthetic Ecstasy • Has many different names • Feels safe to use as it is seen as a non-serious 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

  12. 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

  13. Thank you!! • Early detection of problematic behavior in our children can help stop the cycle of substance use in it’s tracks!

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