Substance Abuse in Schools

Madison Frederick
Jason Lyons
James Fulgenzi
Kameron Trapp

Americas Love Affair with Mary Jane

Marijuana in the classroom

According to the NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse)

As of 2013
7% of 8th graders use MJ in America
18% of 10th graders
22.7% of seniors
-have used MJ in the past month

Risk Versus Reward

Use has risen over the last 6 years
-Legalization
-its Medicine
-everyone does it

Alcohol Abuse and Dependence

Alcohol Abuse: A maladaptive pattern of alcohol use
leading toclinically significant impairment or
distressfailure to fulfill major role obligations at work,
school or home; recurrent use in situations where it is
physically hazardous; legal disorder; persistent or recurrent
social or interpersonal disorder caused or exacerbated by
alcohol. (American Psychiatric Association, 1994)
Alcohol Dependence: Tolerance, withdrawal; drinking
larger amounts than intended; unsuccessful efforts to cut
down; a great deal of time spent obtaining or using alcohol;
important activities given up because of alcohol use;
continued use despite physical or psychological disorder
likely to have been caused or exacerbated by alcohol.
(American Psychiatric Association, 1994)

Consequences of Underage Drinking

CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey

39% drank some amount of alcohol

22% binge drink
8% drove after drinking alcohol
24% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol

Consequences

Higher absence and poor of failing grades

Arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk
Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity
Abuse of other drugs
Death from alcohol poisoning

Underage Drinking Education and Prevention

Prevention Tactics
Alcohol awareness and education
in the school
Increased extracurricular
activities at school (sports, clubs,
bandetc.)
Community based programs for
the youth (Boys and Girls Club,
after school programsetc)
Empower the students to make
their own decisions

Adderall
Amphetamine used for
attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD)
Pressure over grades,
competition for college
admissions
11.4% of people ages 12-25
use it without being
prescribed
Usage has gone from 10%19%-26% since 2007
Growing comfortable

Pain Killers

OxyCotin
Percocet
Most common in teens
Can lead to dependence, tolerance,
withdrawals
Some are 30x stronger than heroine
12 million people, ages 12+ are using them
without a prescription

Psychosis

Depression

Mood Swings
Heart Irregularities
Brain Damage

High Blood Pressure

Sleep Deprivation
Weight Loss

Impaired
Judgment
Personal Injury

Acute Exhaustion

Death
Headaches

Inhalants
The breathing of gas or vapors with the
purpose of getting a high.
Inhalants are legal.
Are usually everyday house hold products.
Common inhalants are paint, glue.
There are over 1,000 products that are
inhaled, air-conditioning refrigerant, markers,
spray paint, air fresheners, cooking.

Prevalence of Inhalants in schools

22 million Americans age 12 and older have
used inhalants
Every year more than 750,000 Americans use
inhalants for the first time.
Common in lower socio-economic areas.

Inhalant Use Cont.

Inhalant users reported significantly less
family support and cohesiveness and lower
self-esteem, and significantly more lifetime
thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts,
neighborhood gang activity, peer and parental
substance abuse. - George Warren Brown School of Social Work,
Washington University, St. Louis, MO USA

School Actions to Educate Students

D.A.R.E
Drug Abuse Resistance Education

A.S.A.P.C.
Arizona Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

M.A.D.D.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving

S.A.D.D.
Students Against Drunk Driving

N.I.D.A.
National Institute of Drug Abuse

U.N.O.D.C.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

-DARE was the only one taught in schools discontinued in 2009; grant funded
(Elementary Schools)
-SADD organizations are in schools, only in clubs
-The other organizations are informational

Student Question
Do you think that if the drinking age was lowered to 18 it would lower the
abuse of alcohol because it would no longer be a rebellious act for
seniors?

And if seniors didn't think it was 'cool' that they'd drink less making juniors, sophomores, and
freshmen drink less?

To what extent are teachers supposed to step in and play the typical role
of a parent or guardian?
Under age drinking, who do you think is responsible for it?
What role can teachers play at this point to try and instill more healthy
habits in their lives? Or who can we direct them to, where they can get the
help they need?
Do you think that the schools should be the ones pushing for education
about substance abuse or should it be something parents should be in
charge of?
Other than taking the steps to educate students on such issues what else
do you think teachers should have to do in order to prevent substance
abuse in teens?

References
National Institute on Drug Abuse. High School and Youth
Trends Retrieved from
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/highschool-youth-trends on November 4, 2014
Fact Sheets Underage Drinking. (2014, January 16). Retrieved November
5, 2014, from http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underagedrinking.htm
Mcardle, P. (2008). Alcohol abuse in adolescents. Archives of Disease in
Childhood, 524-527. Retrieved October 29, 2014, from ProQuest.