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promoting drug alcohol free lifestyle: casey fratzola

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promoting drug alcohol free lifestyle: casey fratzola

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For the Promoting Alcohol/Drug-Free Lifestyle, I found an article written by ProjectKnow that covers the importance of substance abuse education,  how campaigns work, and helpful recourses on prevention and safety. Substance abuse education is very important and there are multiple things that should be covered when educating students on this topic but some of the important points that students should have an understanding on is what substance abuse is, how people become addicted to alcohol and drugs and the consequences of having an addiction. the article also states that there are many misconceptions involved with drug and alcohol use and the importance of making sure your students know facts from myths. Teaching students about what can come from using drugs and alcohol can prevent issues from forming. Prevention programs have done a great job at preventing students from using and abusing drugs/alcohol. The first step in promoting an Alcohol/Drug-free lifestyle is making sure the students know all the consequences a person with an addiction faces. Having students participate in role-playing and interactive activities has been shown to have great outcomes with teaching students the importance of this topic.

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Education about substance abuse is an important part of helping individuals understand the many aspects of this topic. This information can include factual data about what substance abuse is; warning signs of addiction; information about how alcohol and specific drugs affect the mind and body; the consequences that addiction can have on one's physical and mental health, family, relationships, and other areas of functioning; and how and why substances are abused.

Education may also include information on how to deal with a family member or friend who is struggling with a substance use disorder, and how to be supportive during the detoxification and rehabilitation process.

This could also include counseling education, which helps everyone involved-from the person abusing substances to family and friends. It is important that people who abuse substances are aware of how a drug can affect their minds, bodies, relationships, and functioning. This awareness can help them realize the potential damage that could occur, or the damage that has already occurred. Substance abuse education may also include information about what treatment entails to prepare everyone involved for the potential outcomes.

The Importance of Drug Education

The main focus of substance abuse education is teaching individuals about drug and alcohol abuse and how to avoid, stop, or get help for substance use disorders-and this can begin at a young age. Education can start with parents educating their children, and in primary school programming designed to increase knowledge about substance abuse and the associated risks. For teenagers, substance abuse education is generally incorporated into school curriculum as well. Adults who want to learn more about substance abuse (that they can then share with their kids) can attend classes, group meetings, and research information online in order to learn more about the topic.

Substance abuse education is important for children, teenagers, and adults alike; there are many misconceptions about commonly used legal and illegal substances, such as alcohol and marijuana. Ensuring that children are educated about drugs can help prevent them from using them, especially ones that are made to sound harmless, but are in reality very addictive or dangerous to the body. Helping adults understand the repercussions of drug use can prevent a problem from forming and can provide information they can share with their children to prevent future issues.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, contact us today at 1-888-287-0471 Who Answers? for help and see what treatment options are right for you.

Knowledge is power, and with accurate information about the topic, a person will be more likely to make a fact-based and informed decision. When educating people, all drugs should be covered, regardless of the strength or perceived risk of harm. While opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine are viewed as "hard drugs," and therefore have serious consequences, "minor drugs," such as marijuana and alcohol can still be addictive and are frequently abused. People of all ages should be aware of the damage that all drugs and alcohol have the potential to do to the body, mind, and relationships.

With the availability of internet resources, there is unlimited access to knowledge about drugs and alcohol, but not every site provides reliable information. If you are preparing to teach a substance abuse education course to adults or deliver a school presentation for children or teenagers, make sure that you know your information well, and verify it as accurate. This website has a number of excellent, reliable, and well-researched resources that can be used to educate yourself about drugs, so read them thoroughly. Having accurate and reliable information is the best way to identify yourself as a knowledgeable teacher who students will listen to, regardless of their age.

How Drug Education Can Help

Studies have shown that substance abuse prevention programs are effective if they are research-based and implemented properly. ¹ Research-based education programs are rooted in scientific evidence and tested thoroughly, and have been shown to significantly reduce substance abuse behaviors, including use of nicotine, alcohol, and drugs. ¹

These programs boost protective factors, which decrease the likelihood of substance abuse issues, while reducing the impact of risk factors that make individuals more susceptible to substance abuse. ¹ It is especially important to include substance abuse education and prevention in schools, because they can help students avoid trying substances and reduce the risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life. Substance abuse education can begin as early as preschool to help reduce the impact of risk factors on later decision-making-especially during the turbulent adolescent years-where substance use disorders often begin. 2 Of course, it is important to adjust the material to be age-appropriate.

Recent surveys show drops in alcohol, tobacco, and substance use in American teenagers in grades 8, 10, and 12. ³ Use of alcohol and cigarettes were at a record low in 2015, and are currently at the lowest rate they have reached since 1975. ³ Drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy or Molly), heroin, prescription drugs, bath salts, hallucinogens, crack cocaine, synthetic marijuana ( K2 or spice), and amphetamines have all declined in use among American students in grades 8, 10, and 12. ³ And binge drinking rates in American students have also dropped significantly. ³ Marijuana use rates in American students have remained fairly stable since 2010. ³

This universal drop is attributed to increased prevention programming that is incorporated into school curriculums, which seems to deter students from trying illicit substances, alcohol, and tobacco. Education is especially important for newer, "designer" drugs, such as synthetic marijuana (e.g., Spice and K2) and bath salts (e.g., synthetic cathinones), which can be marketed as harmless, but are incredibly dangerous drugs that often have unpredictable results when taken.

Effective drug education campaigns should be ongoing, with recurring programming to fortify the original prevention message. ² Studies show that lack of follow-up programming can reduce the benefits of prevention campaigns. ² In addition, interactive prevention programming has better outcomes, allowing participants to play an active role in drug abuse education and the development of prevention skills, especially when role-playing and discussion groups with peers are included. ²

When research-based drug abuse education campaigns are implemented, they are not only effective, they can also reduce the cost of future substance use disorders. ² Studies show that for every dollar allocated toward prevention campaigns, there is a ten-fold savings in treatment for substance use disorder treatment. ²

Drug Education Resources on Prevention and Safety

There are many reliable, informative substance abuse education sources available on the internet. The following is a list of some of the sources that can be accessed to learn more about substance use and prevention.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. This site provides information on substance use prevention for all ages, and also offers a family checkup, a questionnaire that helps parents learn about parenting skills that help prevent future substance use in children or teens.

