Effective Decision Making Program Melanie Rhodarmer Residential Education Jay Cutspec Health and Counseling

GOALS To allow you to assess personal use behaviors and comparisons with peers To educate you on indicators of a more serious problem that may develop

INTENTIONS Program is designed to be interactional and supportive Program is not intended to be confrontational Program is designed to provide information

GROUND RULES No debate on the legal drinking age or legalization of marijuana No debate on the fairness of sanction or UNCA policy Respect shown to facilitators and other students

Assessment of Substance Abuse Use Personal and confidential Not required to share information or submit assessment to anyone Honest self assessment of your use patterns

ACHA Health Assessment Completed on 31 campuses across the country Completed by 31, 345 students Completed at UNC Asheville in Fall 2008

Assessment If you continue to walk around in the dark, you’ll probably keep tripping over the furniture and bruising yourself

Four Phases of Use 1.Low Risk Choices 2.High Risk Choices 3.Psychological Dependence 4.Physical Addiction

Phase 1: Low risk choices Do not drink consistently or limit # of drinks Take it or leave it attitude towards drinking Drink on occasion – football game, birthday party, etc.

Phase 2 Attitude – “drinking is a good way to have fun” Attitude is not- goes with a good time, substance use is the ROUTE to a good time Use leads to impairment and reduced inhibitions which leads to riskier behavior Tolerance level increases Drink high risk amounts (get drunk)

Phase 2-Effects Impairment in abstract thinking ability-very subtle impairment Experience school as “getting harder” which drives the desire to use more. Social dependence may be present –use for normal social functioning

Phase 3 Psychological Dependence High risk use is RELIED on for fun, not just the route to have fun Think of using or the need for alcohol and drugs all the time View drugs and alcohol as a magic potion that allows us to be what we want to be. Turn to drugs and alcohol instead of people

Phase 4 Physical Addiction Body needs certain amount of alcohol to function normally Experience physical withdrawal when you stop using (uneasy, difficult concentrating, restlessness, difficulty sleeping) Significant negative consequences to use

Marijuana

True or False It is impossible to overdose on marijuana.

True or False Marijuana is not addictive.

True or False Marijuana has become less popular among college students because of ecstasy and prescription drug use.

True or false Smoking one joint is just the same as smoking one cigarette.

Facts on Marijuana Marijuana can be addictive Physical versus psychological addiction Uncontrollable compulsive drug seeking and use

Facts on Marijuana Marijuana is riskier today “Fiendin’” or jonesing Effects of addiction- emotional maturity Withdrawal symptoms

Prescription Drugs

FACT OR MYTH #1 More than 1 in 5 teenagers reported using prescription pain killers without a doctor’s permission.

FACT OR MYTH #2 Prescription drugs are readily available on the internet.

FACT OR MYTH #3 Prescription medications cannot be abused because they are legal and prescribed by a physician.

Lethal Mixes Alcohol and medication Driving and coordination Negative consequences: injury, legal, and sex life

Group Scenarios

Scenario #1 Tanya was getting ready to go out for a night of party-hopping. She had scored two Vicodin and was planning on taking them to get her night started off right, as soon as she finished ing her friend. A message popped up: “Roommate out cold. Not breathing well. Vicodin + shots. 911??” Tanya wasn’t sure what to suggest, but thought that maybe her own evening plans might need some adjusting.

Scenario #2 It was 3 a.m. and Justin still couldn’t fall asleep. He had been studying for his economics final for days, and knew he had to do really well to make up for his poor midterm. So he had taken some of his roommates ‘ Adderral to help him study. That was great at 10 p.m., but now he needed to fall asleep so that he would be well rested enough to do his best. That was not going to happen because Justin had severe jitters from the Adderall. He hoped he’d have enough energy in the morning to get his mind in gear.

Scenario #3 One of your sorority sisters has been trimming down recently. Yesterday, you went into her purse to borrow her lip gloss and found a mostly empty bottle of diet pills. She laughed and said everybody takes them, and you know she’s right. After all, diets are so hard to follow, and she bought the pills at the vitamin store. But you’re a little concerned. You’ve heard they can be addictive. You’re not sure if it’s no big deal, or if you should be worried.

When to intervene? Trust your gut Don’t wait for symptoms to be present Be aware that a person who has passed out may die Suspicion of overdose….call 911