Substance Use
Mackenzie Thompon
Created on October 12, 2023
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Transcript
Substance Use/Addiction: America's Dangerous Epidemic
By: Mackenzie Thompson
Index
7. Taking Action
6. Prevention/Treatment
5. Crime
4. Academic Achievement
3. Mental Health
2. Statistics
8. Sources
1. Background
Background Knowledge
Substance Use/Addiction
- A chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, continued despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain
- Complex brain disorder and mental illness that typically begins during adolescence
- Recognized as significant problem in teens and adolescents for the past 40 years
- Impacts mental health, academic achievement, and crime rates
Statsitics
Recent Research
- Reports show illegal drug use is rising in the teenage age group
- 14 is the average age for a teenager's first time using marijuana
- 40% of experimental smokers between the ages 14-18 eventually transitioned into daily smokers
- In 2016, about 64,000 Americans died from a drug overdose
Mental Health
Effects on the Brain
- Heavy drinking causes the frontal lobes to shrink, impairing decision-making skills
- Affects hippocampus, which is in charge of memory and learning
- Leads to depression, anxiety, and even suicide
- Dopamine in the brain leaves users wanting more, causing an adidction
- Leads to the feeling of depression and lifelessness
Academic Achievement
Substance Use and Academics
- Substance abuse impairs cognitive development, reducing academic achievement
- Disrupts progress made in the classroom
- Decrease brain functioning affects individuals emotionally, cognitively, and mentally
- All necessary for being active learners
- Leads to association with antisocial groups, which diminishes engagement in schools
- Increases behavioral and social issues
Crime Rates
Criminal Activity
- Statistics show correlation between juvenile crime and substance use
- Due to increased anger, outbreaks, and aggression
- In a study, out of 487 juveniles, 86,44% of them had a history of drug use
- Cocaine, inhalants, illicit drugs, cannabis, and opiods increases the chance of teens commiting crimes
- Creates changes in personality
- Individuals who were once caring and determined people, are now manipulative and liars.
Prevention & Treatment
Supporting the Youth
- Studies have found research-based programs can significantly reduce early use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs
- Customized for each individual victim
- Educating the youth about substance abuse
- Includes the harm it can cause and sharing images so teens can make more informed decisions
- D.A.R.E is a school-based prevention program
- Focuses on peer relationshos, devleloping refusal techniques, and enhancing coping mechanisms
Supporting the Youth Continued...
- Make personal changes
- Find new coping strategies such as physical exercise, listening to music, hanging with friends, etc.
- Find new ways to handle stress
- Surround yourself with different people
- Ask a friend, parent, or trusted adult to keep yourself accountable
- Make those difficult decisions to live a life of sobriety
Taking Action
The Time Has Come
- Help take action to save the lives and future of our youth
- Fight for more public policies to end the substance use epidemic
- Our job as a community is to protect its citizens
- We can do this by confronting the problem and supporting programs
- If we work together, there will come a day where this epidemic will decrease significantly
Sources
Works Cited
B. Lindgren, & Michael Grossman. (2005). Substance Use : Individual Behavior, Social Interaction, Markets and Politics. JAI Press Inc.Donna B. McKinney. (2021). Substance Addiction. Essential Library.Gordon, S. M. (2019). Teens and Addiction. ReferencePoint Press.Lawrence M. Scheier, & William B. Hansen. (2014). Parenting and Teen Drug Use : The Most Recent Findings From Research, Prevention, and Treatment. Oxford University Press.Sharma, S., Sharma, G., & Barkataki, B. (2016). Substance use and criminality among juveniles-under-enquiry in New Delhi. Indian journal of psychiatry. Sheri Mabry Bestor. (2013). Substance Abuse : The Ultimate Teen Guide. Scarecrow Press.