Drugs and Young People

Tracey Coleman Drug Education Consultant Illawarra and South East Region

Workshop Aims

• Why do young people use drugs?

• Prevalence and patterns of drug use among young people

• Consider how enhancing resilience is part of a whole school approach to drug education, health and wellbeing.

Reasons young people use drugs

• To experiment• To have fun• To heighten sensations• To rebel• To relax• To relieve boredom• To fit in with peers• To cope with problems• Because they are available.

Prevalence of drug use among young people 12 – 17 years

Table 3: Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol and Drugs (ASSAD) Survey 2005 Students aged 12-17 years

SubstancePercentage reporting ever used

Percentage reporting use in the last 4 weeks

Males Females Males Females

Analgesics/pain-killers 93.2 96.4 63.0 76.4

Alcohol 86.0 85.0 45.0 42.0

Tobacco 35.0 35.0 12.0 13.0

Cannabis 19.4 16.1 8.7 5.6

Inhalants 17.4 17.0 7.6 7.4

Tranquillisers (non-medical use) 14.8 15.5 3.8 3.8

Amphetamines (non-medical use) 6.0 4.7 3.0 1.8

Hallucinogens 4.3 2.1 2.0 0.7

Ecstasy 4.4 3.3 2.3 1.1

Opiates 2.7 2.2 1.5 0.6

Cocaine 3.5 2.3 2.0 0.7

Steroids 3.4 1.8 1.6 0.7

Comparison of drug use patterns among

young people 12-17 yrs 1996 - 2005

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Painkillers Alcohol Tobacco Inhalants Cannabis Amphetamines Ecstasy

1996

1999

2002

2005

Non drug use in last 4 weeks – males and females 2005

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Painkillers Alcohol Tobacco Inhalants Cannabis Amphetamines Ecstasy

males

females

The school’s role in preventing drug use

problems• Drug prevention involves more than just

teaching about drugs as part of curriculum.

• Promoting resilience can help protect young people from developing a variety of problems likely to negatively impact on their future health and wellbeing (e.g. drugs, bullying, violence and mental health problems).

The overall message from prevention research is that schools can prevent the onset, severity and duration of problematic substance use, bullying, violence and mental health problems by undertaking a process of developing a culture that promotes resilience.

(Fuller 2001)

Resilience is …..

• ….. The capacity to “bounce back from adversity”. (Wolin & Wolin 1999)

• Being resilient involves “the inherent and nurtured capacity of individuals to deal with life stressors in ways that enable them to lead healthy and fulfilling lives”. (Howard & Johnson 1999)

Being resilient• Personal attributes/skills:

• healthy relationships – socially competent• creative, flexible, solves problems• independent and sense of self-efficacy and

mastery• positive, sense of purpose, humour.

• Environmental supports:• bonds, support from family, friends, work, local

community• belonging to group/social club/sport/hobby etc• access to help services.

(Benard 1995, Wolin & Wolin 1999)

Risk and protective factors

A number of studies indicate that it is possible to identify those factors that increase the risk of substance use problems and those factors that help protect and buffer young people against likely harm.

Protective FactorsCommunity Schools Family Individual

•Opportunities & rewards for involvement•Links between services in community•Belonging•Supportive relationship with other adult

• Opportunities for success•Recognition of achievement•Sense of belonging•Links / partnerships with community services•Safe & supportive environment•Clear rules about behaviours•Positive relationships•Skilled & informed staff•Pro-social peer groups

•Opportunities & rewards for involvement•Attachment / belonging•Supportive caring parents•Responsibility for chores / required helpfulness

•Social skills•School achievement•Attachment to family•Optimism•Problem solving ability•Effective coping skills

Risk FactorsCommunity Schools Family Individual

•Community disorganisation•Racism•Laws and services favourable to drug use•Low neighbourhood attachment•Boredom•Perceived availability of drugs in community

• Low commitment to school•Rewards for anti-social involvement•Boredom•Experiencing racism•Bullying•Inadequate behaviour management•Poor academic results

•Parental attitude favourable to anti-social behaviour•Parental attitudes favourable towards drug use•Poor family management •Parents smoke cannabis at home•Poor discipline•Unemployment•Family conflict•Involvement in crime

•Early initiation of problem behaviour•Drug use•Friends / peers use of drugs•Involvement in crime•Rewards for antisocial behaviour•Feeling of not belonging•Poor social skills•Lack of empathy

Risk and Protective Factors

• Examine the scenario of Corey

• Complete with a partner

-the table of risk and protective factors

-enhancing the protective factors

-reducing the risk factors