NIDA for Teens. This site is an offshoot of the National Institute on Drug Abuse website that provides information aimed at teens in an interactive, interesting, and easy-to-understand format that appeals to young people.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This link contains a wealth of knowledge about prevention, substance use disorders, and treatment. It addresses prevention programming at several different levels, including school, family, and community settings, as well as providing information about risk and protective factors and evidence-based practices.

Monitoring the Future survey. This website surveys American 8th, 10th, and 12th graders to provide current statistics on teen alcohol, drug, and tobacco use. The results are analyzed to determine trends based on the results from previous years.

Youth.gov. This is a government site that offers information about substance use prevention, as well as links to all areas of prevention, including articles, programs, publications, research, training resources, and websites.

Above the Influence. This is the website for a popular nationwide substance use prevention campaign. This program was developed as part of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, and works to encourage teenagers to resist peer pressure and negative influences that promote substance use.

AWARxE Prescription Drug Safety Program. This site provides information about proper use, storage, disposal, and prevention for prescription drugs. Prescription drug awareness events occurring throughout the United States are also listed on this site.

Too Smart To Start. This is an educational program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Its aim is to spark conversations between adults and adolescents about the risks and harm of underage alcohol consumption, and to increase awareness of underage drinking as a detrimental thing. This website offers different areas for children, teenagers, families, teachers, and leaders in the community, providing different information and resources for each group.

Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders. This is a publication from the National Institute on Drug Abuse that provides comprehensive information on substance use prevention. It addresses risk and protective factors, community-based drug prevention, incorporating the principles of prevention into programs, and even provides examples of evidence-based prevention programs.

Drug Enforcement Administration. This is a government website that offers community outreach information, and provides links to helpful publications and websites regarding prevention of substance use.

There are many other prevention resources available online, but be aware that not all of the information is reliable. Look for community, state, or government resources for the most up-to-date, effective, research-based prevention information.

Sources

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Drugs, brains, and behavior: The science of addiction.

2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2003). Preventing drug abuse among children and adolescents (in brief).

3. University of Michigan. (2015). Use of ecstasy, heroin, synthetic marijuana, alcohol, cigarettes declined among US teens in 2015.

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Education about substance abuse is an important part of helping individuals understand the many aspects of this topic. This information can include factual data about what substance abuse is; warning signs of addiction; information about how alcohol and specific drugs affect the mind and body; the consequences that addiction can have on one's physical and mental health, family, relationships, and other areas of functioning; and how and why substances are abused.

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Topic 8: Preventing Alcohol & Drug Use

Stop Illicit Drug Use Before It's Too Late

In this USA Today article, writer James Carroll argues that the way to fight the opioid crisis is to try to prevent substance abuse in the first place. Drug-free communities support programs that target young people, especially in schools, can help prevent them from using and abusing substances. He says that young people need to feel empowered to make smart choices, and they need the tools to do so. Teachers have the advantage of being able to reach a large number of children every day, so educating them to make smart and healthy decisions often begins in the classroom.

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Our country's greatest health threat is the opioid addiction crisis. The most effective way to combat it is to prevent drug abuse in the first place.

As our country battles its greatest public health threat - the addiction crisis - we all have a role to play in making our nation a safer, healthier place.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 70,200 precious lives were lost due to a drug overdose in 2017. That was approximately 200 drug overdose deaths per day, and this crisis has left no corner of our country untouched.

That's why President Donald Trump, in response to the opioid crisis, announced a national public health emergency, and put in place an initiative to stop opioid abuse and reduce drug supply and demand.

The most effective way to support this initiative is to prevent drug abuse in the first place.

One of the best tools the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has to stop illicit drug use before it's too late is the Drug-Free Communities Support Program (DFC), which funds efforts at the local level to prevent youth substance use, including prescription drugs, marijuana, tobacco and alcohol.

James Carroll, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. (Photo: Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images)

Trump's new FDA chief must wage fierce fight to stop the opioid epidemic. Gottlieb didn't.

Leftover pills help fuel opioid epidemic: What we can do to reduce misused painkillers.

'We know what works' for opioid addiction. 'A lot of treatment centers aren't following it.'

Last year, the president and I marked the 20th anniversary of the program by awarding the largest number of grants ever: $90.9 million to 731 local drug prevention coalitions in communities just like yours.

Traveling around the country, speaking to young adults involved in these grant programs, I've seen the results firsthand. Simply put, this program works.

Thousands more kids are playing it safe

According to the program's 2017 annual report, alcohol use among middle school students declined by 27% from 2002 to 2016 in communities with a DFC program. Prescription drug misuse among these same students dropped by 11%. For high school students in these communities, their use of alcohol decreased by 19%, while rates of prescription drug misuse declined by 18%.

This means that thousands more of our children are making the healthy and safe choice not to use drugs.

We also need to make sure we are getting through to young adults, who have been hit hard by the addiction crisis, about the dangers of substance misuse.

Last year, ONDCP, in partnership with the Ad Council and Truth Initiative, rolled out the administration's " The Truth About Opioids " ad campaign, targeted at adults ages 18-24.

The effort has returned dividends and relied on over $20 million in donated media from partners. The ads have more than 1.4 billion impressions and 92 million total online views.

Empowering students for smart choices

The ad campaign is just the beginning. The White House recently released a school resource guide to help educate students and protect them from substance misuse. This guide is a one-stop-shop for teachers, administrators and staff who want to ensure that more young people have access to the support they need.

