Who am I?Who am I?

A presentation for elementary and middle school - grade 5 and 6.Courtesy of Impact DWI

Which is the most complex thing in the Universe? Could it Which is the most complex thing in the Universe? Could it be a Black Hole in Space? The ring around Saturn? A be a Black Hole in Space? The ring around Saturn? A

Space Shuttle? A Super Computer?Space Shuttle? A Super Computer?

The most complicated and mysterious thing in the universe is an organ that resemble a jellylike mass of fat and protein weighing about 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms). It is one of the body's biggest organs, consisting of some 100 billion nerve cells.

It floats in a liquid solution surrounded by a fine weave composed by several delicate veins that resembles the formation of a spider web. It has a gelatin consistency when touched.

It is so smooth that one can easily push a finger in this consistency.

It is your BrainIt is your Brain

Photo is a courtesy of 3D Science.com

Your Brain in ActionYour Brain in Action

You are your Brain...You are your Brain...

It is your imagination, thoughts, memories, andIt is your imagination, thoughts, memories, andyour dreams. your dreams.

Your Brain makes you into Who You Are!Your Brain makes you into Who You Are!

Your brain controls several functions that you are not Your brain controls several functions that you are not even aware of.even aware of.

Emotions

Thoughts

Speech

HearingHearingHeart rate and Heart rate and Blood PressureBlood Pressure

Balance and Balance and CoordinationCoordination

VisionVision

Learning and MemoryLearning and Memory

Movement

Why do we need our BrainsWhy do we need our Brains??

The brain is responsible for everything that you are The brain is responsible for everything that you are able to do. It is the boss of your body.able to do. It is the boss of your body.

Each part of your body conducts an action solely Each part of your body conducts an action solely supported by the brain. supported by the brain.

Such as your senses - seeing, hearing, smelling, Such as your senses - seeing, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting food. All of these provides the touching and tasting food. All of these provides the brain with information.brain with information.

The brain receives information, makes a decision The brain receives information, makes a decision and sends messages to the rest of the body.and sends messages to the rest of the body.

The Brain and its Connections.The Brain and its Connections.

The brain's nerve cells are known as neurons, which make up the organ's so-called "gray matter."

The neurons transmit and gather electrochemical signals that are communicated via a network of millions of nerve fibers called dendrites and axons.

These are the brain's "white matter."

Neurons are similar to other cells in the human body in a number of ways, but there is one key difference between neurons and other cells. Neurons are specialized to transmit information throughout the body.

These highly specialized nerve cells are responsible for communicating information in both chemical and electrical forms.

Alcohol and Drugs Damages an Alcohol and Drugs Damages an Adolescent’s Developing BrainAdolescent’s Developing Brain

Alcohol and Drugs have a great Alcohol and Drugs have a great impact on Brain Developmentimpact on Brain Development

Young people who begin drinking before the age of 15, are Young people who begin drinking before the age of 15, are five five timestimes more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who wait until they are 21.who wait until they are 21.

Since an adolescent’s brain is still developing, teens who drink Since an adolescent’s brain is still developing, teens who drink heavily are more likely to significantly lower their mental heavily are more likely to significantly lower their mental abilities than adults who drink heavily.abilities than adults who drink heavily.

Research shows that a teen’s brain is more easily damaged Research shows that a teen’s brain is more easily damaged than an adult’s brain in the areas that regulate the storage of than an adult’s brain in the areas that regulate the storage of memories.memories.

Exposure to substances that Exposure to substances that inhibit cell growthinhibit cell growth can have a can have a devastating effect on the developing brain.devastating effect on the developing brain.

Alcohol and other Drugs Alcohol and other Drugs limits the Brain’s ability to form new limits the Brain’s ability to form new pathways and connectionspathways and connections that are essential to learning and that are essential to learning and memory. memory.

Age 12During adolescence, the brain is undergoing a lot of changes. Gray matter diminishes as neural connections are pruned.

Age 16Because the Brain is still developing, it is more sensitive to alcohol and drugs.

Age 20The Changes that alcohol and drugs causes are more likely to stick and become hardwired as addiction by adulthood.

These brain images show how alcohol may harm These brain images show how alcohol may harm

teen mental function.teen mental function.

Both were given the same memory task.The image on the right shows poor brain activity – indicated by the lack of pink

and red coloring.

Reference: SUSAN TAPERT, PHD, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.Reference: SUSAN TAPERT, PHD, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

15 year old non drinker

15 year old heavy drinker

Peer PressurePeer PressurePeer pressure is the feeling of being influenced to do Peer pressure is the feeling of being influenced to do

something you wouldn’t usually do because your peers something you wouldn’t usually do because your peers are doing it.are doing it.

