ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE: HANDS ON HELP FOR PARENTS

1
ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSEHANDS ON HELP FOR
PARENTS

• Crestwood Preparatory College
• October 16, 2008

John Westland, MSW, RSW Social Worker Adolescent
Substance Abuse Outreach Program Hospital for
Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
2
POTENTIAL AGENDA

• What Teens Are Using
• Why Teens Use Drugs
• Substance Abuse- A Useful Definition
• Signs of Drug Use
• Prevention Strategies
• Parenting Styles
• Role of the Family
• Responding To Suspected Drug Use
• Addressing Peer Influence Concerns
• Other Issues/ Questions and Resources

3
WHAT ARE YOUTH USING?
Drug Use Among Ontario Students 1977-2005, OSDUS
Highlights, CAMH, p3
4
WHY DO TEENS USE DRUGS

• Social Culture Alcohol is part of many
  cultures. Alcohol is often associated with
  social activities.
• Curiosity or Experimentation Kids may be
  tempted to try a drug to find out for themselves
  what its like.
• Peer Pressure Young people may give in to
  pressure from other kids to try drugs. They may
  try something to feel like part of the crowd.
• Pleasure Teens take drugs to feel good.

5

• Boredom If lack interests/ activities after
  school, they may want to try something new.
• Self-Esteem Using drugs to feel more confident,
  powerful or important.
• Escapism Drugs make things seem better.
  Problems dont seem as real or important.
• Coping with Stress If lacking problem-solving
  skills, drugs help to cope with school, family,
  or social relationships. Feelings are numbed
  by drug use.
• Adapted from Parents Against Drugs

6
SUBSTANCE ABUSE

• Any use of drugs that causes physiological,
• psychological, economic, legal, or social harm to
  
• the individual user or to others affected by the
  drug
• users behaviour.
• AMA Council on Scientific Affairs Panel on
  Alcoholism and Drug Use

7
POTENTIAL SIGNS OF DRUG USE

• Changes in Behaviour
• Skipping classes at school
• Poor grades
• Dropped out of school
• Loss of job
• Changes in peer group
• Change in recreational activities

8

• Changes in Thinking/ Feeling
• Moodiness
• Depressed/ withdrawn
• Sense of hopelessness
• Secretive and uncooperative
• Trouble concentrating
• Open defiance of aggression
• Low motivation

9

• Physical Changes
• Weight loss
• Red eyes, constricted or dilated pupils
• Runny nose
• Change in dress habit and hygiene
• Difficulty speaking/ walking
• Change in sleep habits
• Many of these changes can also be signs of normal
  adolescence.
• 
  Adapted from Parents Against Drugs

10
Effect of Parenting Styles on Teen Substance
Abuse

• Lower Incidence
• Authoritative
• Demanding Age/ maturity appropriate demands
• Responsive Toward the adolescent
• 
  Baumrind,1991

11
Higher Incidence

• Authoritarian
• Demanding Directive
• Not Responsive Toward the adolescent
• Permissive
• Less Demanding Non-directive
• More Responsive
• Rejecting/ Neglecting
• Not Demanding Disengaged
• Not Responsive

12
Role of the Family

• Preventive Measures
• Talk about it
• Support each other
• Set the rules
• Be a good role model
• Encourage participation in healthy activities

13
Talk About It!

• Ask what kids know/ feel about drugs
• Share information with them
• Share opinion/ stance with them
• Make use of opportunities that arise
• Give them reasons not to use
• Physiological effects
• Physical risks injuries, sex. assault, suicide
• Conflict with the law
• Social problems family, peers, school
• Effect on adol. devt. learning to handle
  feelings

14
Support Each Other

• Face problems together
• Be inclusive of people
• Keep your perspective
• Dont minimize/ blow things out of proportion
• Be willing to learn from each other
• Celebrate successes

15
Set the Rules

• Clear
• Enforceable
• Realistic/ appropriate
• crime matches the punishment
• Timely
• Positive and negative consequences
• Drug policy?!

16
Be a Good Role Model

• Kids may act like they dont care
• Or seem totally unaware
• Reality watching like a hawk!
• Do as I saynot as I do
• Modeling coping skills, problem solving,
  relationships between men women, etc.

17
Encourage Participation in Healthy Activities

• Sports, clubs
• Pastimes
• Doesnt have to be useful
• Builds self esteem
• With peers
• With parents

18
How to Respond if You Suspect a Problem

• Safety first
• Physical safety
• Emotional safety
• Get the facts straight
• What are your observations - 5 Senses
• Do a reality check
• Dont minimize/ Over react/ Jump to conclusions

19

• Be aware of own feelings and how expressing
• Communicate
• Directly re observations
• With child
• With spouse
• Listen ask re likes/ dislikes
• Dont label

20

• Dont attempt discussions with high/ drunk person
• It wont be meaningful or memorable
• Communicate with others as appropriate
• Make your position clear!
• Rules, limits, expectations, consequences
• Be consistent but flexible
• Your position
• How you respond to different children

21

• Say what you mean / mean what you say
• Be clear, not vague
• No empty threats
• No empty promises
• Getting help
• Do you feel the need?
• Not the first time?...you need help!

22
Addressing Parents Peer Influence
ConcernsorWhat to do when Johnny is chilling
with the bad kid down the street
23
What to do

• Ask yourself why
• Youre repulsed/ theyre attracted
• Degree of risk
• Severity and likelihood
• Stay informed
• Who, what, where, when, why and confirm
• Stay interested
• Learn about friends, whats so attractive
• Meet friends and parents

24

• Dont put down/ judge friends
• Explain concerns
• Risks involved discuss and listen
• Set limits
• Kinds of contact and location
• Outright ban rarely works
• Introduce pro-social activities
• Builds self confidence and self worth

25
Questions / Comments
26
Resources

• Breakaway www.breakawayyouth.org
• 416 234-1942
• Adolescent Substance Abuse Outreach Program (HSC)
  www.sickkids.ca
• 416 813-5097
• YMCA Youth Substance Abuse Program ( Scar.)
  www.ymcatoronto.org
• 416-296-9907
• Parents in Transition www.parentsintransition.org
  
• 416 481-4543
• Parents for Youth www.parentsforyouth.com
• 416 921-8092