Young people like Dylan Mullins, a leader in the Students Against Destructive Decisions organization. As a high school student in New Jersey, Dylan led outreach efforts and prevention programming to help his peers, and he's continuing his mission now that he's in college.

At ONDCP, we are constantly exploring new ways to support students like Dylan who are committed to helping their classmates make smart, safe choices. Their efforts give me hope that we are beginning to turn a corner in America's addiction crisis.

These are just a few of the prevention approaches that the Trump administration has implemented. To ultimately succeed, everyone, from federal officials to everyday citizens, has a role to play. To save lives, we must work together to promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles for the next generation.
James Carroll is director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/04/11/drug-czar-james-carroll-opioid-addiction-drug-use-prevention-column/3404791002/

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Drug czar James Carroll: Stop illicit drug use before it's too late

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Our country's greatest health threat is the opioid addiction crisis. The most effective way to combat it is to prevent drug abuse in the first place. As our country battles its greatest public health threat - the addiction crisis - we all have a role to play in making our nation a safer, healthier place.

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Can Doctors Talk Teenagers Out of Risky Drinking?

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Can Doctors Talk Teenagers Out of Risky Drinking?

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In this article from the New York Times on preventing adolescent alcoholism, researchers are conducting studies (albeit insufficient) to determine whether medical professionals can screen adolescents for early signs of alcoholism. The study suggests counseling efforts and even medical screenings prove to be largely ineffective due to the fact that there exist differing parameters used to define alcoholism. For example, some organizations define men having 4 or more drinks a day or women having 3 or more drinks a day as alcoholic behavior. However, another organization defines "at-risk use" as “use that increases the risk for health consequences.” Although these statistics do not near society towards finding an effective solution, one way doctors have been able to accurately pinpoint alcoholism in their adolescent patients is by taking the time to get to know them and earning their trust. Teachers and counselors can utilize this same approach when attempting to determine a similar problem in adolescents: making a student feel safe enough to trust them with this sensitive information could lead to earlier identification and treatment efforts.

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Screening is useful when a condition is prevalent, when we can screen in a cost-effective manner, when early diagnosis makes a difference, and when we know that acting on that screen will make a difference.

Dr. Susan Curry, the immediate past chairwoman of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, told me: "There have simply not been enough studies that assess the effects of screening and behavioral counseling in adolescents to address this issue. In addition, many of the existing studies have been conducted in school settings, and it is unclear if the results would translate to primary care."

Theeffectsof behavioral counseling on adults are proven enough to show a moderate benefit. The same holds true for pregnant women, although the evidence is a bit less strong. But when it comes to adolescents, the evidence is almost nonexistent.

In a large systematic review, there were two studies (out of 68 total) that addressed how counseling interventions might affect adolescent alcohol use. One was a randomized controlled trial of 119 urban adolescents screened in a medical clinic, published in 2015, that used peer networks and motivational interviewing. Over all, it failed to achieve statistical significance with respect to reducing alcohol use.

The other was a 2017 randomized controlled trial in Switzerland schools (not clinics) of a web-and-text-based peer-network messaging system to reduce single-occasion binge drinking. It decreased the chance of that happening by 5.9 percent in the intervention group. But it had no effect on how much youths drank over all or the estimated peak blood alcohol concentration during binge drinking.

That's all we've got. And before 2015, there was nothing.

"We are calling for additional research in all areas related to screening adolescents for alcohol use and providing counseling interventions to those who need them," Dr. Curry said. "It is also important to explore whether such interventions could reduce other risky behaviors. In the meantime, we encourage primary care clinicians to use their clinical judgment when deciding whether to screen their adolescent patients for alcohol use."

There's disagreement on the definition of unhealthy alcohol use for adults.

For men, risky drinking is more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks in any week, according to the national institute. And for women, it's more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks in any week. (The institute defines a drink as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of spirits.)

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Can Doctors Talk Teenagers Out of Risky Drinking?

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Screening is useful when a condition is prevalent, when we can screen in a cost-effective manner, when early diagnosis makes a difference, and when we know that acting on that screen will make a difference. Dr. Susan Curry, the immediate past chairwoman of the U.S.

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Promoting Alcohol and Drug Free Lifestyle

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Promoting Alcohol and Drug Free Lifestyle

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Davis, Kathleen. (2018, February 28).  What effects does alcohol have on health? Medical News Today. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305062.php

The news source I used to ind this article was Medical News Today and the topic it falls under is Preventing Alcohol and Drug Use. The article talks about short and long-term effects of alcohol and gives facts about alcohol. It is an informative article about different facts and talks about different effects alcohol has and what it looks like when someone has had too much alcohol. The information in this article pertains to teaching health to elementary students because it is important for students to understand the facts about what alcohol is and the effects it can have on someone. In the classroom, the teacher can have an informative talk about what alcohol is with the students and share with them this article. The teacher can take questions and concerns from the students, or they can have someone come in and talk about alcohol with the students.

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Promoting Alcohol and Drug Free Lifestyle

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Promoting Alcohol and Drug Free Lifestyle

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April is Alcohol Awareness Month
https://www.thewesternnews.com/briefs/20190430/april_is_alcohol_awareness_month

This article, from The Western News, explains that april is alcohol awareness month and talks about the dangers of it. Alcohol is the most abused, and commonly used, drug among the youth in the US - more than tobacco and recreational drugs. It states that people 12-to-20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the US. Long term effects of alcohol can be irreversible. It stresses the importance of raising awareness in our homes and communities because alcohol effects not just us, but everyone else around us. It's helpful to talk to a primary care provider about alcohol use, along with making small changes in your daily life. This would be a good article to use in classrooms for teaching preventing alcohol/drug use. The students reading this article would be able to relate to it because the statistics given are all about students their age.

