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- Substance abuse refers to the use of substances in ways other than the use for which they were intended and in a way that could cause harm. Substances most commonly abused include drugs, inhalants, and alcohol. Substance abuse also refers to the use of illegal drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana.
- Substance abuse can harm individuals physically and emotionally. The behaviour of substance abusers is harmful to families and society.
- Children and young people may abuse substances for a number of reasons: to reduce stress, to feel good, to satisfy their curiosity, to feel they are grown up, and to fit in. Young people who live in stressful circumstances or have limited opportunities may be more vulnerable to substance abuse.
- There are a number of types of behaviour that could indicate substance abuse. It is important to notice any drastic changes in behaviour early.
- There are a number of ways that we can guide in a positive direction child’s thoughts and attitudes toward substance abuse.
- One of the most important ways to help children not to abuse substances is to set a good example.
- It is important that we are aware of our own experiences, beliefs, and values regarding substance abuse if we are going to be effective in counseling children and young people.
- Children and young people who are busy with interesting activities are less likely to be drawn into substance abuse. When you are planning events for them, there are steps you can take to make sure the events are free of drugs and alcohol.
- If a young person is addicted to a substance, the problem may be too much for you to handle alone. It is important to know the resources that exist in your community for help with substance abuse.
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Question 1
What do we mean by substance abuse?
Question 2
List at least three long-term effects of using inhalants such as glue, paint thinner, and petrol.
Question 3
One of the young people you are working with has become very moody and unpredictable. He has also started neglecting his appearance. You wonder if he might be abusing substances. List at least five other signs that could indicate that he is engaged in substance abuse.
Question 4
Your sister (or daughter) has just had her first baby, a little boy. She comes to you to ask for advice about how to raise a child who will not become involved in substance abuse. What will you tell her?
Question 5
You have considerable evidence that a child you know has been abusing alcohol. You decide to talk with her. You know that you will need to stay calm, tell her what you have noticed that makes you suspect alcohol abuse, and listen to what she has to say. What types of behaviour should you avoid while you are talking with her?
Question 6
You decide to plan an event for the young people in your group and you want to ensure that it is substance-free. List at least three things you will need to remember to do.
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Assessment Feedback (Click here to reveal)
Model answers to self-assessment exercise:
Question 1
Substance abuse is the misuse of substances such as inhalants, alcohol, or drugs or the use of illegal drugs such as cocaine.
Question 2
Any of the following can result from long-term use of inhalants:
- Careless behaviour in potentially dangerous settings.
- Headaches.
- Muscle weakness.
- Abdominal pain.
- Decrease or loss of sense of smell.
- Nausea and nosebleeds.
- Hepatitis.
- Violent behaviour.
- Irregular heartbeat.
- Liver, lung, and kidney impairment.
- Irreversible brain damage.
- Nervous system damage.
- Death.
Question 3
Any of the following types of behaviour could be associated with substance abuse:
- Smell of alcohol, smoke, or other chemicals (for example, glue) on the child’s breath or clothing.
- Obvious drunkenness, dizziness, or strange behaviour.
- Change in dress, appearance, and grooming.
- Frequent arguments and unexplained violent actions.
- Change in eating and sleeping patterns.
- Skipping school.
- Failing grades.
- Runaway and delinquent behaviour.
- Suicide attempts.
- Abrupt changes—lowered levels of discipline.
- Unusual flare-ups or outbreaks of temper.
- Withdrawal from responsibility.
- General changes in overall attitude.
- Wearing of sunglasses at inappropriate times.
- Continual wearing of long-sleeved garments (particularly in hot weather) or reluctance to wear short-sleeved attire when appropriate.
- Association with known substance abusers.
- Unusual borrowing of money from friends.
- Stealing small items from home or school.
- Secretive behaviour regarding actions and possessions.
- Poorly concealed attempts to avoid attention and suspicion such as frequent trips to storage rooms, restroom, basement, etc.
- Difficulty focusing. Glazed appearance of the eyes.
- Loss of memory (blackouts).
- Availability and consumption of abused substance becomes the focus.
- Changes in peer-group associations and friendships.
- Impaired interpersonal relationships (unexplainable termination of deep relationships and/or alienation from close family members).
Question 4
There is no way to guarantee that a child will not abuse substances. However, there are many things you can do to guide children’s thoughts and behaviour about substance abuse. These include:
- Being a good role model, not abusing substances yourself.
- Talking honestly about substances with the child.
- Really listening to the child and showing that you value his/her ideas and opinions.
- Giving the child lots of encouragement.
- Helping the child develop strong values.
- Setting a good example.
- Helping the child deal with peer pressure and need for acceptance.
- Making rules that help the child say “no.”
- Encouraging healthy, creative activities.
- Knowing what to do if you suspect the child of abusing substances.
- Taking part in the child’s life by going to sports, community, and school events together, playing games together, knowing what he/she is doing in school, who his/her friends are, and where he/she is.
- Encouraging children to support one another to lead healthy lifestyles.
Question 5
Some types of behaviour you will want to avoid when talking to the child are:
- Blaming
- Lecturing
- Name-calling
- Threatening
- Reassuring
- Advice-giving
Question 6
To help make sure that an event is substance-free, you can:
- Plan in advance.
- Visit the venue.
- Arrange for supervision.
- Prepare a participant’s list.
- Set starting and ending times.
- Set the rules for the event.
- Know that you are responsible.
- Make your presence felt.
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Addiction: A compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance.
Hallucination: The perception that one sees an object that is not there.
Inhalants: Substances that are sniffed to intoxicate the user immediately, such as petrol, glue, and paint thinner.
Substance abuse: The misuse of substances that may have legitimate uses but can cause harm when misused; for example, drugs, alcohol, or glue. |
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