Substance Abuse

And how it affects you personally and professionally

Qualities of Good Employees

Being Cooperative Being a hard worker Being dependable Being trustworthy Having a positive attitude Respecting others Handling criticism

Being Cooperative

This means you work well with others This requires flexibility, and the

awareness that everyone is different and may have different ideas

You must be willing to work for the good of everyone

Ex. Following the rules of the job site

Example

On Klein ISD campuses, all areas are tobacco free

If, as a teacher, we take secret smoke breaks in the car, we are breaking the rules and being uncooperative.

Tobacco

People who regularly use tobacco may become addicted

This addiction is caused by a colorless and odorless drug called nicotine. Nicotine gives the body a lift, but the

body will build up a resistance to it’s effects.

Types of tobacco include cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff

Consequences of Tobacco Use

Tobacco use or purachsing tobacco products is ILLEGAL under the age of 18

Tobacco use has been linked to health issues such as lung, throat, and mouth cancer

Cigarettes

Peer pressure may be a factor in why some teens feel the need to smoke

As smoke is inhaled, the linings of the nose, throat and lungs becomes irritated

This is true for those who smoke pipes and cigars as well

Cigarettes

Smoking has been linked to cancer- one of the leading causes of death in the United States

Smokers are more likely to suffer from heart and lung diseases

Pregnant women who smoke have a high risk of delivery a baby with a low birth weight

Cigarettes

Passive Smoking Even if you are not the one doing the

actual smoking, cigarette smoke can affect your health

When you are in a room full of smokers, you are forced to breathe in smoke- this is passive smoking

Because of the negative health affects, cities have banned smoking in certain public places

Smokeless Tobacco

Includes chewing tobacco and snuff It is also habit forming and harmful to

your health

Smokeless Tobacco

Consequences include bad breath, discolored teeth

The membranes of your nose can be irritated by snuff

Users of smokeless tobacco may experience a loss in taste and smell

Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant- it slows down activity in the brain and spinal cord

It can disrupt mental and physical activity and injure internal organs

Signs of Alcohol Ingestion

Slurred speech Unsteady walk Loss of muscle control Slowed reflexes Delay in response to pain or danger

Mental Side Effects of Alcohol Use

Lack of self control Lack of good judgement Lack of inhibitions

You may not be able to hold back any feelings or actions

You may say or do things you normally wouldn’t

Impulsivity and Anger

Alcohol’s Effect on the Body

The effects are felt quickly because alcohol is taken into the bloodstream also immediately

This may happen even faster if a person is drinking on an empty stomach

People with a smaller body size feel the effects faster than larger people

Lasting Effects of Alcohol Alcohol harms the tissues of the

mouth and throat in heavy drinkers The stomach and heart may be

harmed as well You may gain weight, but your body

will be deprived of nutrients Long term use affects the liver Unborn babies may develop birth

defects

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

Caused by 3 or more drinks daily or binge drinking of 5 or more drinks on one occasion early in pregnancy

Symptoms include abnormal facial characteristics Ex. Large spacing between the eyes

Growth retardation, learning disabilities and behavior problems

Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE)

Occurs when a mother ingests more than ½ oz of absolute alcohol a day

Effects are apparent in brain functioning Babies will have a louder, higher

frequency cry at birth Lower IQ by about 5 points

Effects of Alcohol Drinking a large amount can lead to

death as it will affect your breathing Combing medications and alcohol can

also cause death An addiction to alcohol is called

alcoholism This affects relationships with friends and

family negatively as well as the alcoholic’s health

Drinking and Driving

ILLEGAL IN ALL 50 STATES Alcohol causes more accidents and

fatalities than any other single factor Excessive drinking is a factor in nearly

half of all traffic deaths Young people between 18-24 cause

more of these deaths than any other age group

Drug Abuse

Drug abuse is referring to using any drug for a purpose that it was not intended to be used

This damages a person’s health and keeps them from functioning normally

It creates an exaggerated sense of well being and makes you unaware of reality

Drug Use

Drug use will always add to a problem instead of helping it.

Using drugs to solve a problem is using the avoidance style of conflict resolution Ineffective!

Physical Dependence

Once a person starts abusing drugs, the person may find that their body begins to require the drug to function Smoking and drinking are the most

common forms of physical dependence on a drug

Psychological Dependence

The drug user will crave the drug for the feeling it provides or because it provides an escape from reality

Drug users become ill if/when they stop abusing the drug

Social Damage

Drug abuse is damaging to all relationships Social Work School Family

Marijuana Illegal drug It is the product of the hemp plant

and is ground and most often put into cigarettes

Marijuana interferes with your memory, learning, speech, and ability to think

It may cause existing emotional problems to increase

Marijuana

Smoking marijuana has similar effects on your lungs as do regular tobacco cigarettes

It may also cause anxiety or panic attacks

Marijuana causes both physical and psychological dependencies

Cocaine

It is a white powdery substance obtained from the coca plant

A concentrated form of cocaine that is often smoked is called crack

Cocaine Cocaine is highly addicting in both

forms (powder and crack) Crack is more highly addictive

Cocaine users may abuse other drugs to counteract the cocaine high This combination can be deadly

Cocaine may cause seizures, damage to the stomach, and if sniffed it may cause damage to the nasal cavities

Legal Drugs

Legal drugs include over the counter drugs and prescription medications IT IS ILLEGAL TO POSSESS A

PRESCRIPTION THAT IS NOT IN YOUR NAME.

Legal Drugs

Should always be used according to the package directions or as directed by your doctor

Other legal drugs include caffeine- a stimulant found in coffee, tea, and soda

Caffeine Ingesting too much (500-600

mg)caffeine can result in: Headaches Nervousness Stomach disorders Insomnia Restlessness Fast heart beat Muscle tremors

Caffeine

According to the Mayo Clinic, the average person should not ingest more than 200-300 mg a day 2-4 cups of coffee= 200-300 mg Coke= 34 mg per 12 ounces Small can of Red Bull= 80 mg Redline Power Push has 140 mg of

caffeine PER OUNCE!!

Health Risk Resources Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a great self

help resource for those who struggle with alcohol abuse Al-Anon and Alateen are organizations that help

family members of alcoholics cope Local churches, clinics, and hospitals provide

services for drug/alcohol abuse You can always ask your teachers, school

counselors or family members to find an organization for you.