DRUGS
Why is alcohol considered a drug?
Alcohol is considered a drug because it can impact the mind and body, and can be addictive.
What does addiction mean?
The word “addiction” is often used to refer to any behaviour that is out of control in some way. Addiction is also used to explain the experience of withdrawal when a substance or behaviour. However, experiencing enjoyment or going through withdrawal do not in themselves mean a person has an addiction.
One simple way of describing addiction is the presence of the 4 Cs:
Examples...
-Being firm! Not "wishy washy"
-Have an escape plan
-Lean on a positive support
-Leave the situation
What are three coping strategies you can use when experiencing cravings?
Let us know your coping strategies!
Cocaine and crack can cause heart attacks and stroke
True!
Cocaine and crack cocaine are powerful central nervous system stimulants. It causes heart rate and blood pressure to increase greatly, which could cause a blood vessel in the brain to burst (stroke) or cause heart failure.
What does sigma mean? Can you provide an example?
Stigma is a discrimination against an group of people, a place, or a nation.
Stigma about people with addiction might include inaccurate or unfounded thoughts like they are at fault for their condition, they are bad people because they use drugs, they can never change.
Examples...
-Concurrent Disorders group
-AA/NA (Twelve Step Programs)
-SMART Recovery
What does DEADS stand for in relation to relapse prevention?
D: Deny/Delay
E: Escape
A: Avoid
D: Distract
S: Substitute
What is the name of the medication that is designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose?
Naloxone
What is the term for when someone experiences a mental illness and substance use disorder at the same time?
Concurrent Disorder
Who are three people you can reach out to when you need support?
Examples:
-treatment team
-trusted family or friends
-sponsor
-crisis line
What does SMART stand for in SMART Goals?
S: Specific
M: Measurable
A: Attainable
R: Realistic/Relevant
T: Timely
Why do people typically feel depressed or have a low mood after using stimulant drugs such as cocaine or crystal meth?
These drugs (uppers or stimulants) give the body a big dose of the feel good chemical called dopamine, and the body can stop producing it. After the drug is out of the system, it takes a while for the body to start making dopamine and start releasing it again.
What does tolerance mean in relation to drug use?
Drug tolerance occurs when someone’s body or brain no longer responds to a drug in the same way it once did.
In many cases, tolerance happens when someone has been taking a certain drug for an extended period of time. The receptors or enzymes in their brain and body are less activated by the drug, so it is not as effective.
This means that in order to experience the same effects they initially did, they need to increase their dose of the drug.
In cases of substance misuse, someone may need to take increasingly higher doses of the drug to achieve the “high” they are seeking.
What are personal boundaries?
Personal boundaries are physical and/or emotional limits that people set for themselves as a way to safeguard their overall well-being. Healthy boundaries help people define who they are as a way to ensure relationships are safe, supportive and respectful.
Name your favourite mindfulness activity!
Share with the group!
True or False...
Marijuana can temporarily impair an individuals short-term memory?
True!
Marijuana can produce short-term problems with thinking, working memory, executive function, and psychomotor function (physical actions that require conscious thought, such as driving a car or playing a musical instrument). This is because marijuana's main psychoactive chemical, THC, causes its effect by attaching to receptors in brain regions that are vital for memory formation, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex.
What does mindfulness mean?
Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.
While mindfulness is something we all naturally possess, it’s more readily available to us when we practice on a daily basis.
Whenever you bring awareness to what you’re directly experiencing via your senses, or to your state of mind via your thoughts and emotions, you’re being mindful. And there’s growing research showing that when you train your brain to be mindful, you’re actually remodeling the physical structure of your brain.
Being in the HERE and NOW
Experts suggest incorporating activities and practices from five holistic domains into your care plans and routines. These five domains are:
-Physical
-Mental
-Spiritual
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Social and Emotional
What are the stages of change in recovery?
-Contemplation
-Preparation
-Action
-Maintenance