1. AHS and Drug Use
Information you might already know about the brain plus the Healthy Teen Survey Results from last year.

2. Excitement/Novelty/Risk/Peers
Puberty =  Serotonin
Sensitivity to Dopamine
 Sensitivity to Oxytocin
Excitement/Novelty/Risk/Peers

3. Adaptable Early use = risk of abuse and addiction
Neurogenesis and Neuroplasticity
Early use = risk of abuse and addiction

4. Pruning and Strengthening
Pruning = Neural Connections
that are not used
fall away.
Strengthening = Neural Connections that
get used, get strengthened and more
efficient.
Early use = risk of abuse and addiction

5. Alcohol affects the teen brain differently because of the critical brain development occurring from ages 12 through 20.

6. Coordination (balance/posture) Learning Problem solving
Impacted by Drug, Alcohol
and Marijuana Use
Skills required for YOUR LIFE:
Short-term memory Coordination (balance/posture) Learning Problem solving
Executive Functioning
Reaction Time
Short-term memory
Coordination (balance/posture)
Learning
Problem solving
Executive Functioning
Reaction Time

7. Exercise Helps: Dopamine :  number of messengers/receivers
Continued Exercise actually changes the physical make up of the brain (neuroplasticity) which allows more dopamine to be present in the system.
Endorphins: Feeling of well being/physical wellness.

8. Concerned Friend Anonymous referrals
Please write a response to the following situations:
1. You go to a party where there is alcohol.
Would you be likely to start drinking if your friends do? How would your parents respond if you call them for a ride home? How would your parents respond if you ended up under the influence?
2. What do you do if you know a teammate (sports, theater, Speech& Debate, etc.) is using alcohol/drugs? What if it is influencing their performance? What if it is impacting the team’s performance?

9. Concerned Friend Anonymous referrals
It is important to know that you can reach out to adult in the school to voice your concerns about a friend’s drug and alcohol use that will not involve your use to come into question, will not get them in trouble with the police and can maintain your anonymity if you so choose. You can also seek help for yourself! Talk to a counselor, the health center or any administrator for more details.
Also, if someone is in trouble, you can always call 911. Again, the focus will be on helping the person in trouble and NOT your potential poor decisions that evening. AND your could easily save their life!

10. Advice from our seniors
“…there’s lots of time to do drugs but high school shouldn't be the time to do so”
“Drugs are easy to get and people are uneducated about drugs and what they should do in an emergency”
“Participate in whatever you feel comfortable participating in. Always have a buddy”
“If I continued to be pressured to drink, I would leave and think ‘maybe these people really aren’t the best company’”
“I think the high drug use in AHS is because of high stress in school, and peer pressure”

11. Advice from our seniors
“Drugs are not a trend or cool. People tell us they are bad, and they are proven to be detrimental to health. Nobody should do drugs before they are 18, and ideally, ever”
“Most kids are scared that their parents are going to kill them if they call and ask for a ride home from a party you’re not supposed to be at and although they may be disappointed, they’d be happier to swoop you up than drive drunk or with someone who has been drinking”
“I have been to parties with alcohol. I have gotten ‘drunk’ once. I decided directly afterwards to never partake in drinking copious amounts of disgusting chemicals because I felt terrible the entire time and the same for a week after. Now, at the parties that I have attended, I act as a designated driver and do not drink a sip of alcohol.”

12. AHS Healthy Teen Survey Results
Class of 2017

13. Healthy Teen Results The Good News:
Ashland High School has a high score for protective factors that normally serve to keep students drug and alcohol free. This includes engagement in school and extracurricular activities, healthy habits, trusted adults in their lives, feelings of confidence and capability in life.
Ashland: 69.3% Oregon: 59.3%
Healthy Teen Results

14. The Not-So-Good News: Percentage of students who have used __ in the past 30 days: Ashland Oregon Alcohol Marijuana Other’s Prescriptions Any illicit drug including LSD, cocaine, ecstacy
Healthy Teen Results

15. Healthy Teen Results Ashland 2011-12 2013-14 2015-16
The Not-So-Good News:
Comparing use in the last 30 days over the last 5 years:
Ashland
Alcohol
Marijuana
Cigarettes
Illicit Drugs
Healthy Teen Results

16. Healthy Teen Results Ashland 2011-12 2013-14 2015-16
The Not-So-Good News:
Comparing perceived risk of regular use:
Ashland
Alcohol
Marijuana
Cigarettes
Healthy Teen Results

17. The Not-So-Good News: Comparing perceived availability as “easy to get”: Ashland Oregon Alcohol Marijuana Cigarettes Coke/LSD/etc Prescription drugs not yours
Healthy Teen Results

18. The Not-So-Good News: Perceived Parental Attitudes towards Substance Use, i.e. parents would think it is “wrong” or “very wrong” to use: Ashland Oregon Daily Alcohol Use marijuana Smoke cigarettes Use prescription drugs not yours
Healthy Teen Results

19. Class discussion: Why do you think these numbers are the way they are?
What factors contribute to this situation? (Society, Environment, Parents, Peers, School, others)
What can be done to reverse this trend? (School, family, peers, teachers?)

20. What do we do ?
AHS Site Council is making this problem a focus this year.
A group of concerned parents will be participating in round table discussions about how we can change this culture of use at AHS.
We want to hear the students voices as well. Who wants to join the conversation?