psychoactive substance abuse in children and youth

7/26/2019 Psychoactive Substance Abuse in Children and Youth

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Psychoactive substances and

new technologies abuse in

children and adolescents

Lenka ChudomelovaDepartment of Child and Youth Health

3rd Faculty of Medicine


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Definition

Psychoactive drugs are chemical substances

that affect the brain functioning, causing

changes in behavior, mood and consciousness.


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Commonly abused drugs

Cannabinoids: hashish, marijuana

Depressants: barbiturates, BZD

Dissociative anesthetics: ketamine, phencyclidine Hallucinogens: LSD, mescaline, psilocybin

Opioids: codeine, fentanyl, heroin, morphine, opium

Stimulants: amphetamine, methamphetamine,cocaine, nicotine

Other compounds: anabolic steroids


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Why do people take drugs?

To feel good

drugs produce intense feelings of pleasure

euphoria is followed by other effects, which

differ with the type of drug used stimulants (cocaine): the high is followed by

feelings of power, self-confidence, and

increased energy

opiates (heroin): feelings of relaxation andsatisfaction


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Why do people take drugs?

To feel better

social anxiety

stress-related disorders

depression

To do better

improve their athletic or cognitive performance

Curiosity and because others are doing it strong influence of peer pressure


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Early signs of risk in the family

lack of mutual attachment and nurturing by

parents or caregivers

ineffective parenting

a chaotic home environment

lack of a significant relationship with a caring

adult

a caregiver who abuses substances, suffersfrom mental illness, or engages in criminal

behavior


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Risk factors outside the family

inappropriate classroom behavior, such as

aggression and impulsivity

academic failure

poor social coping skills

association with peers with problem behaviors,

including drug abuse

misperceptions of the extent and acceptability ofdrug-abusing behaviors in school, peer, and

community environments


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Drug abuse/substance abuse

compulsive, excessive, and self-damaginguse of habit forming drugs or substances,leading to:

addiction or dependence serious health damage (kidneys, liver, heart)

psychological harm (such as dysfunctionalbehavior patterns, hallucinations, memory

loss) death


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Drug addiction/drug dependence

compulsive craving for a drug which offers

short-term intense relief/pleasure

rapid induction of emotional state individualsnormally are not able to experience


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Development of addiction

1st stage =FIRST CONTACT

mostly in a group as a unique episode

experience of belonging to a particular

group or culture

2nd stage =EXPERIMENTATION

a positive experience from the first contact

often motivates uncertain and anxiouschildren to continue


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3rd stage =USAGE, restful phase trigger point (conflict, trauma)

because of the positive effect the child often regularlyreturns

drug becomes part of their social life - perceived asthe best period of his/her life ever

evolves into compulsive patterns of substance-seekingand substance-taking behavior that take place at theexpense of most other activities

somatic complaints begin to appear, breaking promises,increasing need for money, occasional absencefollowing weekend trips, late arrivals home,deterioration of relations in the family and at school,loss of friends


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3rd stage =USAGE, problematic/advancedusage

develops after a few months rather years of usage

cumulating problems loss of control over drug use, desire to confide loss of hobbies, lack of interest in school, work, family

conflicts and theft

serious health problems

young person perceives problems and tries to prove he's

got a control 5 10 days sober establish him falsely in his view

within next years the head currently runs two programs program of a drug and program of abstinence


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4th stage =ADDICTION

unconditional loss of control over life

drug brings nothing positive

loss of dignity

destruction of the closest relations

delusion and inability to perceive reality

loss of lust for life

difference between problematic usage andaddiction?

doses of the drug

ability to admit the addiction


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5th stage =QUITTING never ending stage

life will never be as friendly as with the drug experiencing pain

high motivation

great social support


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ESPAD 2011 - Alcohol

ESPAD = TheEuropianSchool SurveyProject onAlcohol and OtherDrugs

1,6 % strict nondrinkers 60,0 % regular consumers

! Risk alcohol consumption rising !

Example: drunkennes during last month admitted

37% of 16 year old: 1/5 three times during the past month 5% ten times


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ESPAD 2011 - Illegal drugs

experience with:

cannabis .......................... 42%

ecstasy ............................ 8,3%

hallucinogens .................. 5,6%

first experience in younger age

girls prefer to experiment with amphetaminesand sedatives


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Consumption of tobacco, alcohol and

drugs in CR

one of the leading positions in Europe

reasons

high tolerance to consumption

physical and financial accessibility even for children andyouth

influence of media (celebrities)

commercial interests

role models in the family

lack of control mechanisms and sanctions


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Gambling

slot machines

terminals

electro roulette

common cause

lack of money (allowance)

lack of hobbies

peer influence


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Virtual reality

internet addiction

computer games

completely identical problems as in drug

addiction


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Prevention principles

prevention programes should enhance protectivefactors and reduce risk factors (Hawkins et al.2002)

prevention programes should address all forms of

drug abuse (legal, illegal drugs, inappropriate useof legally obtained substances (Johnston et al.2002)

prevention programes should address the type ofdrug abuse problem in the local community

(Hawkins et al. 2002) prevention programes should be tailored to

address risks specific to population characteristicslike age, gender, ethnicity (Oetting et al. 1997)


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Risk factors x protective factors

Risk facto rs Domain Protective

factors

Early Ag g ress iv e

BehaviorIndivid u al Impuls e Contr ol

Lack of P arent al

Supervi s ionFamily

Parent al

Monitoring

Substance Abuse PeerAcad emi c

Competence

Drug Av ailab ilit y School Antidrug Us ePolic ies

Poverty Communi ty

Strong

Ne ighborhood

Attachment


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Examples of preventive interventions

Prior to birth

preventing/delaying pregnancy in young and vulnerablemothers

antenatal health service

antenatal educational courses/home visitation


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Early childhood

school preparation programes

school-based drug education

parent education

family therapy


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Adolescents

school-based drug education

peer intervention, peer eduaction

youth sport and recreation programs

mentorship

employment and training


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Community based prevention

education campaignes

homelessness strategies

crime prevention

regulation and law enforcement

judicial procedures

harm-reduction strategies (I.e. low threshold centers)


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How to say NO

assertiveness

an important communication skill

learn to reject things that are not right for him based on hisconviction,

ability to say no can save the child from the very first contactwith the drug

self-confidence/self-esteem

child should perceive that he is a unique human being

child with an adequate self-esteem would not use drugs toconfirm his confidence in relation to peers


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Literature

http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/en/

http://www.espad.org/

http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/WDR-

2012.html http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/links/othersites/en/

NIDA: Preventing drug use among children andadolescents. (A research-based guide for parents,educators and community leaders. Second edition.)
http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/en/http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/en/http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/en/http://www.espad.org/http://www.espad.org/http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/WDR-2012.htmlhttp://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/WDR-2012.htmlhttp://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/WDR-2012.htmlhttp://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/WDR-2012.htmlhttp://www.who.int/substance_abuse/links/othersites/en/http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/links/othersites/en/http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/links/othersites/en/http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/WDR-2012.htmlhttp://www.espad.org/http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/global_alcohol_report/en/

psychoactive substance abuse in children and youth

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