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Article Title: What is alcohol abuse disorder and what is the treatment?
Link: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157163.php
This article is on alcohol abuse from Medical News Today. Alcoholism is a disorder where a person has the desire or need to consume alcohol. 6.2% of adult Americans have an alcohol addiction. Alcoholism is a problem when the drinking becomes severe. They don’t know how or when to stop drinking. Major symptoms of alcoholism is drinking alone or in secret, not being able to limit the amount of alcohol consumed, and losing interest in hobbies that were previously enjoyed. Alcoholism is hard to beat, but there are steps individuals can take. Talk to a qualified counselor to share problems and to figure out a way to tackle drinking, treat an underlying problem such as anxiety, stress, or anxiety, or residential programs which offer expert professional help. In the PK-4th grade classroom teachers can talk to children about the effects of drinking and why we need to watch how much alcohol we are consuming. If we notice a family or friend turning to alcohol when dealing with other problems, they must know to seek help for that person.

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Moulite, M. (2018, June 25). Kids' exposure to addiction drug rose 215% in three years, study says. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/25/health/buprenorphine-children-poison-control-calls-study/index.html

This article is an online news article that discusses kids exposure to drug addiction. Kids exposure to drug addiction has rose 215% in three years. More than 11,200 calls concerning children's exposure to buprenorphine, an opioid medication used to treat opioid use disorder, were made to US poison control centers from 2007 to 2016. Some of these incidents were unintentional. Most adolescent have these in their house for the intention of drug abuse. Most adults use these drugs as suicide attempts and are usually in the reach of children. This article is good to read and discuss with students in the classroom, because you can explain to children they should not consume/touch medication they are unsure of or that is not theirs. You can also emphasize to parents to keep medication locked away and out of reach for children.

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Promoting Alcohol and Drug Free Lifestyle

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Promoting Alcohol and Drug Free Lifestyle

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This website explains what drugs and alcohol are and what they do. It is important to define things like this to children so they know why they shouldn’t do it. This article gives insight on why people abuse substances and it provides insight on how to promote a substance free lifestyle.

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People take drugs because they want to change something about their lives.

Here are some of the reasons young people have given for taking drugs:

To fit in

To escape or relax

To relieve boredom

To seem grown up

To rebel

To experiment

They think drugs are a solution. But eventually, the drugs become the problem.

Difficult as it may be to face one's problems, the consequences of drug use are always worse than the problem one is trying to solve with them. The real answer is to get the facts and not to take drugs in the first place.

How Do Drugs Work?

Drugs are essentially poisons. The amount taken determines the effect.

A small amount acts as a stimulant (speeds you up). A greater amount acts as a sedative (slows you down). An even larger amount poisons and can kill.

This is true of any drug. Only the amount needed to achieve the effect differs.

But many drugs have another liability: they directly affect the mind. They can distort the user's perception of what is happening around him or her. As a result, the person's actions may be odd, irrational, inappropriate and even destructive.

Drugs block off all sensations, the desirable ones with the unwanted. So, while providing short-term help in the relief of pain, they also wipe out ability and alertness and muddy one's thinking.

Medicines are drugs that are intended to speed up or slow down or change something about the way your body is working, to try to make it work better. Sometimes they are necessary. But they are still drugs: they act as stimulants or sedatives, and too much can kill you. So if you do not use medicines as they are supposed to be used, they can be as dangerous as illegal drugs.

Drugs Affect the Mind

Normally, when a person remembers something, the mind is very fast and information comes to him quickly. But drugs blur memory, causing blank spots. When a person tries to get information through this cloudy mess, he can't do it. Drugs make a person feel slow or stupid and cause him to have failures in life. And as he has more failures and life gets harder, he wants more drugs to help him deal with the problem.

Drugs Destroy Creativity

One lie told about drugs is that they help a person become more creative. The truth is quite different.

Someone who is sad might use drugs to get a feeling of happiness, but it does not work. Drugs can lift a person into a fake kind of cheerfulness, but when the drug wears off, he or she crashes even lower than before. And each time, the emotional plunge is lower and lower. Eventually, drugs will completely destroy all the creativity a person has.

During the whole time I was on drugs I thought I had control over my life and that I had it great. But I destroyed everything I had built up and fought for in my life. I cut ties to all my drug-free friends and my family, so I hadn't any friends but my drug mates. Every day revolved around one thing: my plan for getting the money I needed for drugs. I would do everything possible to get my amphetamine-it was the only thing in my life." -Pat

I felt that I was more fun when I was drunk. Soon after [I started drinking] I was introduced to marijuana . . . . Later, I was hanging out at a friend's house smoking marijuana when someone pulled out a bag of cocaine. Snorting cocaine quickly became a daily habit. I was stealing money from my parents' business and from my grandparents on a daily basis to support my alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and LSD habits. Then I was introduced to OxyContin and began using it on a regular basis. By the time I realized I was addicted, snorting OxyContin was part of my daily routine. I needed something stronger-and was introduced to heroin. I would stop at nothing to get high. My addiction was winning. And every time I tried to kick it, the physical craving would send me back for more." -Edith

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Why Do People Use Drugs? How Do Drugs Work? - Drug-Free World

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People take drugs because they want to change something about their lives. Here are some of the reasons young people have given for taking drugs: To fit in To escape or relax To relieve boredom To seem grown up To rebel To experiment They think drugs are a solution.

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How 'Mommy Juice' Culture Is Normalizing Alcohol Addiction. 

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How 'Mommy Juice' Culture Is Normalizing Alcohol Addiction. 

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This article on Healthline details how the "mommy juice" culture has affected those in recovery as well as children. It explains how women using alcohol has become more acceptable. The mommy juice culture has made it a common to think that all mom's need alcohol to cope with the stress and anxiety that comes with parenting. The article explains how children who grow up in a household where adults drink in excess will be more likely to drink in excess. It's important for teacher to be aware of the culture surrounding substances like alcohol. So that they can reach their students in a way that is effective. If students grow up in a culture that normalizes drinking in excess, teachers need to be aware of how they can probably educate their students so that will use alcohol in a way that is healthy.

