What is our definition of Prevention?
“To prevent” literally means “to keep something from happening”
The term “prevention” is reserved for those interventions that
occur before the initial onset of disorder.
What does prevention include?
Universal preventive interventions…targeted to the general public
or a whole population group that has not been identified on the basis of individual
risk.
Selective preventive interventions…targeted to individuals or a subgroup
of the population whose risk ... is significantly higher than average.
Indicated preventive interventions…targeted to high-risk individuals
who are identified as having minimal but detectable signs or symptoms ... but
who do not meet…diagnostic levels at the present time.
What is our operational definition of prevention?
Prevention is: The promotion of constructive lifestyles and norms that discourage
drug use.
Prevention is achieved through the application of multiple strategies; it
is an ongoing process that must relate to each emerging generation.
Why do people use alcohol & drugs?
Curiosity, Belief that drugs are not harmful, Belief that drugs alleviate
the symptoms of depression, As an attempt to cope with traumatic experiences,
for
example, childhood sexual abuse or school failure, Sensation-seeking behavior,
Substance use by family members, Peer pressure, Community norms, Exposure to
pro-use message in mass media, Access and availability
What are the basic prevention strategies?
Raise awareness of the dangers of drug use and the benefits of constructive
behavior.
Promote good parenting skills and strengthen the family as the first defense
against drug abuse. Build academic/vocational skills to allow individuals
the potential of developing into contributing members of society.
Provide mentoring and positive role modeling for youth. Build social skills
to enable the development of strong self-image that leads to positive
life decisions.
Mobilize communities to establish environments enhancing positive personal
development.
Strengthen and support policies that promote healthy lifestyles and
change community norms.
What have we learned from the evaluation of prevention?
No single approach works for everyone. Among adolescents and younger
children, a psychosocial approach emphasizing personal skills development
and task-oriented
training often reduces AOD use.
Among adults, changing the policies, regulations, and laws to alter
the community environment reduces AOD problems. Among adolescents
at significant
risk,
individual counseling and family intervention show promise in
affecting long-term risk
and protective factors.
Sensitivity to and inclusion of the cultural values of the target
community enhances effectiveness.
Data provided by CSAP(exit
VDH), The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
11 POINTS FOR PARENTS TO PROTECT THEIR KIDS
Drug abuse can be prevented and addiction is a treatable illness.
1. Substance abuse is a preventable problem. We, as parents, are much more
powerful than we think. Upsetting us is the number one reason why kids do
not use drugs, and kids who learn about drug risks from parents are only
half as likely to start using.
2. Get and stay closely involved with your kids’ lives as they head
through middle school and into high school. You won’t connect well
with your kids about serious health issues if you haven’t been interested
in the day-to-day events of interest to them – which test caused half
the class to flunk, which of their friends got a part in the play, who lied
to their parents and went down to the city with older kids…
3. Begin the dialogue when your kids are young. Talk early and often. It
doesn’t have to be a formal “birds and bees” type discussion,
but should springboard off “teachable moments” -- like an incident
in their town or school, a problem in your extended family, a popular music
video or movie, or something on the news. Set a “no-use” expectation,
including for alcohol, and make it explicit.
4. Monitor your kids. Kids whose parents supervise them closely are only
half as likely to develop a drug problem. Know the “who, what, why,
where, when” of their activities, compare notes with other parents,
and continue this practice as kids hit middle school, even when you no longer
know all their friends, and friends’ families.
5. Be the parent, not just the pal. Your kids already have friends, but
they need parenting. Consistently enforce boundaries for your family that
apply even when kids are in other settings, or with families that have different
rules. Teens like to be trusted, and will feel supported by clear and consistent
boundaries that are explained in advance and are based on our love and concern
for their well-being.
6. Addiction is a health problem. It does not happen because someone is “a
bad person,” but is an illness that is in fact the number one preventable
adolescent health problem. (The American Academy of Pediatrics). It is not
your fault. Stigma and shame due to past ignorance and stereotypes about
the problem are unwarranted. A drug disorder can take over your life, and
cause you to lie, steal and act badly toward even those you love. However,
addiction has a physiological basis; chronic alcohol and other drug use
change the brain and body chemistry, making it hard to stop. Thirty years
ago, families were told: your son needs to develop will-power to stop using
cocaine… Now we know better.
7. There is hope, help and healing available for your family if someone
develops a substance abuse problem. There are objective ways to assess the
problem, and many new treatments. Millions of people recover their health
and turn their whole lives around, even though they tend not to be as visible
as the public struggles of celebrities addicted to substances.
