Know Your Substances
What addictive substance is found in most vapes and cigarettes?
Nicotine
True or False: The human brain is completely developed by age 16.
False. Brain development continues into young adulthood.
Name two areas of a teenager's life, other than physical health, that substance misuse can negatively impact.
School, friendships, family, finances, hobbies, relationships, or future opportunities.
What is a trigger in substance use recovery?
A person, place, emotion, memory, or situation that increases someone's urge to use substances.
Name two healthy coping skills someone could use instead of turning to substances when stressed.
Exercise, music, journaling, talking to someone, deep breathing, drawing, or practicing mindfulness.
What is the primary chemical in marijuana responsible for producing a high?
THC
What happens to your brain when you repeatedly use nicotine, making you feel like you need to keep vaping to feel normal?
Your brain becomes dependent on nicotine. When nicotine's effects wear off, you may experience cravings or withdrawal symptoms.
A teenager repeatedly lies to their parents about smoking marijuana. What important part of their relationship is likely to become damaged?
Trust
Name two emotions that could potentially trigger someone to use marijuana, alcohol, or nicotine.
Anxiety, sadness, anger, boredom, loneliness, excitement, or stress.
What is the term for a group of trusted people who provide encouragement, guidance, and accountability throughout recovery?
A support system.
Alcohol is a depressant. What does this mean?
It slows down actvity in the central nervous system, which affects reaction time, coordination, and judgment
What brain chemical plays an important role in feelings of reward and reinforcement and is involved in addiction?
Dopamine
A teenager begins skipping basketball practice to smoke marijuana with friends. Identify two potential long-term consequences of this behavior.
Losing their position on the team, declining physical fitness, damaged friendships, missed opportunities, or reduced progress toward personal goals.
Your friend offers you a vape after you have decided to quit nicotine. What is one example of an assertive refusal statement?
"Nah, I'm good. I'm not vaping anymore."
Accept any response that clearly communicates a boundary without becoming aggressive.
What is the difference between a craving and a trigger.?
Trigger: Something that increases the urge to use substances
Craving: Actual desire to use substances
Name 3 symptoms of nicotine withdrawal
Irritability, cravings, anxiety, difficulties concentrating, increased appetite, restlessness, trouble sleeping.
Name two ways frequent marijuana use can negatively affect a teenager's performance in school.
Difficulty with memory, concentration, learning, motivation, or retaining new information.
A teenager argues, "Marijuana is legal in some states, so there shouldn't be any consequences for me using it." What is wrong with this statement?
Legalization for adults does not mean marijuana is legal for minors. Substance use can also carry academic, social, health, family, and treatment-related consequences regardless of legality.
A teenager says, "All my friends smoke marijuana, but I can still hang out with them while they're smoking. I just won't participate." What potential risk might they be overlooking?
Being around substances and people actively using them can increase cravings, peer pressure, and the likelihood of returning to use.
A teenager experiences a lapse and uses marijuana once after leaving treatment. They think, "I already messed everything up, so what's the point in trying anymore?" What is wrong with this thinking, and what should they do instead?
One instance of use does not erase previous progress or mean recovery is impossible. They should seek support, identify what contributed to the lapse, and adjust their recovery plan rather than continuing to use.
Why can mixing alcohol and marijuana be more dangerous than using either substance individually? Name two potential consequences.
Combining them can increase impairment, potentially causing severe dizziness, nausea/vomiting, poor coordination, panic, and an increased risk of accidents.
Explain why adolescents are vulnerable to developing substance use disorders compared with adults.
Their brains are still developing, particularly in decision-making and impulse control. Early and repeated substance exposure can increase the risk of developing problematic patterns of use.
A teenager's substance use has resulted in declining grades, frequent family arguments, spending most of their money on substances, and losing friendships. Identify FOUR affected life domains and explain how they are connected.
Academic: Declining grades.
Family: Increased conflict and damaged trust.
Financial: Money being spent on substances.
Social: Loss of friendships.
These consequences can reinforce one another, creating additional stress that may contribute to continued substance use.
You return home from treatment and receive an invitation to a party where you know people will be drinking, smoking marijuana, and vaping. You really want to see your friends. Identify 2 strategies you could use to protect your recovery while still meeting your social needs.
Declining the invitation.
Suggesting a substance-free hangout instead.
Contacting a trusted support person.
Making plans with friends who support recovery.
Recognizing the party as a high-risk situation and establishing boundaries.
A teenager is discharged from inpatient treatment. Within their first week home, they experience family conflict, cravings, boredom, and pressure from old friends to smoke marijuana. Create a recovery plan containing FOUR specific actions they could take to maintain their progress.
Accept any four realistic recovery strategies, such as:
Identify personal triggers and warning signs.
Establish boundaries with friends who continue using.
Contact a counselor, sponsor, or trusted support person.
Practice healthy coping skills when experiencing cravings.
Attend scheduled outpatient treatment or recovery meetings.
Develop a structured daily routine.
Create a plan for responding to high-risk situations.