Understanding Wellbeing

Week 4: Develop an Awareness of Substance Misuse

Develop an Awareness of Substance Misuse LO 1: Identify reasons for using (1.1) & factors from

someone’s background that may lead them to use (1.3) LO 2: Identify possible signs or symptoms (2.1) and give an

example of a sign or symptom that could be misleading (2.2) LO 3: Identify harmful effects and sources of support (3.1,

3.2, 3.3) RECAP from homework LO 4: Identify how stereotyping may affect users (4.1) LO 5: Outline media reporting and public perception (4.2) LO 6: Give 3 sources of information on drug use (4.3), and

outline governmental responses (4.4)Hand in Substance Misuse unit

Session 4 Objectives

Get yourselves in to 4 groups;

You will be given a hand-out for your group

Please keep the content of your hand-out private between your group

Place yourself far enough away from other groups so that they are not able to hear what you say (and talk quietly)

Complete your hand-out within your group – your responses will be shared

Icebreaker

What does this tell us about first

impressions?

Would you be surprised to learn . .

Work in pairs/groups of 3 to create a list of different substances that people may use/misuse.

You have 3 minutes to list as many as possible

Winners will receive CHOCOLATE!

What do you already know?

There are many different types of substances that can be misused. The following group task is designed to help you think about some of the most commonly used/misused . Work together to match up:

Work together and help each other out – answers will follow

Activity 1 - Different types of drugs…

Picture cards

Name cards

Effects cards

Almost all drugs that are commonly misused have an effect on the Central Nervous System (CNS). Different drugs have different effects and can be grouped into the following categories:

Now try to group your card sets into the above categories. Note: there is an odd one out – can you identify it?Steroids – Is a physio active drug which affects the hormones rather than the neurotransmitters like all the others.Poppers – No longer classed as a Psychoactive substance

Activity 2 - Different categories of drugs…

Category Name

Category Effect (generally)

Depressant Slow down CNS activity – sedative like effectAnalgesic Use the endorphin system to block pain signalsStimulant Speed up CNS activity Hallucinogen Distort sensory perception

Generally speaking types of drug use and misuse can be grouped into the following areas:

1. Experimentation 2. Recreation 3. Dependent 4. Prescribed (1.1)

An individual’s decision to use drugs may stem from any number of factors…

Work together to make a list of potential factors from a person’s background that may lead them to use drugs (1.3)

Activity 3 - Reasons for using…

Learned Behaviour(parents /

carers)

Social Deprivati

on (no jobs / poor

housing…)

Mental / Physical Health issues

Personality type (risk

taking…) Trauma (abuse / war…)

Complete page 9

Workbook

Activity 4 - Signs & Symptoms

There are a variety of signs or symptoms that may accompany substance misuse. It can be helpful to think about these signs and symptoms in 3 different categories:

1. Physical 2. Behavioural 3. SocialWork in groups to discuss and identify potential signs and symptoms of substance misuse in one of the categories above… (2.1)Physical Behavioural Social

Appearance of eyes Very chatty and loud Associating with usersRapid weight loss/gain Aggressive /

confrontationalBecoming withdrawn

Evidence of injecting (track marks)

Inappropriate (personal boundaries)

Missing school / work

Excessive sweating Uncoordinated movement

Attracting police attention

15 minutes = Plenty of time for a brew, chat, drink of

water, toilet visit

BREAK TIME

Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes; loud talking, inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness; loss of interest, motivation; weight gain or loss.

Depressants (including Xanax, Valium, GHB): Contracted pupils; drunk-like; difficulty concentrating; clumsiness; poor judgment; slurred speech; sleepiness.

Stimulants (including amphetamines, cocaine, crystal meth): Dilated pupils; hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability; anxiety; excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd times; may go long periods of time without eating or sleeping; weight loss; dry mouth and nose.

Inhalants (glues, aerosols, vapors): Watery eyes; impaired vision, memory and thought; secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and nausea; appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; changes in appetite; anxiety; irritability; lots of cans/aerosols in the trash.

Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP): Dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from people; absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.

Heroin: Contracted pupils; no response of pupils to light; needle marks; sleeping at unusual times; sweating; vomiting; coughing, sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite

Warning signs of commonly abused drugs

MYTH 1: Overcoming addiction is a simply a matter of willpower. You can stop using drugs if you really want to. Prolonged exposure to drugs alters the brain in ways that result in powerful cravings and a compulsion to use. These brain changes make it extremely difficult to quit by sheer force of will.

MYTH 2: Addiction is a disease; there’s nothing you can do about it. Most experts agree that addiction is a brain disease, but that doesn’t mean you’re a helpless victim. The brain changes associated with addiction can be treated and reversed through therapy, medication, exercise, and other treatments.

MYTH 3: Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can get better. Recovery can begin at any point in the addiction process—and the earlier, the better. The longer drug abuse continues, the stronger the addiction becomes and the harder it is to treat. Don’t wait to intervene until the addict has lost it all.

MYTH 4: You can’t force someone into treatment; they have to want help. Treatment doesn’t have to be voluntary to be successful. People who are pressured into treatment by their family, employer, or the legal system are just as likely to benefit as those who choose to enter treatment on their own. As they sober up and their thinking clears, many formerly resistant addicts decide they want to change.

MYTH 5: Treatment didn’t work before, so there’s no point trying again. Recovery from drug addiction is a long process that often involves setbacks. Relapse doesn’t mean that treatment has failed or that you’re a lost cause. Rather, it’s a signal to get back on track, either by going back to treatment or adjusting the treatment approach.