Reachout.com

What can you do about it?

Peer pressure can be a major factor influencing Peer pressure can be a major factor influencing your decision to use drugs and drink alcohol.your decision to use drugs and drink alcohol.

30% of teens are offered drugs in high school and middle 30% of teens are offered drugs in high school and middle school. school. (Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base)(Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base)

3.1 million American teens smoke. 3.1 million American teens smoke. (American Lung Association)(American Lung Association)

25% of teens have been involved in at least one episode of 25% of teens have been involved in at least one episode of binge drinking. binge drinking. (The Center for Disease Control and Prevention)(The Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

The Kaiser Foundation states that nearly 50% of adolescents The Kaiser Foundation states that nearly 50% of adolescents between the ages of 12 - 18 feel pressured into having sex in between the ages of 12 - 18 feel pressured into having sex in relationships.relationships.

Say “no”. Having the courage to say “no” can be Say “no”. Having the courage to say “no” can be tough, but, it can also feel great to stick with what tough, but, it can also feel great to stick with what

you believe in.you believe in.

Value common interests. Try and hang out with people who do Value common interests. Try and hang out with people who do like doing similar stuff to you. It sounds obvious, but you’re like doing similar stuff to you. It sounds obvious, but you’re less likely to feel pressured to do things you don’t want to.less likely to feel pressured to do things you don’t want to.

Say no. If you’re finding it hard to work up the guts to say no to Say no. If you’re finding it hard to work up the guts to say no to something, you should know that sticking up for what you something, you should know that sticking up for what you believe in feels really good. If you can explain to people in a believe in feels really good. If you can explain to people in a calm way why something‘s not for you, more often than not, calm way why something‘s not for you, more often than not, you’ll gain their respect. you’ll gain their respect.

Try not to judge others. Respecting someone else’s choice may Try not to judge others. Respecting someone else’s choice may help them respect yours. People don’t have to agree on help them respect yours. People don’t have to agree on everything, and understanding that’s ok will mean both parties everything, and understanding that’s ok will mean both parties are likely to be less defensive about their choices.are likely to be less defensive about their choices.

Reachout.com

Simple tips on how to say NO

Always speak with confidence! Any signs of weakness and the person pressuring will continue until they have won the battle!

I don’t feel like it, do you have any

soda?

No thanks, I don’t drink.

Smoking is NOT my thing.

Leave quickly.“Got to run some

errands for my parents, want to

help?”

“I really don’t like the taste of it”

This makes me feel uncomfortable."

Girls health.com

Classroom Activity.Classroom Activity.Practice Resistance Skills.Practice Resistance Skills.

? ?

The majority of teens are NOTThe majority of teens are NOTusing Drugs or Alcohol.using Drugs or Alcohol.They are engaged in activities They are engaged in activities that makes them happy.that makes them happy.

Drinking and Driving is a Risky BusinessDrinking and Driving is a Risky Business

In 2011, 9,878 people died in drunk driving crashes - one every 53 minutes .

Almost every 90 seconds, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash.

Over 1.2 million drivers were arrested in 2011 for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

An average drunk driver has driven drunk 80 times before first arrest.

On average, one in three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime.

MADD - NHTSA

How can You stop a friend or a family member How can You stop a friend or a family member from Drunk or Drugged Driving?from Drunk or Drugged Driving?

To stop to a friend or family member from driving To stop to a friend or family member from driving under the influence of the alcohol or drugs can be under the influence of the alcohol or drugs can be one of the most important decisions you will ever one of the most important decisions you will ever make. But to convince an impaired person is not make. But to convince an impaired person is not always easy as it sounds.always easy as it sounds.

Find the keys while he or Find the keys while he or she is distracted and take she is distracted and take them away. them away.

Be as non-confrontational Be as non-confrontational as possible. as possible.

Explain that you don’t want Explain that you don’t want them to drive because you them to drive because you care and you don’t want care and you don’t want them to hurt themselves or them to hurt themselves or others.others.

Ask someone you trust for Ask someone you trust for help.help.

If you are a child and If you are a child and have no choice but to ride in a have no choice but to ride in a car with a driver who is impaired…car with a driver who is impaired…

Sit in the back seat.Sit in the back seat. Buckle-up tight and use your booster seat, if needed.Buckle-up tight and use your booster seat, if needed. Put all of your belongings on the floor.Put all of your belongings on the floor. Do not bother the driver and stay quiet.Do not bother the driver and stay quiet. Tell a trusted grown-up immediately about any Tell a trusted grown-up immediately about any

unsafe ride.unsafe ride.

MADD

Questions?Questions?

For more information on Drugs and Alcohol, visit our site at:For more information on Drugs and Alcohol, visit our site at:www.pedaforteens.org