Mental Health/Awareness Junior Family Life

Overview of Unit  Substance Use and Abuse  Define Mental Health and Well Being   Anxiety Disorders   Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder   Bipolar Mood Disorders   Depression   Eating Disorders   Schizophrenia   Support Groups and Services

Substance use and Abuse  Adolescence is a time of exploration, high risk behaviors and feelings of being invincible.  Use of alcohol and drugs can increase the potential for engaging in sex, violence, aggression and other high risk behaviors that can cause harm, illness and death.

Alcohol  Used by more adolescents and young adults in the U.S. than tobacco or illicit drugs.  Factor in approximately 41% of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes.  Associated with physcial altercations, unintentional injuries, academic, social and occupational problems and legal issues. (  About half of high school students perceive no harm in binge drinking of use of marijuana (pot).

 More than 25% of high school students report their first use of alcohol or marijuana before the age of 13 years old.  Studies indicate that 4-15% of adolescent ER visits and 32-45% of adolescent trauma are related to alcohol use.  Alcohol positive adolescents do not always present in a similar way. initial experimentation with alcohol – can be extremely intoxicated. initial experimentation with alcohol – can be extremely intoxicated. trauma or multiple injuries trauma or multiple injuries

 Moderate alcohol use and minor injury History of alcohol and/or drug use History of alcohol and/or drug use History of psychosocial problems History of psychosocial problems Alcohol is a depressant. Physical Effects of over use or abuse include:  Respiratory depression  Nausea and /or vomiting  Hypothermia  Hypoglycemia  Change in liver functions