Drug Facts
True or False: According to the CDC, 150 people die every day from opioid overdose.
True! Synthetic (laboratory made) opioids, like fentanyl, contribute to roughly 150 deaths in the U.S. every day.
Why do you have to take your hoodie off during med pass?
To reduce the chance of a client "pocketing" a med.
Name three members of the kitchen staff.
Caleb, Jo, Jocelyn, Sandi.
True or false: As the medical world learns how to treat popular substance abuse trends, new and more powerful substances tend to enter the scene.
True! Substances (and the way they are used) are always evolving, requiring the need for constant education on proper interventions.
Define emotional support.
Social support that focuses on encouragement and understanding.
True or False: Elderly people are at a high risk for becoming drug dependent.
True! For this population, pain medications and the inappropriate combining of drugs is the most common. Why do you think that this is?
How long are breaks between groups?
5-10 minutes.
This BHT once served a cinnamon roll to TV chef and personality Alton Brown.
BHT Hannah
Pregnant women go through 3 trimesters: 0-3 months, 4-6 months, and 7-9 months. While there is no trimester that is safe for a pregnant woman to use any substance, which trimester is the most dangerous for her to consume drugs?
First trimester! The fetus is the most vulnerable during this time.
Define instrumental support.
Support that focuses on helping with completing tasks. Such as cooking a meal for a family member when they're busy, or picking up a friend from work when their car is in the shop.
True or False: It's possible to ingest fentanyl without realizing it.
True! In one New York City-based study, more than 80% of people who inject drugs tested positive for fentanyl, even though only 18% intended to take it (CDC, 2024; NYU News, 2023).
Why is shadowboxing against the rules?
It's too difficult for staff to be able to recognize when a fight is "real" versus when it's "fake." Additionally, many fights have started as a "joke."
This associate counselor used to be a morning BHT.
Allan!
How many more times potent is fentanyl compared to morphine?
50-100 times more potent.
Define informational support.
Support that provides informational guidance, such as mentorship or counseling.
What is the riskiest way to ingest a drug?
Intravenous. It delivers high concentrations very directly, making overdose much more likely. There is also the additional risk of disease transmission from dirty/shared needles.
1. Not enough supervision (BHTs have to have eyes on clients at all times)
2. Med pass is about to start.
3. Group is about to start.
This BHT can speak three different languages.
BHT Leo.
What are the two most common risks of altering substances?
1. Disease transmission (injecting substances, for example, leads to a greater risk of disease via shared needles.)
2. Overdose (smoking, snorting, or injecting drugs means more concentrated doses of a substance are absorbed more rapidly into the body. Rapid absorption in high concentration make overdosing a huge risk.)
What is the difference between social integration and social support?
Social integration is the process of joining a new social group or community. Social support is the act of providing individuals with emotional encouragement or helping with tasks that helps them feel empowered.
True or False: It is currently more common for individuals to die after smoking drugs than it is for them to die after injecting drugs.
True! This is partly due to the rise in fentanyl use (Kugeler et. al., 2024).
Besides meeting the legal requirements, why are there so many groups on the schedule?
To reduce idle time and keep clients healthily engaged.
Name two BHTs whose first names are not their actual first names.
Leo and Michael.
What does it mean to "alter" a substance?
Altering a substance refers to changing a substance's properties or method of use to experience faster or more potent effects. For example, crushing and snorting pills rather than swallowing them.
Why are coping skills so important for recovery?
To prevent relapse.