8. Don’t wait -- know the warning signs and act early. If you suspect
your child has a drug or alcohol problem, you are probably right, and need
to learn more about the problem and steps for helping: Intervene early,
find the right type of help, and be persistent. Warning signs include sudden
changes (which are otherwise unexplained) in personality, irritability and
mood swings, habits and friends, excessive secrecy, and finding drug paraphernalia.
There are objective “screener” short questionnaires that you
can answer to determine the sort of problem you’re facing. It’s
a myth that someone has to hit “rock bottom” before seeking
and getting help. Without help, addiction tends to progress and can even,
eventually, be fatal. Although earlier intervention is best, it is possible
to get help at any stage of addiction, and success rates with quality treatment
are comparable to those for other illnesses like diabetes, asthma, or hypertension.
9. Help is not just “rehab.” Most people recover from addiction
without formal, in-patient treatment, or “rehab.” There are
many paths to wellness, including out-patient medical help, and sometimes
a combination of treatment and a 12-Step, self-help program, which holds
free meetings any time during the week, near enough to get to.
10. Addiction runs in families, similar to illnesses like cancer or heart
disease. Kids who have a family pattern are at much higher risk of addiction
if they use drugs or alcohol at all; no recreational use can stay safely
under control, particularly during the formative years of adolescence. Families
with a history of alcoholism or drug addiction should talk about this, so
their kids are aware. If there is a problem developing, family involvement
and support makes treatment work better. Everyone – the addicted child
and the parents and siblings – need strong help and mutual support
to solve the problem.
11. You are not alone. Substance abuse is common among teens, and drug addiction
doesn’t discriminate. It cuts across race, gender and economic lines,
every region of this country, and every walk of life. Most people now know
someone who has struggled with addiction, and one in four teenagers is now
living with an addicted parent. Take heart. More than anything, families
need confidence that recovery is possible, and encouragement and information
and professional support to heal this problem.
INHALANT ABUSE FACT SHEET
DEFINITION
Commonly known among kids as "huffing," "bagging," or "sniffing," inhalant
abuse is the deliberate concentration and inhalation of common products
found in homes, offices, and schools to get high.
STATISTICS
National surveys of young people and U.S. households indicate that:
- Inhalants are the fifth most-abused substance after alcohol, tobacco, marijuana
and prescription drug misuse among high school students.
- Almost as many 8th graders have ever tried inhalants (16 percent) as have
tried marijuana/hashish (18 percent), according to Monitoring the Future
2003.
- According to the 2002 Household Survey, 308,000 teens, aged 12-17 used
inhalants in the past month.
- Fewer than 1 in 20 parents believe their children may have ever abused
inhalants.
More than 1,000 common products are potential inhalants that can kill,
including:
- Glue
- Freon
- Correction fluid
- Computer agents
- Deodorizers, Markers, Paint products
- Gases (whippets, butane, propane)
- Gasoline
- Fire extinguishers Nail polish remover
- Lighter fluid
- Hair spray
- Cleaning agents
HARMFUL EFFECTS
Chronic inhalant users can suffer severe and permanent brain damage; some
die the first time they experiment. Other possible risks include the following:
- Intoxication
- Hearing loss
- Bone marrow damage
- Short-term memory loss
- Limb spasms
- Liver and kidney damage
SIGNS OF USE
There is a common link between inhalant abuse and problems in school - failing
grades, chronic absences, and general apathy. Other signs include the following:
- Paint or stains on body, clothing, rags, or bags
- Unusual breath odor or
chemical odor on clothing
- Slurred or disorientated speech
- Anxiety, excitability, irritability,
or restlessness
- Missing household items
- Red or runny eyes or nose
- Spots or sores around the mouth
- Drunk, dazed, or dizzy appearance
- Nausea, loss of appetite
For more information, contact the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition
at (800) 269-4237, or visit http://www.inhalants.org/.
Source: The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug
Information (NCADI)
Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE)
Prevention Links:
MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving
www.madd.org
The National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence (NCADD)
www.ncadd.org
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
www.drugfreeamerica.org
Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free
www.alcoholfreechildren.org
National Institute of Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism
www.niaaa.nih.gov
Partnership to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
www.prevention.samhsa.gov/faspartners/
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information (NCADI)
ncadi.samhsa.gov
REAL: Youth Against Big Tobacco Companies
www.therealmessage.net
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
www.mediacampaign.org/
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
www.tobaccofreekids.org/
Drug Enforcement Agency
www.usdoj.gov/dea/index.htm
National Institute on Drug Abuse
www.drugabuse.gov
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
www.drugfreeamerica.org
Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/methamphetamine/index.html
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
www.samhsa.gov/
Join Together
www.jointogether.org
National Crime Prevention Council (McGruff)
www.ncpc.org
Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline
www.stoptheviolence.org/public/
Piedmont Community Services:
www.piedmontcsb.org
