Author: Aghunney

Mental Health Update

Substance Use and Abuse in Youth

The Warning Signs

Substance abuse is one of the many risks youth face in today’s world. Substances are not limited to illegal drugs, but also include tobacco and alcohol. In recent times, there has been an increase in the number of young people abusing over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Luckily, there are many preventative initiatives which aim to keep youth from initiating substance use. However, it is also essential to help the youth who have already begun to use substances.
The following may be signs of substance use in youth:
Physical: Fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and glazed eyes, and a lasting cough.
Emotional: personality change, sudden mood changes, irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, poor judgment, depression, and a general lack of interest.
Family: starting arguments, breaking rules, or withdrawing from the family.
School: decreased interest, negative attitude, drop in grades, many absences, truancy, and discipline problems.
Social problems: new friends who are less interested in standard home and school activities, problems with the law, and changes to less conventional styles in dress and music.
Keep in mind that these signs may be due to a problem unrelated to substance use. To be sure, refer students for screening with a mental health professional in the school.

Did You Know…?

In 2006,
one third of adolescents aged 12 to 17 drank alcohol in the past year
one fifth of adolescents used an illicit drug
one sixth of adolescents smoked cigarettes
10.6 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 drank alcohol for the first time in the past year
5.8 percent of adolescents used an illicit drug for the first time
7.7 percent of all persons admitted to publicly funded substance abuse treatment facilities
were aged 12 to 17.

Dispelling the Myth About Marijuana Use
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the world. The effects of use were unclear in the past leading to the common misperception that marijuana use is not harmful. However, recent research has shown that the use of marijuana can lead to a number of short-term and long-term negative consequences. Contrary to popular belief, marijuana has been shown to have addictive properties. Below are some more effects of marijuana use.
Short Term Effects
Long Term Effects
Cancer— It is difficult to determine whether smoking marijuana alone causes cancer. However, studies show that someone who smokes five joints per day may be taking in as many cancer-causing chemicals as someone who smokes a full pack of cigarettes every day.
Lungs and airways—People who smoke marijuana often develop the same kinds of breathing problems that cigarette smokers have: coughing and wheezing. They tend to have more chest colds than nonusers. They are also at greater risk of getting lung infections like pneumonia.
Immune system—It is not certain whether marijuana damages the immune system of people. But both animal and human studies have shown that marijuana impairs the ability of T-cells in the lungs’ immune system to fight off some infections.
Reproductive Health- Regular use of marijuana can delay the onset of puberty in young men and reduce sperm production. For women, regular use may disrupt normal monthly menstrual cycles and inhibit ovulation.
Learning and Social Behavior- Recent research shows that regular marijuana use compromises the ability to learn and to remember information by impairing the ability to focus, sustain, and shift attention. One study also found that long-term use reduces the ability to organize and integrate complex information.

problems with memory and learning	anxiety and feelings of paranoia
distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch)	impairment of driving skills leading to an increased risk of accidents
trouble with thinking and problem solving	increased susceptibility to infections
impaired muscle coordination and judgment	increased heart rate

References
The National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://www.nida.nih.gov/& http://www.drugabuse.gov/MarijBroch/MarijparentsN.html
The National Youth Network: http://www.nationalyouth.com/substanceabuse.html
The American School Counselor Association: http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/teens_alcohol_and_other_drugs
American Council for Drug Education: http://www.acde.org/common/Marijana.htm
Brown University Health Education: http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/atod/marijuana.htm

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

University of Maryland, Baltimore
Department of Psychiatry
737 West Lombard St.
4th Floor
Baltimore, Md. 21201

Center for School Mental Health

Phone: 410-706-0980 Fax: 410-706-0984 E-mail: csmh@psych.umaryland.edu

University of Maryland, Baltimore
Department of Psychiatry
737 West Lombard St.
4th Floor
Baltimore, Md. 21201

Substance Use and Abuse

Volume 2, Issue 4