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"Mommy juice" culture is having a negative impact on women's health. Getty Images

"Mommy needs her wine."

If you think it's becoming more difficult to avoid seeing phrases like that on social media, you're not alone.

Between memes, jokes between friends, and even movies dedicated to women and their love for wine, it can sometimes feel like there's no escaping the "mommy juice" banter.

However, the truth is the increasing prevalence of "mommy juice" culture is no laughing matter.

Rates of drinking and alcohol addiction are on the rise among women. A put high-risk drinking among women at a 58 percent increase in the last decade alone, creating what some suggest could point to a public health crisis.

Especially as recent research has found an increase in health risks for even just one serving of alcohol per day.

"One reason that drinking is on the rise among women is that the norms around drinking have changed dramatically over the past 50 or so years," Deidra Roach, medical project officer for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, told Healthline.

She explains that up until the mid-20th century, it was considered socially unacceptable for women to drink in public, especially to the point of intoxication. So, women were simply less likely to do so.

That's obviously changed in recent years.

Melissa O'Neill, director of clinical operations at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center in Illinois, points to another possible factor behind the increase as well.

"Women traditionally choose to manage stress and anxiety by turning inward, while men turn outward," she said. "We see that a lot at Timberline, people really using it as a maladaptive coping skill to manage stress, anxiety, and underlying mental health conditions that haven't been diagnosed."

Both Roach and O'Neill agree that the rise of "mommy juice" culture has contributed to a normalization of drinking among women.

This is a truth that can be troublesome for those in recovery trying to find their place in a world that simply assumes all moms must need wine to survive.

There are other factors contributing to the rising drinking rate among women, too.

As Roach points out, there's an increased availability of alcohol as well as rising rates of anxiety and depression.

has even suggested there may be a genetic component to heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder.

Nevertheless, Roach says "anecdotal evidence suggests that cultural factors are playing a very important role."

None of this paints a great picture, particularly for those who are trying to maintain sobriety in a world where everything from their book club to their after-work get-togethers seem to revolve around alcohol.

In fact, O'Neill says one of the suggestions for women leaving Timberline is to potentially seek out new social groups.

"It does make recovery more difficult, because they go back to their PTA or country club and everyone is drinking. And there are maybe members of those groups, friends of theirs, who have mild to moderate substance abuse issues themselves. But it's become so normalized that being the sober one actually sets people apart now," O'Neill said.

Then there are the kids who are growing up in a culture where heavier drinking is normalized.

Leslie R. Walker-Harding, spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics and chief academic officer at Seattle Children's Hospital, told Healthline that there's definitely an impact.

"Kids look up to their parents, they watch what they are doing. So even if a parent is saying a kid shouldn't drink, if that kid is watching their parent drink every night, it's going to have an impact," she said.

Walker-Harding explains that kids who are in homes where parents drink in excess are more likely to grow into adults who drink in excess themselves.

"Using euphemisms like 'mommy juice' might actually make it worse, because then you have a child who may pick it up thinking it's actually juice. That phrasing won't detour them. It just makes what you're doing all that much more appealing," she said.

However, Walker-Harding doesn't suggest parents should completely avoid drinking altogether.

But she does point out that "what a parent does, that's the most powerful message - more powerful than even anything their peers do."

O'Neill voices other concerns as well.

"There's this normal part of child development that hinges on the attunement a parent has with their child. We see ruptures in attachment that happen when a parent is drinking and that attunement is broken," she said.

O'Neill explains that once a parent has several glasses of wine, they may become frustrated, stressed, or simply just not as attuned to what their child is saying, doing, or needing in the moment.

"Kids end up experiencing a really inconsistent relationship, and it does create attachment injuries that can be very impactful," she said.

Most parents realize their kids are always watching. What they may not realize is the message they're sending by how they're treating their own alcohol consumption.

Roach points to the for what a healthy relationship with alcohol looks like. It recommends that alcohol should be consumed only in moderation. This means no more than one drink per day for women.

"Generally, alcohol becomes problematic when it interferes with one's daily life," Roach explained.

Roach also points to these signs as potential indicators of alcohol misuse:

continuing to drink even though it's causing problems with family or work

drinking more than intended

having to drink more than before to get a desired effect

being unable to stop drinking after repeated attempts

continuing to drink even though it makes one feel depressed or anxious

If you're worried you may be experiencing symptoms of alcohol use disorder, Roach suggests reviewing this checklist.

"The more symptoms one has, the more urgent the need for change," she said.

If making that change for yourself isn't enough of a motivating factor, Walker-Harding wants to remind parents that their kids are likely to model the behavior they witness.

Helping them grow into adults who have a healthy relationship with alcohol means not modeling an unhealthy relationship with alcohol yourself.

"Really watching how responsible you are with alcohol is going to have a direct impact on your kids," Walker-Harding said.

She encourages all parents to think a little harder about the messages they may be unintentionally sending with their own alcohol consumption habits and "mommy juice" jokes.

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stay at home mom drinking during the day

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How 'Mommy Juice' Culture Is Normalizing Alcohol Addiction

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"Mommy needs her wine." If you think it's becoming more difficult to avoid seeing phrases like that on social media, you're not alone. Between memes, jokes between friends, and even movies dedicated to women and their love for wine, it can sometimes feel like there's no escaping the "mommy juice" banter.

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In her article "Responding to Students With Addiction." Emily Donahue offers important information on what addiction is and what we can do to help. Addiction, she tells us, is more than 50% attributed to genetic factors-- it is a disease, not a choice, even if someone did make the choice to try something for the first time. It can feel like a temporary solution to concurring illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD-- but it sometimes manifests just on its own.

