Working Meeting 12 July 2012

What is addiction? With drug addiction, a distinction must be made between physical and psychological dependence

1. Physical dependence; as the body of the addict protests when he or she stops taking the drugs - withdrawal symptoms

Tolerance; one needs more of the drug to feel the same effect

caused by the drug

What is addiction? (continuation) 2. Psychological dependence; the addict has the idea

not properly to function without the drug

Whether mental dependence occurs, is more about the thinking of the addict than the drug

By "social use" of alcohol for example, there is moderate psychological dependence

When used intensively, there is substantial physical and psychological dependence

What is addiction? (continuation) Weed and hashish (cannabis) -> no physical

dependence; mental dependence is generally low, this increases when intensive used

Cocaine -> no physical dependence, there is psychological dependence

Heroin -> dependence occurs generally very fast and is great, both physically and mentally

In this region specifically:

Alcohol

Drugs (cannabis, cocaine, coke/crack)

Gambling

Medicine

Groups of Alcoholic Beverages Beer , wine and strong alcoholic beverages (5%, 12% and 35%

(distilled) alcohol)

Sherry and Port (strong wine with about 20% alcohol)

Rum and gin (distilled) (could be about 80%)

Mix drinks and the Shooters:

Mix drink (strong drink/liquor mix with soft drink, alcohol 5% to 7%)

Shooter (20 ml bottle of liquor with 20% alcohol )(High risk drinking

because of HIGH % alcohol and the amount of ML. You don't always realize how much you have been drinking)

Consequences and dangers of alcohol abuse Hangover

Alcohol intoxication

Lever-cirrhosis

Brain damage

Short and Long term memory loss (korsakovsyndroom)

Concentration problems

Heart and vascular diseases

Cancer in the mouth Oesophagus, Lever and Colon

Marijuana and Hash (Cannabis) Also known as:

Marijuana, Weed, Hashish, Stuff, Pot, Grass, Shit, Skunk and Nederwiet

Weed and Hash are all made from the Hennepplant no difference

Weed/Marijuana is made from the: Dry Flower- top and Hash is made from the Secrete/Produce Resin from the trees. All from the same Hennepplant

Consequences and dangers of cannabis abuse Anxiety (neurotic)

Panic-attacks

Fainting

Depression

Dizziness

Nausea

Concentration problems

Difficulties with thinking clear

Reaction is diminish

Consequences and damages alcohol (in general)

Malfunctioning of organs (alcohol -> liver) Brain damage (cells, neurons) Anxiety (neurotic) Panic-attacks Fainting Depression Dizziness Nausea Concentration problems Difficulties with thinking clear Reaction is diminish

Consequences Use of alcohol and drugs can have far-reaching

consequences for personal health and well-being, social relations, safety and jobs

Drug abuse including alcohol may lead to health problems, social problems, injuries, unprotected sex, violence, deaths, motor vehicle accidents, homicides, suicides, physical and mental addiction or psychological addiction

Risks

Key risk periods for drug abuse: during major transitions in a child's life; e.g. moving, divorce, leaving the security of the home

Research: The earlier the drug use, the greater possibility for continued use

Social approval, lack of perceived risks, and availability of drugs in the community are exacerbating factors that can influence drug use to become drug abuse

Signals & symptoms of abuse

Physicals signs; e.g. loss/increase of appetite, inability to sleep, cold/sweaty palms, puffy face, red/watery eyes

Behavioral Signs; e.g. change in overall attitude/personality , changes in friends, concentration problems, change of habits, lack of motivation

Drug Specific Symptoms

What is our definition of prevention?

“To prevent” literally means “to keep something from happening”

The term “prevention” is reserved for those interventions that occur before the initial onset of disorder

Prevention Especially important for young people who are

experimenting or threatened to begin experimenting with problems, boredom or being influenced by trends

Raise awareness of the dangers of drug and alcohol use and the benefits of constructive behavior

Awareness: educating children and families about the harms of substance abuse

Taboo and fear for people with addiction problems and associated problems in the population must be broken

Knowledge and awareness about drug and alcohol consumption among the population and aid workers need to increase

Prevention (continuation) Provide mentoring and positive role modeling for

youth. Build social skills to enable the development of strong self-image that leads to positive life decisions

Promote good parenting skills and strengthen the family as the first defense against drug abuse. Parents: say ‘No’ to alcohol and drugs

Promote skills that allow individuals the potential of developing into contributing members of society

Educational material and age limit on alcohol purchase

Health promotion

Examples of statements from parents towards children Alcohol is good for the appetite

To let children buy alcoholic beverages

Consuming alcohol or drugs in front of children

Children are often together with parents in venues/places where alcohol is used

Drug prevention and information In providing the youth with information, the type of

approach is of critical importance.

Three different approaches can generally be distinguished.

Approaches 1. Warning approach:

The dangers of risky substances

2. Informative approach:

The use and effects of the various are considered

3. Person-oriented approach:

The focus of prevention is placed on the pupil and not on the drugs.

In this approach, knowledge of the various drugs, clarification of values, decision-making skills, resisting peer-groups pressure and increasing ones self-respect are all considered.

Conclusion

Clear positive effects of the person-oriented approach have been observed.

Research shows the enlargement of social skills in combination with the imparting of knowledge to be most effective.

Such an approach was therefore applied in developing the teaching materials for the project “The healthy school and drugs”. Source: Trimbos-Instituut.