8th Chapter 11: Lesson 11.3 Preventing and Treating Medication and Drug Abuse pg.

Why Do Some People Misuse and Abuse Medications and Drugs?

people's risk for using, misusing, and abusing substances. People whose family members experienced addiction are at greater risk for developing an addiction themselves. A person's genetic makeup can also affect personality traits, like curiosity and , that cause them to experiment with medications and drugs.

Choosing not to or medications and drugs can be challenging for young people. This is especially true when their environment exposes them to drugs and the pressures of trying them (Figure 11.18). For example, if a young person’s family member, friend, or role model misuses or abuses medications or drugs, the person may copy that .

Preventing Medication and Drug Misuse and Abuse

and misuse and abuse have health consequences and can lead to substance use . Abusing and misusing these substances function, and a young person’s brain is still developing (Figure 11.19). Preventing early medication and drug abuse can help prevent serious health .

Promote Mental Health

One way to and drug misuse and abuse is to care for your mental and emotional health. Poorly managed stress can lead to , depression, and other health conditions. conditions and illnesses and stress increase a person’s risk for medication and drug abuse. When people misuse or abuse medication or drugs to deal with mental health conditions, they only make them worse. When substance use occur together with other mental illnesses, they are called co-occurring disorders.

Avoid Risky Situations

Certain situations carry more for misusing and abusing medications or drugs. For example, people sometimes use drugs at parties. Spending time with someone who misuses or abuses medications or drugs can also put you at risk. To these situations, choose not to go to parties where drugs are present. Make friends with people who share your values about medication and drug misuse and abuse.

Think Ahead

Sometimes it can be hard to say no when someone offers you drugs. In a surprise situation, you might forget what you want to say. Planning ahead can reduce this risk. Before you get into this , plan how you will say no. What will you say? What will you do if the person keeps asking you? What will you do to get out of the situation? through this plan with a trusted adult can help. As you think ahead, consider how you can protect yourself from exposure to medication and drugs. Only accept medications from your parent or guardian, doctor, or . At parties, do not let anyone else pour you a drink and do not leave your drink alone. At home, store medications in their original, closed containers and talk with your or guardian before taking a medication.

Using Refusal Skills

are strategies you can use to stand up to pressures and influences that want you to engage in unhealthy behaviors. Knowing how to respond and what to say if someone offers you medications or drugs can help you avoid them (Figure 11.20). For example, one for refusing drugs is to be direct and say in a firm, but polite way, “No thanks, I don’t use drugs.” Another strategy is to provide an excuse, such as “I don’t want to try drugs because my parents will ground me if I do.”

If you continue to feel to use drugs, you might ask the person pressuring you to stop. Remember that real friends respect each other’s choices. Let the person know that you need friends who will respect your decision. If the person to accept this, you may need to stop spending time with that person.

You may feel pressured to use drugs because it seems like everyone is doing it, but this is not true. Many young people have never tried drugs and have to living a drug-free lifestyle. A good rule is to make friends with people who share your values and become one another’s . You may want to make new friends by getting involved in activities that promote health and wellness.

Educate and Advocate

Unfortunately, many young people do not understand how quickly misuse or abuse can lead to addiction. young people about health hazards can help medication and drug misuse and abuse.

Schools play a role in preventing medication and drug misuse and abuse. Many schools have substance-abuse prevention programs to help . Studies show that medication and drug misuse and abuse are less common among students who participate in these programs. prevention programs explain the short- and long-term effects of medication and drug misuse and abuse. In addition, school policies and regulations exist to eliminate drug use on school property.

Certain groups and programs increase public awareness about medication and drug abuse. For example, the and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) create public service announcements (PSAs) for TV, radio, and the Internet. A public service announcement (PSA) is a media message to support . You may have seen some PSA videos on TV, in movie previews, or on the Internet.

The AWARxE Drug Safety Program spreads awareness about prescription medication abuse. The program teaches people valuable skills, such as how to use, store, and of medications safely (Figure 11.21).

Treating Medication and Drug Misuse and Abuse

When people use, misuse, or , drugs, and other substances, they may need to seek medical treatment for side effects, including those of overdose. and education about the dangers of medication and drug abuse can also help the person stop these risky behaviors.

Without treatment, people who misuse and abuse medications and drugs, including substances like marijuana or drugs, often develop a substance use disorder, which is a mental illness. People with a substance use disorder cannot fix themselves. They need help from their , which can include family, friends, and professionals, such as counselors. Even after breaking an addiction, many people struggle to manage their addiction throughout their lives.

Often, the first step in treating a use disorder is getting help from a rehabilitation program. In these programs, begin treatment by overseeing the process of detoxification (which clears all medications or drugs from a person’s body). Programs may be residential or outpatient (Figure 11.22). In treatment programs, people get through the early stages of breaking an addiction in an inpatient environment with lots of support and few distractions. An treatment program may provide education or counseling without requiring a hospital stay.

Helping Someone with a Substance Use Disorder

is a serious and sometimes scary situation. If you want to help someone you know who has a substance use disorder, or who uses, misuses, or abuses medications, drugs, or other substances, you should first get support for yourself. You do not need to do this alone. Talk to a parent or guardian, doctor, , or . These trusted adults can often provide advice and guidance for helping someone who has an addiction. They can also step in to get the person .

How do you know if someone is misusing or abusing medications or drugs? Possible signs are shown in Figure 11.24.

Figure 11.24

Warning Signs of Medication or Drug Misuse or Abuse

• of interest in school

• Change in or personality

• Trouble in class

• Change in habits

• Change in habits

• Hanging out with a new group of who abuse medications or drugs

• money or belongings to get money for medications or drugs