To help students we may see struggling with drug/alcohol addiction, Donahue tells that it is important to know when consequences hurt and when they help. Consequences may help first time offenders, but addicts typically do not feel a choice in their behavior, therefore punishments do not often create long-lasting change. Instead, show students struggling with addiction kindness and motivate them to look toward their future. One student, Donahue tells, was even taken to his first recovery meeting by his Dean-- an act of kindness that he reflected on later in his years of getting sober.

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Supporting students with drug and alcohol dependency isn't easy-but some strategies are more helpful than others.

Young people who repeatedly get caught using alcohol and drugs are often labeled as "troubled," "bad influences," or "kids who are making bad choices." Maybe an adult in the picture recognizes that a student might have a problem, but it can be difficult for that adult to understand why the student doesn't seem to want to get better.

As educators, we have a job to do-and not many options for helping students like these without also having to punish them. How can we better support students who might be struggling with alcoholism and addiction?

What Is Addiction?

Yes, each individual makes that first choice to pick up a drink or drug. But numerous studies suggest that up to 50 percent of a person's risk of becoming addicted can be attributed to genetic factors. For one teen, taking a drink is fun, relaxing, and enjoyable in moderation. For another, a drink is the missing link: It makes him feel more like himself, like he belongs-so the more, the better.

Although people abuse drugs for a variety of reasons, most experts agree that the persistent abuse of drugs or alcohol despite adverse consequences can be a primary disease. That is, addiction isn't always caused by something else, and you don't have to have a co-occurring disorder, like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, to be afflicted. But even those who believe addiction is a disease often look at a person abusing drugs or alcohol and think: "You need to get this under control. Don't you know you're hurting yourself?"

For any caring educator, watching a young person destroy his or her future with drugs or alcohol is a problem. But for any addict-adolescent or otherwise-drugs and alcohol are a solution: to anxiety, depression, unresolved trauma, social angst, or any number of conditions that make daily life intolerable.

Since adolescents experience these feelings intensely, it's no wonder they are willing to sacrifice so much just to feel OK inside. That is: Using is not a choice when the alternative is not getting your deepest emotional needs met.

When and Why Consequences Don't Work

We know addicts are not deterred by consequences. Yet what do we do when a kid gets caught drunk or high at school again and again? We escalate the consequences. For a non-addict who gets caught vaping in the bathroom, a consequence will work.

But educators should recognize that a student who doesn't stop using despite getting in serious trouble, upsetting their parents, and disappointing their teachers has likely reached a point at which the choice to use is no longer really a choice.

How Consequences Can Help

It's disheartening when the only motivation a young person has to stop abusing drugs or alcohol is to stay out of trouble and keep adults off his back. A young person may abstain-or try to-for a brief time in order to avoid consequences or to please someone he cares about. But if the choice to stay clean isn't truly his own, it's more likely than not that he will relapse.

In these situations, however, we have a real opportunity to get out of the way and let substances become the user's problem, not ours. This means letting those consequences speak for themselves, without adding our two cents about "bad choices," how the student is hurting himself, or the like.

When administered fairly and kindly, without shame or judgement, consequences can keep an adolescent focused on her own behavior-and help her move closer to asking, "Is this really what I want my life to look like?"

The Road to Recovery

I have a friend who was taken to his first recovery meeting by the dean of students at his high school. He did not get sober for many years, but that act of kindness from a man who went out of his way to do something he absolutely did not need to do planted a seed that later flowered. Today, my friend is over 50 years old-and over 15 years sober.

We would never say to someone with a deadly disease, "It's on you to get better-stop making so many bad choices." Young adults can-and do-recover from addiction. But the hard truth is that for most teenage substance abusers, adolescence is just the beginning of a long, painful journey. As counterintuitive as it may seem, we need to show these students that we are not invested in whether they stop using-but we are 100 percent invested in them.

This doesn't mean we shouldn't express our fears or concerns. It only means that putting pressure-even positive pressure-on addicts to change does not help in the long run. Maybe we ask them about their using. Or maybe we just ask them about their weekend. We give consequences for their behavior, but we don't take that behavior personally. We can let them know recovery is possible and that we are there to help. As a result, they may open up to us more, and find healing just a little bit sooner.

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Supporting students with drug and alcohol dependency isn't easy-but some strategies are more helpful than others. Young people who repeatedly get caught using alcohol and drugs are often labeled as "troubled," "bad influences," or "kids who are making bad choices."

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Substance abuse is something that cannot be taking lightly.  Our society is so accepting of illegal drugs and the use of alcohol at an early age.  Educating students about substance abuse is important in helping individuals understand the severity of substance abuse and the effects they have on the body.  Educating our students about alcohol and drug abuse is essential because there are high chances that it runs in the families of our students and to help them be more aware and knowledgeable on how to be supportive and help the people around us get help.  Drugs and alcohol affect our bodies immensely including the brain, our organs, and out minds, and educating our students about the risks is something that needs to be highlighted.  Awareness can help students and adolescents realize the potential damage that can occur when using these substances.

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Education about substance abuse is an important part of helping individuals understand the many aspects of this topic. This information can include factual data about what substance abuse is; warning signs of addiction; information about how alcohol and specific drugs affect the mind and body; the consequences that addiction can have on one's physical and mental health, family, relationships, and other areas of functioning; and how and why substances are abused.

Education may also include information on how to deal with a family member or friend who is struggling with a substance use disorder, and how to be supportive during the detoxification and rehabilitation process.

This could also include counseling education, which helps everyone involved-from the person abusing substances to family and friends. It is important that people who abuse substances are aware of how a drug can affect their minds, bodies, relationships, and functioning. This awareness can help them realize the potential damage that could occur, or the damage that has already occurred. Substance abuse education may also include information about what treatment entails to prepare everyone involved for the potential outcomes.

