Loudoun County Public Schools

1
Loudoun County Public Schools Substance Abuse
Prevention Program In-service and Update on
Current Trends
2
Perception of Risk in Alcohol and Drug Use

• When the perceived risk of harm is high,
  generally drug use decreases.
• When the perceived risk of harm is low, generally
  drug use increases.

3
MARIJUANA
How Old Were You When You First Smoked Marijuana?

• Peaks at age 15
• If you wanted to get some MJ, how easy would it
  be for you to get some? VERY EASY 39
• How wrong do your parents feel it would be for
  you to smoke MJ? VERY WRONG 86

• How much do you think people harm themselves if
  they try MJ regularly?

4
ALCOHOL
How Old Were You When You First Had More Than a
Sip or Two of an Alcoholic Beverage?

• PEAKS in 7th and 8th grade
• Drinking regularly by age 15
• If you wanted to get some alcohol, how easy would
  it be for you to get some? VERY EASY 36
• How wrong do your parents feel it would be for
  you to drink alcoholic beverages regularly?
  VERY WRONG 67

• How much do you think people harm
  themselves if they drink one or two
  alcoholic beverages per day?

5
Why Prevention? Age of Onset Tobaccoage
9 Alcoholage 10 Marijuanaage 11
6
What are kids into now.

• Herbal supplements (Hoodia, Ephedra)
• Over the counter medications - DXM (Robotussin),
  Corricidin, Dramamine
• Prescription Medications - Percocet, Percodan,
  Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Ritalin, Dexedrine, Vicodin
• Starting to see Heroin use
• Sex/Skipping partiesdrugs and multiple partners
  and/or same sex partners

7
The Danger of Inhalants

• The risks are realInhalants are poisons
• Several items around your house can be huffed
  (used as Inhalants)
• Very popular drug of choice for younger
  adolescentsDust Off, Whippets
• Sudden Sniffing Death, brain damage, liver and
  kidney problems, hearing loss, limb spasms, bone
  marrow damage

8
Hallucinogens A Different State of Mind

• LSD, PCP, Shrooms, Boat
• Alters perception of time and space
• Causes visual, auditory hallucinations, paranoia,
  heart rate and BP, anxiety
• Flashbacks are possible with ANY hallucinogen

9
Signs of Drug Alcohol Abuse Dependence

• bloodshot eyes
• smell of alcohol or pot
• skipping class and/or school
• loss of interests
• staying out late
• lying
• stealing

• poor grades
• poor hygiene
• isolation
• change of friends
• mood swings
• conflict with parents
• legal problems
• manipulating others

10
Whats Up With the Adolescent Brain?

• Brain Development extends well into a persons
  20s.
• ? 7 million youths between 12-20 years old binge
  at least 1x per month.
• ? Alcohol triggers a lower sedative response in
  teens. Teens can drink more - cause more damage.

• ? Damage centered around hippocampus
  (learning/memory) and pre-frontal
  cortex (decision making/responding).
• ? Younger brain tissue is more sensitive - 4-5 x
  more cell death within the hippocampus.
• ? Teens who drink can lose up to 10 of their
  brain power.

11
Progression of Adolescent Chemical Use
1. Experimental Use
2. More Regular Use
3. Daily Preoccupation
4. Dependency
5 to 15 Rule--Preadolescent, Adolescent and Adult
Addiction. If we can get a child to 20 without
using MJ there is a 98 chance they will not
become addicted to ANY drugNational Drug Czar
2005
12
Services Provided within the Schools

• ?School based groups
• COA
• Pre-Recovery
• Recovery
• ? Student Assistance Program through Loudoun
  County Mental Health
• ? Classroom Presentations

• ?The Insight Program
• 3 day early education and early intervention
  class.
• ? Drug Alcohol Interviews Referrals
• ? PEER Program in the High Schools

13
Partners in PreventionLCPS and LCMH
When to call behavioral problems emotional
problems family difficulties peer
relationships other adjustment issues substance
abuse concerns

• Free mental health /substance abuse assessments
  for students (at the school)
• Requires parent permissiontherapist meets with
  both parent and student
• Confidential, unless student in danger
• Provides linkage to school services and
  public/private resources.

14
Why Do People Use?

• InitiallyBOREDOM, curiosity, peer pressure
• Secondaryto cope with
• Underlying stressors Underlying MH concerns
• blended families depression
• peer relationships anxiety
• academic concerns trauma
• stress grief/loss

15
To Treat or Not to Treat?

• Remember physical, emotional and intellectual
  changes are normal in adolescent development
• The key is CHANGEin physical appearance,
  personality, friends and interests, attitudes and
  behaviors

16
The Strength of the Family

• Strongest Protective factor against substance
  use Involvement in a teens life.
• Get Involved spend time together
• Communicate LISTEN, talk, ask about interests
  and opinions
• Set a good example show honesty, compassion,
  caring and admit mistakes
• Create Rules curfews, check-ins, get to know
  friends and their parents

17
When in Doubt-Go with Your GUT

• Trust your parental instincts
• Act quickly if you suspect trouble
• early identification and prompt intervention is
  KEY to good outcome
• Ask for professional help
• Objective/nonjudgmental (another pair of eyes)
• Help to visualize the situation and make
  suggestions
• Can enhance parent/child communication skills
• Serves to validate concerns and identify solutions

18
We are a Community that Cares

• Parents
• Schools
• Public Agencies
• Law Enforcement
• Recreation
• Private Agencies
• Were all in this togetherfor the sake of our
  children.