Defining Your Relationship With Drugs

Week 5

QUIET TIMESit quietly for a minute or two, and focus on where we are now.

TODAY’S AGENDAQuiet TimeCheck- in Exploring personal relationship with

substancesWhat does a healthy relationship with a

substance look like?The Continuum - What does an

unhealthy relationship with substance look like?

Where is YOUR line? – discussion

CHECK-IN Name Feeling Last use 12-step meetings? What happened? Who attended a meeting? If you did not attend a meeting

• Did you think about it?• What prevented your attendance?• What can you do differently this week?

Success with last week’s recovery tool? (binders)

SESSION GOALS To understand that our relationships with alcohol and other drugs progress along a continuum.

To personalize and classify our own relationships with various substances

…FOURCHARACTERISTICS

of a HealthyRelationship with a Drug

CHARACTERISTICS OF AHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPKnowledgeBenefitsNo negative “side effects”Freedom to choose

KNOWLEDGE? Recognition that the substance you are using is a drug and awareness of what it does to your body

Examples of drugs that people don’t realize they are using

Read info from pharmacy?

BENEFITS?Experience of a useful effect

of the drug over time.

WHY PEOPLE USE DRUGS POSSIBLE USEFUL EFFECTS To treat disease To alter moods To escape boredom and despair To promote and enhance social interaction To enhance sensory experience and pleasure To stimulate artistic creativity and

performance To improve physical performance To rebel To go along with peer pressure To aid religious practices To explore the self To establish an identity

SIDE EFFECTS? Freedom from adverse effects on health or

behaviorPossible effects Uncertainty of Dose and Quality Mixing Drugs Medical Problems

• Acute problems (i.e. overdosing & allergic reactions; injuries)

• Chronic problems (i.e. irritate & damage body systems; lifestyle can influence self-care like diet, sleep, hygiene & exercise)

• Pregnancy complications • Misdiagnoses due to drugs changing or masking

symptoms • Drug induced/aggravated psychiatric disorders

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS Social and Behavioral Problems

Relational Altered Inhibitions Diminished Ability to Process Social Cues Distortion of Emotional Experience Family Employment School

• Life Threatening Social Situations Developmental Problems Impaired mental development Impaired emotional development Impaired physical development

Legal Problems DWI Assault & Domestic Violence Possession & Distribution

Dependency & Addiction Physiological Psychological

Limits Personal Freedom!

FREEDOM? Ease of separation from the use of the drug.

Withdrawal• Psychological or Physical• The Substitution Syndrome

Tolerance• More of the same drug for benefit• Stronger drug for benefit

Add relationship with drugs hand out one way and 2 way street.

BREAK TIME!

PERSONALIZING DISCUSSION Where are you in your relationship

with your drug of choice?

If you think you are still on a two-way street, does your relationship meet all our criteria of a healthy relationship?

Have you passed the point of no return?