America’s teens have so much potential. Current and future leaders, creators, healers, nourishers, and world changers in every family, classroom and community. However, it is too often that these incredible possibilities are cut short due to drug and or alcohol use. Accidents, disease, and distraction from pursuing life goals all disrupt their path to the greatness their peers achieve. Unfortunately, some lose their lives.
March 18 - 24 is National Drug andAlcohol Facts Week. The initiative is from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and this year’s theme is ‘SHATTER THE MYTHS,’about drugs and drug use. The initiative seeks to link teens to facts about drugs, alcohol, and addiction in their communities. Another goal is to reduce and prevent the negative effects of caused by these substances. Visit teens.drugabuse.gov to find the NDAFW link and get more information.
Using substances despite having negative consequences from doing so is the hallmark symptom of substance use disorder, at any age.
“He failed another test, yet he seems not to care. I caught him smoking Marijuana in the garage. He gets so angry when I bring it up.” “She’s changed friends and keeps making bad choices. She came home drunk last night. We’re at our wits end.” “Two DUI’s and he’s still drinking. Is he ever going to change?” “She’s about to lose her kids. Why won’t she stop taking the pills?”
These are examples of people who are having difficulty thinking, making decisions, and controlling their actions. For loved ones and outside observers, it’s heartbreaking, exasperating, and seems unexplainable.
Research has come up with an explanation: Persons with Substance Use Disorder have a brain disease.
An excerpt from the National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week materials talks about the definition of substance use disorder. “Addiction is a brain disease that results from repeated use of a substance. This causes changes in the reward circuitry of the brain and makes the inhibitory circuitry of the prefrontal cortex less strong. This leads to compulsive use of the drug despite the negative impact that compulsive use has on a person’s life.
“ It goes on to say, “The prefrontal cortex helps you think, make decisions, and control your actions.”
The materials promoted during National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week help teens learn that not all substances act in the same way, and not every person reacts to those substances in the same way either. Having good information is incredibly important but spurring conversations between teens and their peers, their parents, their teachers, and others in their lives who care for them is the main goal of National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week.
It’s also important for teens and parents to know that the drugs currently available to them may be incredibly different from the drugs their parents experienced. Trends in drug use have been toward more concentrated dosages or more readily absorbed means of taking them.
Examples include Fentanyl versus Oxycontin versus Heroin, Marijuana concentrates and vaping THC oil versus leaf, etc. Parents and grandparents sharing “When I was a kid, we . . . .,” may no longer be applicable.
We all want to fight for our kids and equip them to make good decisions. How can we do that? Set an example for your kids and make it clear to them that you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse.
Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success by being engaged with them purposefully. Show kids that you’re a reliable source of information about alcohol and other drugs. Show you’re paying attention, and you’ll discourage risky behaviors. And finally, build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use.
Again, please visit teens. drugabuse.gov for information about National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week and free resources. For more information on preventing teen drug and alcohol use, as well as where to find help and treatment for substance use disorder, please visit www. okimready.org .
To find out more information about the local prevention efforts in your community please visit https://www.swoda.org/ substance-use-prevention- treatment-and-rec overy/prevention/ odmhsas or contact kendra@swoda.org and she will get you connected to the coordinator in your area.
This program is funded by Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, SWODA, and local coalition.