Mentor Resources
CIS mentors receive ongoing mentor development training so they are better prepared to offer the support and encouragement our students need and deserve.
Drug Use
On March 8, Ellen Elliott, a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist and Director of the LifeSkills Counseling Center, spoke to our mentors and community members on drug use in children and teens.
Here’s a recap of what she covered:
Speaking with Students About Drugs and Alcohol
It is important to open the lines of communication and education at an early age; 4th & 5th grade is a great time to begin talking about drug use with students
Students are often more likely to talk with you as their mentor than they are to talk to a parent
Use any opportunity you can to bring up the topic with your student (example: vitamins – why it’s important to take only one a day as directed, how an overdose can be dangerous, etc.)
Acknowledge that we are a pill-popping society – taking a pill is the answer to so many of life’s situations that drug use is difficult for children to understand as a bad thing
Teach children that “your decisions matter” when it comes to choices regarding drugs and alcohol
Talk about low-risk decisions, the consequences/outcomes of different decisions, as well as the side-effects and dangers of drugs
With teenagers, it is especially important to talk about the future and how it can be affected by choices made now
Encourage students to make their own decisions, and not just follow what their friends and/or family say and do
It is very important to give students the praise they deserve because you know they can make good decisions
Expect the best from your students – they respond to and appreciate you putting your faith in them
Students should be aware that there is evidence of a genetic predisposition to addiction in some cases
Why do students try drugs?
Genetic predisposition
Insecurity
Peer Pressure
General Signs of Drug Use:
Becoming disrespectful
Verbally/physically abusive
Frequently angry
Paranoia
Confusion
Extreme mood swings
Real trouble coping with normal life problems
Stealing and/or losing possessions
Skipping school
Sneaking out of the home
Depressed
Loss of interest in friends
Loss of appetite & weight loss/gain
Unusually unmotivated or hyper
Types of Drugs Commonly Used by Students
DXM - Most common starting age: elementary-age students; Found in over 100 types of cough medicines; Very easy for students to obtain; High doses can be extremely dangerous; Effects: confusion, dizziness, slurred speech, lack of physical coordination; If an individual consumes too much DXM, hallucinations, loss of motor skills, and out-of-body dissociative experiences can occur
Inhalants - Most common starting age: 8 to 9 years old; One of the most common ways for students to begin using drugs; Signs of Inhalant Use: red or runny nose, sores or rash around the mouth and nose area, chronic cough, frequent headaches, memory loss, lack of concentration, paint stains on skin, white-out on nails, changes in personal hygiene habits, mood swings, sudden weight loss, withdrawal from friends; Sources: canned air, whipped cream cans, paint
Prescription Medications – As of March 2009, prescription medications were identified as the most common “first drug” for young people; Some students may refer to recreational use of prescription medications at “Skittles Parties” or “Pharm Parties”; Prescription medications taken recreationally may be referred to as “Trail Mix”; Most common starting age: 12 years old; The fastest growing category of drug use; 45% of students abusing Prescription Medications get them from their own home; Vicodin and Hydrocodone are the most commonly prescribed prescriptions in America – they are actually easier for students to obtain than marijuana; This is a difficult addiction to treat because it is a challenge to separate the student from the source when the source is their home medicine cabinet; Greatest risk with prescription drugs is an overdose that will result in death
Tobacco – Most common starting age: Middle School; Most adults who smoke started smoking between the ages of 14 and 16; The concern with tobacco is not so much an overdose as it is the addictive nature and the long-term effects on the body
Marijuana – The most commonly abused illegal drug; Most common starting age: 14 years old; 62% of teens admitted to treatment centers are there for marijuana use; Commonly referred to as a ‘gateway drug’; Signs of Marijuana Use: distinct smell, loss of interest in life, difficulty setting goals, lack of involvement; Amotivational Syndrome” has been associated with marijuana use and is said to be characterized by diminished interest in social activities; “K2” is a relatively new product marketed as incense that can be smoked. It is reported to have effects similar to the high that comes from marijuana use
Stimulants – Most common starting age: high school; Most commonly seen among college students; A synthetic drug currently being marketed as “Bath Salts” is reported to have effects similar to cocaine when snorted or injected. The salts, which have names such as “Vanilla Sky,” “Ivory,” and “Purple Wave,” are commonly sold in convenience stores
Alcohol – Most common starting age: high school; Most students try alcohol for the first time at their own home; The trend lately among students is less alcohol use and more prescription drug abuse; Advertisements for alcohol always show people have fun and never show any consequences; Alcoholic energy beverages such as Four Loko are reportedly common among younger drinkers due to flavors and attractive packaging; Though many of the drinks are in the process of being banned, they are widely available and can be dangerous due to the fact that the stimulants in them cause the drinker to feel less drunk than they actually are
Drug Use at Home
-Kids often protect their parents and may not talk about drug use at home
-Students need to know they can trust you
-Don’t make promises you can’t keep – as in, don’t say you won’t tell anyone
-Focus on the feelings and safety of the student
-Younger children may not understand that drug use is wrong if they have grown up seeing it as a normal part of life
-Talk about different life choices and how what they see at home is not always the only way of life
Visit www.acde.org/educate to find age-appropriate exercises to help you teach students make good choices regarding drug use.
Other Resources:
Time to Talk – www.timetotalk.org
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) – www.drugabuse.gov