Anthony Louis Center / On-Belay of Minnesota Inc.

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Plymouth, MN  55441
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Adolescent Chemical Use 

Chemical Use, Abuse, Dependency

Use - experimentation, peer pressure, celebration/holiday, social use, take or leave chemicals

Abuse - using more than planned, experimenting with more dangerous chemicals, setting limits on using - not on weekdays, only drink beer not hard liquor, consequences for using - hang over, late to school/work, missing appointments/important things, consequences - legal, family, personal, school, financial, live to use chemical

Dependency - loss of control, need chemical to live, acute disease, jails-institutions-death

Signs and Symptoms of Adolescent Chemical Use

Pre-occupation with chemicals

  • Thoughts, words/conversation revolves around chemicals

  • Drawing, doodling, writing about chemicals - notebooks, school materials - pot leaves, alcohol bottles/names

Lying about chemical use

  • Saying "I'm holding it for a friend; It's not mine"

  • Minimizing..."Joe is worse than me!"; "I only do it once in a while"

  • Denial of magnitude of use...consequences, amounts and frequency of use

Attempts to quit/control use

  • Failed attempts - return to using

  • Only drink beer, not hard liquor because hard liquor causes more problems

  • Only use on weekends

  • Only use after school

Effects on Physical Health

  • Poor hygiene

  • Chronic cough, sick more often colds/coughs

  • Acne - may be Meth. sores

  • Poor sleep patterns

  • Nose bleeds, constant sniffling - cocaine

  • Burns on fingers, pipes, cooking

  • Weight gain/loss

  • Unable to run/be as active as in past-poor lung capacity

Effects on family

  • Loss of trust

  • Withdraw from family - will not eat dinner with family, or take part in family functions

  • Isolation from family

  • Never home

  • Disrespectful

  • Parents say "I don't know who he/she is anymore"

  • If family CD - family secrets

  • Guilt and shame - feeling responsible for problems

Effects on social life

  • Always gone with friends

  • Change in friends - more using peers/acquaintances

  • Unplanned sleep-over with friends - all or not come home

Effects on school

  • Truancy - skipping, skip to use

  • Poor grades

  • "I don't care" attitude

  • Disciplinary problems - suspended/expelled

  • Chemical violations at school

Effects on work

  • Multiple jobs - job hopping, quit

  • Fired from jobs

  • Not showing up on time or at all

  • Prostitution - exchange sexual bxs for drugs

Financial effects

  • Owe people money for drugs

  • Debts to dealers - family may be threatened

Legal effects

  • Criminal activity - burglary, stealing, etc.

  • Possession of drugs, paraphernalia

  • Minor consumptions - drinking tickets

  • Smoking/tobacco tickets

  • Runaway charges

  • Rape/sexual assaults

Sexual effects

  • Sexually transmitted diseases

  • Forced sex/rape/sexual assault

  • Exchanging sexual favors for chemicals - jr. high students

  • Ecstasy - "hug drug", heightens senses

  • Pregnancies/abortions, etc.

Effects on thinking and feeling

  • Erratic thoughts

  • Loss of memory-short term, long term

  • Mood swings-very high highs and very low lows

  • Depression, sadness, loneliness

  • M.H. issues

  • Paranoid though/feelings

Effects on Moral Self

  • Change in thoughts and beliefs

  • Change in/loss of morals/values

Effects on Spiritual Self

  • Loss of self/identity-identity is associated with chemicals

  • Loss of spirit/energy

  • Change in "who I am.."

 

 
 
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