Five myths about drug abuse and addiction

Discuss in small groups;

3 possible signs or symptoms which could be misleading and what they may relate to instead of substance misuse (2.2)

Write some notes to present the information to the rest of the class

Some examples are… Loss of appetite with a medical problem, mood swings with adolescence, needle marks

with diabetics.

Activity 5 - Misleading signs or symptoms:

Complete page 10

Workbook

Identify harmful effects and sources of support (3.1, 3.2, 3.3)

You needed to complete the work on Page 11 of your portfolio or on a separate sheet of paper

We will share examples from information you found out

Re-Cap of homework task

Substance misuse can have many negative effects on the individual and on society. Sometimes substance misuse causes problems, sometimes it exacerbates existing problems…

Harmful effects

Health & Wellbeing

Social & Emotional

Economic

Individual Damage to mental health: depression, stress, anxiety

Risk of infection (blood borne viruses)

Potential for addiction

Emotional instability

Impact on family – breakdown in relationships

Problems at work or whilst studying

Job loss

Rent arrears or mortgage default (repossession)

Debt / no money for essentials

Society Increase in levels of mental illness (see above)

Increase in levels of physical ill health (CHD, Liver disease)

Strain on primary care services including A&E

Family break-ups & increased need for Social Services

Increased levels of social deprivation

Fear & mistrust in the community

Cost for Welfare system & Social ServicesCost on health servicesCost for criminal justice and regeneration

Total: £15.4bn per year

Fortunately there are places where people can go to get help and advice…

Where to get help…

Service Name / location Support details

Accrington

Integrated substance misuse service offering community based treatments

Blackburn

Residential 12-Step rehabilitation facility and aftercare service.Drop-in centre for active users (separate)

Covers East Lancashire

Substance misuse service for young people and their families

If you suspect that a friend or family member has a drug problem, here are a few things you can do: Speak up. Talk to the person about your concerns, and offer your help and

support, without being judgmental. The earlier addiction is treated, the better. Don’t wait for your loved one to hit bottom! Be prepared for excuses and denial by listing specific examples of your loved one’s behaviour that has you worried.

Take care of yourself. Don’t get so caught up in someone else’s drug problem that you neglect your own needs. Make sure you have people you can talk to and lean on for support. And stay safe. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.

Avoid self-blame. You can support a person with a substance abuse problem and encourage treatment, but you can’t force an addict to change. You can’t control your loved one’s decisions. Let the person accept responsibility for his or her actions, an essential step along the way to recovery for drug addiction. 

When a loved one has a drug problem

Attempt to punish, threaten, bribe, or preach. Try to be a martyr. Avoid emotional appeals that may only

increase feelings of guilt and the compulsion to use drugs. Cover up or make excuses for the drug abuser, or shield them

from the negative consequences of their behavior. Take over their responsibilities, leaving them with no sense of

importance or dignity. Hide or throw out drugs. Argue with the person when they are high. Take drugs with the drug abuser. Feel guilty or responsible for another's behaviour.

Adapted from: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information

Try not to...

Word association: ‘A drug user is…’Complete the hand-out with words often associated with drug usersWhat kind of impact might these negative stereotypes have an individual user?

Task: Find a media report that focuses on drug use and drug users.Read the report and consider how it could affect public attitudes towards drug users. Complete 4.2 (p12) in full sentences. Attach a copy of your article if possible. Use the internet to search for a suitable media report.

Activity 6 - Stereotyping & media reports

Angry & resentful

Isolated & withdraw

nLess likely

to seek helpRejected Damaged self-esteem

Negative perceptions (e.g. users are criminals, users have had a bad upbringing)

Positive perceptions (e.g. recognising substance misuse, availability of support and advice).

Effect of media reporting onperceptions:

There are a variety of sources that can be used to find out about the extent of substance misuse in society. In the UK these include: NHS Information Centre Home Office Crime Survey for England & Wales

(CSEW) Guardian & Mixmag Drug SurveyPage 13

Sources of information

Government Policy

Work in pairs and use the hand-out given to you. Read and understand the information to be able to put it in your own words (Pg 13)

Policy: a legislative document setting out a coherent approach that agencies and organisations can follow. This document will set out how the government intends to deal with legal controls, treatment methods and educational targets.

Control: this relates to the legal framework that dictates laws relating to the movement and use of drugs. The Misuse of Drugs Act is the main component in this category. It outlines what drugs are illegal and provides sentencing guidelines.

Treatment: these are the measures put in place to help people who are using drugs in a ‘problematic’ way. This can include community based and residential treatments.

Education: These are preventative measures put in place to try to improve people’s knowledge and help them make better decisions about not using or using more safely.

Ways to respond to substance misuse: Raise awareness of substance misuse,

recognise signs and symptoms, challenge stereotypes, provide advice and support, provide treatment and rehabilitation.

In a nutshell…

5 signs or symptoms of substance misuse

1 sign or symptom which might be misleading and why

3 sources of support for substance misuse

Recap

Choose at least 4 different kinds/brands of alcohol (lager, vodka, wine etc.)

Find out and take notes on the % of alcohol, amount of units (often found on the back) and the quantity (ml) of those alcoholic drinks

Bring your notes back in to class next week to share with others and help you make a start on checking how many units are in 1 shot/glass/pint

Homework