The Importance of Drug Education

The main focus of substance abuse education is teaching individuals about drug and alcohol abuse and how to avoid, stop, or get help for substance use disorders-and this can begin at a young age. Education can start with parents educating their children, and in primary school programming designed to increase knowledge about substance abuse and the associated risks. For teenagers, substance abuse education is generally incorporated into school curriculum as well. Adults who want to learn more about substance abuse (that they can then share with their kids) can attend classes, group meetings, and research information online in order to learn more about the topic.

Substance abuse education is important for children, teenagers, and adults alike; there are many misconceptions about commonly used legal and illegal substances, such as alcohol and marijuana. Ensuring that children are educated about drugs can help prevent them from using them, especially ones that are made to sound harmless, but are in reality very addictive or dangerous to the body. Helping adults understand the repercussions of drug use can prevent a problem from forming and can provide information they can share with their children to prevent future issues.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse, contact us today at 1-888-287-0471 Who Answers? for help and see what treatment options are right for you.

Knowledge is power, and with accurate information about the topic, a person will be more likely to make a fact-based and informed decision. When educating people, all drugs should be covered, regardless of the strength or perceived risk of harm. While opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine are viewed as "hard drugs," and therefore have serious consequences, "minor drugs," such as marijuana and alcohol can still be addictive and are frequently abused. People of all ages should be aware of the damage that all drugs and alcohol have the potential to do to the body, mind, and relationships.

With the availability of internet resources, there is unlimited access to knowledge about drugs and alcohol, but not every site provides reliable information. If you are preparing to teach a substance abuse education course to adults or deliver a school presentation for children or teenagers, make sure that you know your information well, and verify it as accurate. This website has a number of excellent, reliable, and well-researched resources that can be used to educate yourself about drugs, so read them thoroughly. Having accurate and reliable information is the best way to identify yourself as a knowledgeable teacher who students will listen to, regardless of their age.

How Drug Education Can Help

Studies have shown that substance abuse prevention programs are effective if they are research-based and implemented properly. ¹ Research-based education programs are rooted in scientific evidence and tested thoroughly, and have been shown to significantly reduce substance abuse behaviors, including use of nicotine, alcohol, and drugs. ¹

These programs boost protective factors, which decrease the likelihood of substance abuse issues, while reducing the impact of risk factors that make individuals more susceptible to substance abuse. ¹ It is especially important to include substance abuse education and prevention in schools, because they can help students avoid trying substances and reduce the risk of developing a substance use disorder later in life. Substance abuse education can begin as early as preschool to help reduce the impact of risk factors on later decision-making-especially during the turbulent adolescent years-where substance use disorders often begin. 2 Of course, it is important to adjust the material to be age-appropriate.

Recent surveys show drops in alcohol, tobacco, and substance use in American teenagers in grades 8, 10, and 12. ³ Use of alcohol and cigarettes were at a record low in 2015, and are currently at the lowest rate they have reached since 1975. ³ Drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy or Molly), heroin, prescription drugs, bath salts, hallucinogens, crack cocaine, synthetic marijuana ( K2 or spice), and amphetamines have all declined in use among American students in grades 8, 10, and 12. ³ And binge drinking rates in American students have also dropped significantly. ³ Marijuana use rates in American students have remained fairly stable since 2010. ³

This universal drop is attributed to increased prevention programming that is incorporated into school curriculums, which seems to deter students from trying illicit substances, alcohol, and tobacco. Education is especially important for newer, "designer" drugs, such as synthetic marijuana (e.g., Spice and K2) and bath salts (e.g., synthetic cathinones), which can be marketed as harmless, but are incredibly dangerous drugs that often have unpredictable results when taken.

Effective drug education campaigns should be ongoing, with recurring programming to fortify the original prevention message. ² Studies show that lack of follow-up programming can reduce the benefits of prevention campaigns. ² In addition, interactive prevention programming has better outcomes, allowing participants to play an active role in drug abuse education and the development of prevention skills, especially when role-playing and discussion groups with peers are included. ²

When research-based drug abuse education campaigns are implemented, they are not only effective, they can also reduce the cost of future substance use disorders. ² Studies show that for every dollar allocated toward prevention campaigns, there is a ten-fold savings in treatment for substance use disorder treatment. ²

Drug Education Resources on Prevention and Safety

There are many reliable, informative substance abuse education sources available on the internet. The following is a list of some of the sources that can be accessed to learn more about substance use and prevention.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. This site provides information on substance use prevention for all ages, and also offers a family checkup, a questionnaire that helps parents learn about parenting skills that help prevent future substance use in children or teens.

NIDA for Teens. This site is an offshoot of the National Institute on Drug Abuse website that provides information aimed at teens in an interactive, interesting, and easy-to-understand format that appeals to young people.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This link contains a wealth of knowledge about prevention, substance use disorders, and treatment. It addresses prevention programming at several different levels, including school, family, and community settings, as well as providing information about risk and protective factors and evidence-based practices.

Monitoring the Future survey. This website surveys American 8th, 10th, and 12th graders to provide current statistics on teen alcohol, drug, and tobacco use. The results are analyzed to determine trends based on the results from previous years.

Youth.gov. This is a government site that offers information about substance use prevention, as well as links to all areas of prevention, including articles, programs, publications, research, training resources, and websites.

Above the Influence. This is the website for a popular nationwide substance use prevention campaign. This program was developed as part of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, and works to encourage teenagers to resist peer pressure and negative influences that promote substance use.

AWARxE Prescription Drug Safety Program. This site provides information about proper use, storage, disposal, and prevention for prescription drugs. Prescription drug awareness events occurring throughout the United States are also listed on this site.

Too Smart To Start. This is an educational program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Its aim is to spark conversations between adults and adolescents about the risks and harm of underage alcohol consumption, and to increase awareness of underage drinking as a detrimental thing. This website offers different areas for children, teenagers, families, teachers, and leaders in the community, providing different information and resources for each group.

