Advocacy

Brochure
 Why do people take drugs?
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.

Specific Drug of Abuse

 Shabu
 Marijuana
 Inhalants
 Cocaine
 Other Drugs
 Addiction
Addiction is a disease that affects your brain and behavior.
When you’re addicted to drugs, you can’t resist the urge to use
them, no matter how much harm the drugs may cause. Drug
addiction isn’t about just heroin, cocaine, or other illegal
drugs. You can get addicted to alcohol,
nicotine, opioid painkillers, and other legal substances.
At first, you may choose to take a drug because you like the
way it makes you feel. You may think you can control how
much and how often you use it. But over time, drugs change
how your brain works. These physical changes can last a long
time. They make you lose self-control and can lead you to
damaging behavior

Risk factors of Addiction

While anyone can develop problems from using drugs,
vulnerability to substance addiction differs from person to person.
While your genes, mental health, family and social environment
all play a role, risk factors that increase your vulnerability
include:

 Family history of addiction

 Abuse, neglect, or other traumatic experiences

 Mental disorders such as depression and anxiety

 Early use of drugs

 Method of administration—smoking or injecting a drug

may increase its addictive potential
 Signs of Drug Addiction
 You keep taking a drug after it's no longer needed for a health
problem.
 You need more and more of a substance to get the same effects
(called "tolerance"), and you can take more before you feel an effect.
 You feel strange when the drug wears off. You may be shaky,
depressed, sick to your stomach, sweat, or have headaches. You
may also be tired or not hungry. In severe cases, you could even be
confused, have seizures, or run a fever.
 You can't stop yourself from using the drug, even if you want to. You
are still using it even though it's making bad things happen in your
life, like trouble with friends, family, work, or the law.
 You spend a lot of your time thinking about the drug: how to get
more, when you'll take it, how good you feel, or how bad you feel
afterward.
 You have a hard time giving yourself limits. You might say you'll
only use "so much" but then can't stop and end up using twice that
amount. Or you use it more often than you meant to.
 You've lost interest in things you once liked to do.
 You've begun having trouble doing normal daily things, like cooking
or working.
 You drive or do other dangerous things (like use heavy machines)
when you are on the drug.
 You borrow or steal money to pay for drugs.
 You hide the drug use or the effect it is having on you from others.
 You're having trouble getting along with co-workers, teachers,
friends, or family members. They complain more about how you act
or how you've changed.
 You sleep too much or too little, compared with how you used to. Or
you eat a lot more or a lot less than before.
 You look different. You may have bloodshot eyes, bad breath,
shakes or tremors, frequent bloody noses, or you may have gained
or lost weight.
 You have a new set of friends with whom you do drugs and go to
different places to use the drugs.
 You go to more than one doctor to get prescriptions for the same drug
or problem.
 You look in other people's medicine cabinets for drugs to take.
 You take prescribed meds with alcohol or other drugs.
 Prevention
Drug Abuse Prevention Starts with Parents
Drugs, including tobacco and alcohol, are easily available to
children and adolescents. As a parent, you have a major
impact on your child’s decision not to use drugs.
Most likely, children in grade school have not begun to use
alcohol, tobacco, or any other kind of drug. That is why grade
school is a good time to start talking about the dangers of
drug use. Prepare your child for a time when drugs may be
offered.
Drug abuse prevention starts with parents learning how to
talk with their children about difficult topics. Then, the
programs offered by school, sports, and other groups can
support what you have started.
Prevention Starts With Parents
As a parent, you have a major impact on your child’s
decision not to use tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.
 Prevention starts when you start talking with, and
listening to, your child.
 Help your child make good choices and good friends.
 Teach your child different ways to say “No!”

Learn to Deal With Life’s Pressures

The inability to deal with normal life pressures is one

of the major reasons that drive people to drugs and
alcohol. For many people, drug and alcohol
consumption is a way to escape the harsh realities of
life. Learning to cope with life’s pressures will go a
long way when it comes to helping people stay away
from drugs and alcohol.
Don’t Give in to Peer Pressure

Some people, particularly teenagers and young

adults, experiment with drugs just to portray a cool
image in front of others. They do it to fit in among
their circle of friends. Some kids wrongly believe that
doing drugs or consuming alcohol will make them
more acceptable and popular with other kids. Not
giving into peer pressure can and will prevent drug
addiction.

Develop Close Family Ties

Research indicates that people who share a close

relationship with their families are less likely to
become drug addicts. The guidance and support
provided by the family makes it easier for a person to
deal with life pressures and stay away from all types
of harmful substances. The same is true for having a
close relationship with good friends that are
responsible and trustworthy.

Develop Healthy Habits

Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is

another way of preventing drug and alcohol
addiction. Being healthy and active makes it easier
for people to deal with life stresses. This in turn,
reduces the temptation to rely on drugs and alcohol
to deal with stress. A healthy diet and regular
exercise promotes feel good chemicals in the brain.
 TIPS FOR STAYING DRUG FREE
Stay busy by setting short-term goals.
Occupying free time combats the boredom that can
sometimes lead to relapse. Before bed, make a to-do list for
the next day. Whether it’s submitting a job application,
mowing the lawn or calling a friend, finding new ways to
occupy any free time is important. Making habits to stay busy
during the day will gradually disrupt the association to drugs
and alcohol, and will also boost productivity and
confidence.Sweat it out. Try to squeeze in at least 30 minutes
of exercise. According to a study at Mayo Clinic, exercise helps
reduce stress, improves mild-to-moderate depression and
anxiety, improves sleep and boosts mood. Those new to
exercise shouldn’t feel intimidated. The study suggests a
simple brisk walk is enough to reap these benefits.

Cut out toxic relationships.

Take responsibility for recovery by being honest with
unhealthy friendships or romances. Ask for their respect in
lifestyle changes, like the need for space. Ending it doesn’t
mean the other person is “bad.” This is not assigning
blame—only maintaining well-being.

Utilize support systems.

Support networks may include family, friends, colleagues,
recovery meeting participants, sponsors or therapists.
Verbalizing feelings, even when it’s uncomfortable, can help
conceptualize and take responsibility for the next steps
necessary. Joining and becoming engaged in a recovery
community is beneficial as well, as it allows relationships to
develop between people who have shared experiences and
understand each other. Also remember that a support
system isn’t only there to help through the bad—they are
there to celebrate the good, as well.
When times get tough, remember this is a time of major
change, and lessons and insights are being gained to use
down the road.