MODULE 2

• Effects of drug use and abuse on the family

  • Broken and unhappy family ties
  • Ignored duties and responsibilities
  • Financial constraint due to drug dependence and addiction
  • The high cost of drug treatment and rehabilitation
  • Family dishonor and embarrassment
  • Separation of family members
• Effects of drug use and abuse on the school

  • Poor academic performance
  • Increased rate of absenteeism and tardiness
  • Increased incidence of school fights
  • Low academic achievement rate
  • Incidence of disrespect to school authorities
• Effects of drug use and abuse on the community

  • High incidence of crime which includes stealing, robbery, and snatching
  • High incidence of accidents, e.g. road accidents, accidental falling, etc.
  • Affected economy due to low manpower production
  • Loss of government funds due to drug-related operations, treatment, and rehabilitation
• Social and economic consequences of substance use

  Substance use results in great financial losses which may be due to health risks or associated crimes and delinquency. Families and government systems may suffer from supporting individuals who cannot financially support themselves due to substance use. Health care costs may also be a burden since drug users are at a high risk of meeting accidents and acquiring chronic illnesses such as heart disease and HIV due to high-risk behaviors. Substance users may be in trouble with the law due to stealing to support the substance use or sometimes due to violent behavior.
• Psychological consequence of substance use

  Because of stigma, substance users commonly develop low self-esteem and other mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Because of this poor self-worth, substance users may further isolate themselves and become unproductive members of society.
• Socio-cultural factors that put people at risk for addiction

  • The Bonding Experience
  • Relief from Stress
  • Sense of Community
  • The Allure of Rebelling
  • Lifestyle Appeal
• Basic Prevention Strategies

  Information Dissemination
• Lifestyle Appeal


  Sometimes individuals find the lifestyle of the substance abuser to be appealing, perhaps even glamorous. Observers will notice the way a community of substance abusers dress, the music they listen to, what they do for fun, their attitude toward structure and responsibility, and find this lifestyle appealing.
• Information Dissemination

  Provides awareness and knowledge of the nature and extent of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, abuse, and addiction and their effects on individuals, families, and communities, as well as information to increase perceptions of risk. It also provides knowledge and awareness of prevention policies, programs, and services. It helps set and reinforce norms (for example, underage drinking and drug dealers will not be tolerated in this neighborhood).
• Prevention Education


  Aims to affect critical life and social skills, including decision making, refusal skills, critical analysis (for example, of media messages), and systematic and judgmental abilities.
• Alternatives


  Provides for the participation of targeted populations in activities that exclude alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by youth. Constructive and healthy activities offset the attraction to, or otherwise meet the needs usually filled by, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.
• Problem Identification and Referral


  Calls for identification, education, and counseling for those youth who have indulged in age-inappropriate use of tobacco products or alcohol, or who have indulged in the first use of illicit drugs. Activities under this strategy would include screening for tendencies toward substance abuse and referral for preventive treatment for curbing such tendencies.
• Community-Based Process


  Aims to enhance the ability of the community to provide prevention and treatment services to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use disorders more effectively. Activities include organizing, planning, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness of services implementation, interagency collaboration, coalition building, and networking. Building healthy communities encourages healthy lifestyle choices.
• Environmental Approach


  Sets up or changes written and unwritten community standards, code, and attitudes–influencing incidence and prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use problems in the general population. Included are laws to restrict availability and access, price increases, and community-wide actions.
• Voluntary


  The drug-dependent decides on his own to be examined and admitted to rehabilitation centers.
• Voluntary thru representations


  The drug dependent is willing but wants to be represented by an immediate family member or legal guardian.
• Compulsory confinement


  The drug-dependent needs to be confined as the condition is life-threatening or threatens the life of the family.
• Steps of securing drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation

  1. Secure referral form for Drug Dependency Exam at CADAC of Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

  2. Have the drug-dependent examined by a DOH accredited doctor.

  3. If drug dependence is found positive, DDE must be submitted with the other documents to the Legal Affairs Division of DDB.

  4. A "Petition for Confinement" shall be filed with the RTC where the drug-dependent lives.

  5. Decision of place of confinement.
• Steps to strengthen decision-making skills

  1. Describe the situation you are in

  2. List possible actions for the situation.

  3. Share your list with responsible adults.

  4. Carefully evaluate all possible actions.

  5. Choose which action is most responsible and suitable.

  6. Act responsibly and intelligently
• Steps to practice resistance skills in saying "NO" to drugs

  1. What is the problem? Say, "What is Wrong?"

  2. What could happen? Say, "Would it make you feel bad if you do it?

  3. What are the ways of saying, NO. Say, "No. I'm not interested"