Preventing Drug Use Among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders. This is a publication from the National Institute on Drug Abuse that provides comprehensive information on substance use prevention. It addresses risk and protective factors, community-based drug prevention, incorporating the principles of prevention into programs, and even provides examples of evidence-based prevention programs.

Drug Enforcement Administration. This is a government website that offers community outreach information, and provides links to helpful publications and websites regarding prevention of substance use.

There are many other prevention resources available online, but be aware that not all of the information is reliable. Look for community, state, or government resources for the most up-to-date, effective, research-based prevention information.

Sources

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Drugs, brains, and behavior: The science of addiction.

2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2003). Preventing drug abuse among children and adolescents (in brief).

3. University of Michigan. (2015). Use of ecstasy, heroin, synthetic marijuana, alcohol, cigarettes declined among US teens in 2015.

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Education about substance abuse is an important part of helping individuals understand the many aspects of this topic. This information can include factual data about what substance abuse is; warning signs of addiction; information about how alcohol and specific drugs affect the mind and body; the consequences that addiction can have on one's physical and mental health, family, relationships, and other areas of functioning; and how and why substances are abused.

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Avramova, N. (2018, September 21).1 in 20 deaths globally is a result of alcohol use. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/21/health/global-alcohol-deaths-who-intl/index.html

This article about alcohol abuse from CNN discusses the high rates of death globally connected to alcohol abuse. In 2016, 3 million died as a result of alcohol use. These deaths were caused by injury, digestive disorders, cardiovascular disease, and other alcohol related problems. A recent study has shown that any amount of alcohol consumption can be poor on your health. However, the amount of alcohol consumed has only increased over the years. If the trend continues, then alcohol use will only continue to increase over the next ten years. Reducing the amount of alcohol abuse is the only way to decrease these deaths and related illnesses. This article shows teachers just how bad the effects of alcohol abuse can be. Teachers should use the facts and statistics  to show their students just how high the negative effects are.

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In the article, Teaching Kids About Drugs on the Best Drug Rehabilitation website, it discusses the importance of teaching kids about drugs at an early age.  Drugs continue to be a problem in our society and are affecting pre-teens all the way through adulthood. Once someone enters into the cycle of drug usage it is a hard habit to break and becomes life threatening. The more information that children have on drugs and the earlier the education begins the less likely children are to use. Letting children know the risks outweigh the benefits will have a more lasting opinion on students. Students should learn about the effects drugs have on both the brain and the body so they are aware the damage that is being done. This article urges educators to stay up to date on the current trends of drugs and to continue to provide education on the topics in the classroom to prevent addiction. As educators being able to recognize new trends and discuss them in the classroom can prevent students from using and abusing drugs.

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Drug use is an epidemic that has plagued people of all ages for a very long time, not just in the United States but around the world. Modern-day drug use has become a very serious issue and also has a very potent effect on children, pre-teens, and teenagers. Sadly, some people who use drugs become addicted and can lose their families, their homes, and, in extreme cases, their lives. Many drug abusers admit to starting their drug use habits in their pre-teen and teenage years. Peer pressure and societal pressures can play a pivotal role in whether or not kids decide to use drugs. Once this cycle of using and/or abusing drugs begins, without proper understanding or guidance and teaching kids about drugs, it can become a very serious addiction and a life-threatening problem in some instances.

How to Begin Teaching Kids About Drugs

Teaching kids about drugs, their effects, and aftermath, is a powerful tool in making sure that the next generation won't become addicts. Educators and parents should do their best to teach kids about drugs and why they are harmful. The more information children have about drugs, the better informed they will be if they're ever presented with a situation where there is drug use around them. Students should also learn about the dangers that drug use can pose and the effects it has on the human brain and body. Creating the whole picture for students so that they understand how drugs can affect them both emotionally and physically is essential. Correlate the relationship between drug abuse and things like violence, crime, and even physical appearance. When students can see a relationship between drug use and real life, it makes the seriousness much more real.

There are many resources available to educators and parents that can help when teaching kids about drugs. Whether it is through lesson plans in the classroom, guest speakers at school, or peer groups, learning about drugs is key to prevention. As a community, everyone should get involved so that kids feel like they have a solid support network. Local police precincts will also be happy to volunteer and speak at your school and educate kids about drug use and abuse. When everyone pulls together to show support for kids, they will feel more confident in their choices to avoid drug use. It is not always easy to talk to students about drugs. But with good resources, teachers and parents can help to explain drug abuse in a way that kids will understand and remember.

The key to helping kids avoid drug use is to let them know how much the risks outweigh the benefits. When students know that drugs are more harmful than they are good, they will be more prone to say no to their peers and others who might pressure them to use them. Educators should also pay close attention to current drug trends and watch out for newer "designer" drugs. Find out which types of drugs are currently considered more popular than others with young teens. Then, create a plan to educate students about the dangers of these new fad drugs, along with the dangers of more traditional drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and even prescription medication. Let students know that there is always someone they can talk to if they need help or are worried about drug use issues. Counseling should be provided in the school, or referrals can be made for kids who might be struggling with drug use. Working together while teaching kids about drugs is the best way to help ensure that they enjoy a safe, drug-free adulthood.

Lesson Plans

Resources and Materials

Where to Get Help

Activities, Games, and Quizzes

Continuing Education

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Teaching Kids About Drugs - Resources - Best Drug Rehabilitation

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Drug use is an epidemic that has plagued people of all ages for a very long time, not just in the United States but around the world. Modern-day drug use has become a very serious issue and also has a very potent effect on children, pre-teens, and teenagers.

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Office of National Drug Control Policy. (2017, March 29). Retrieved April 21, 2019, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/

A lot of research and assessment is done at the attainable level, i.e the level of school and communities. However, some might wonder what is being done in the realm of government that allows for such misuse and abuse of drugs and alcohol. This website provides information on policy, assessment, and programs coming directly from the ONCP in the Executive Office.