Living Drug Free

1. Public opinion polls and national surveys clearly show that most Americans have taken a stand against illegal drugs. Living Drug Free

2. In this lesson, you’ll learn to: Analyze and develop strategies for preventing use of drugs and other addictive substances. Examine school and community efforts to curb drug use. Identify and assess health-related services in the community that relate to disease prevention, particularly drug addiction and abuse. Analyze the importance of alternatives to drug and substance use. Lesson Objectives

3. Commitment to Be Drug Free The first step in staying drug free is to make a firm and deliberate decision. The only way to avoid the pitfalls and dangers of substance abuse is to be fully committed to refusing drugs before they are offered. Being drug free means being able to enjoy life and deal with its challenges and problems in healthful ways. It also shows the strength of your values and demonstrates good character and respect for yourself and others. Resisting Pressure to Use Drugs

4. Refusal Skills To honor your commitment to living drug free, you can practice refusal skills. These are techniques that you can use to say no when others pressure you to use drugs. Consider all the harmful effects of drug use and all the benefits of a drug-free lifestyle. Doing so will help you stand up for what you believe without apologizing for or compromising your convictions. Resisting Pressure to Use Drugs

5. School Efforts All over the United States,drug-free school zoneshave beenestablished. Efforts in and around schools to cut down on drug use include drug education classes, zero-tolerance policies, and expulsion of students found using drugs. In some areas, police officers are assigned to patrol campuses. Security guards and locker searches also help protect teens from the dangers of drug abuse. Strategies for Preventing Use of Drugs

6. Community Efforts Communities across the nation are taking positive action to stop drug abuse through efforts likedrug watches. Becoming involved in antidrug programs in your community is a good way to protect your family and friends from the dangers and violence associated with drug abuse. Strategies for Preventing Use of Drugs

7. The Importance of Alternatives to Drug and Substance Use • You can find many ways to feel good about yourself without depending on harmful substances. • Getting involved in school or community activities and choosing friends who value a drug-free lifestyle can give teens the focus they need to follow through on a commitment toward a more healthful life. Strategies for Preventing Use of Drugs

8. How Can You Become Drug Free? • Admitting that there is a problem is the first step, and getting help is the essential next step in overcoming that problem. • Teens may turn to individual counseling, support groups, or drug treatment centers for help. • Support from parents, guardians, school counselors, or family doctors can guide teens to get help. Becoming Drug Free

9. Warning Signs of Drug Use Becoming Drug Free

10. How Can You Help People Become Drug Free? • Identify specific sources of help in your community—drug counselors, treatment centers, and support groups. • Talk to the person when he or she is sober. Express your affection and concern for the person, and describe his or her behavior without being judgmental. • Listen to the person’s response. Be prepared for anger and denial. • Discuss the sources of help you have found. Offer to go with your friend or family member to a counselor or support group. Becoming Drug Free

11. Sources of Help • Support groups, counseling services, and treatment centers are available in most communities. • For teens, the first step in getting help is talking to a parent, teacher, school counselor, health care provider, or another trusted adult. • If an adult is unable to recommend a treatment option, teens can call a toll-free hotline or a drug treatment center. Getting Help

12. Treatment Centers • For the most serious addictions, drug users attend treatment centers. • Many of these centers provide medications to help with the physical and psychological effects of withdrawal. Getting Help

13. Getting Help Types of Drug Treatment Centers • Outpatient Drug-Free Treatment: These programs usually do not include medications and often consist of individual or group counseling. • Short-Term Treatment: These centers can include residential, medication, and outpatient therapies. • Maintenance Therapy: Intended for heroin addicts, this treatment usually includes medication therapy. • Therapeutic Communities: These are residences for people with a long history of drug abuse.

14. Provide a short answer to the question given below. Q.Identify some strategies that schools and communities have taken to decrease the availability of drugs. Quick Review Click Next to view the answer.

15. A.Schools are adopting drug-free zones, teaching drug education classes, implementing zero-tolerance polices, and expelling drug users. Police officers are assigned to patrol campuses. Security guards and locker searches help protect students from drug danger on campus. Quick Review - Answer Click Next to attempt another question.

16. Provide a short answer to the question given below. Q.List five signs of substance abuse. Quick Review Click Next to view the answer.

17. A.A substance abuser: • Gets drunk or high regularly. • Lies about the drugs he or she is using or constantly talks about drugs. • Stops participating in activities that once were an important part of his or her life. • Changes eating or sleeping habits, shows rapid weight loss. • Takes unnecessary risks, participates in unsafe behaviors. • Gets in trouble with authorities. Quick Review - Answer Click Next to attempt another question.

18. Provide a short answer to the question given below. Q.How do support groups help substance abusers? Quick Review Click Next to view the answer.

19. A.Support groups help substance abusers by providing long-term moral support, offering free service to the community, and by being completely confidential. Quick Review - Answer Click Next to attempt another question.

20. Provide a suitable explanation. Analyze the influence of laws, policies, and practices on the public release of medicine in the United States. Quick Review

21. School Efforts All over the United States,drug-free school zoneshave beenestablished. Efforts in and around schools to cut down on drug use include drug education classes, zero-tolerance policies, and expulsion of students found using drugs. In some areas, police officers are assigned to patrol campuses. Security guards and locker searches also help protect teens from the dangers of drug abuse. Strategies for Preventing Use of Drugs A drug-free school zone is an area within 1,000 feet of schools and designated by signs, within which people caught selling drugs receive especially severe penalties.

22. Community Efforts Communities across the nation are taking positive action to stop drug abuse through efforts likedrug watches. Becoming involved in antidrug programs in your community is a good way to protect your family and friends from the dangers and violence associated with drug abuse. Strategies for Preventing Use of Drugs A drug watch is an organized community effort by neighborhood residents to patrol, monitor, report, and otherwise try to stop drug deals and drug abuse.