1. Reason for using/trading drugs
People wake up feeling depressed, defeated, in need of some substance to make them feel good
As transportation improved, drugs were on the move
Passion for money, associated with drug trading
Reason for using/trading drugs
We see devastating results to drug use every day, whether it be in real life, in the newspapers, or on the evening news. However, people continue to use drugs instead of running as far as they can from the devastating effects. The reasons people use drugs are:
• People often wake up in the morning, feeling depressed, defeated, lacking confidence and motivation, and in need of something of substance in their lives to make them feel good. Drug usage goes as far back as history. There is no culture exemption in searching and finding substances that are effective in altering their mood, feelings, or thought, alleviating their pain and anxiety, producing feelings of relaxation, increasing their strength or work tolerance, thus providing a relief from boredom and giving a temporary distortion of reality.
• As transportation improved, people started taking their drugs to other cultures and/or countries. Every drug that has ever been discovered in the history of the world, is still available. Drugs were on the move.
Wars have been fought over drugs, as it inspires passion due to the large amount of money associated with their use and trade.
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2. Impact of drugs
Alcohol and other drugs (AOD) are major contributors to:
Rising medical costs
Transmission of AIDS virus
Violence in school and home
Child abuse
Automobile fatalities
Sexually transmitted infections
Unemployment
Reduced work productivity
Antisocial behavior
Impact of drugs
Alcohol and other drugs (AOD) are major contributors to:
Rising medical costs
Transmission of AIDS virus
Violence in school and home
Child abuse
Automobile fatalities
Sexually transmitted infections
Unemployment
Reduced work productivity
Antisocial behavior, etc.
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3. Focus of drug prevention
Law enforcement to get drugs off the streets is not successful
Efforts to stop drug distribution should be terminated
Focus of drug prevention should be on the underlying cause of drug use
Focus of drug prevention
Law enforcement works hard to get drugs off of the streets and out of the hands of those who manufacture, distribute, and use them. If history is an accurate teacher, stopping drug distribution is not going to be successful.
Therefore, efforts to stop drug distribution should be terminated.
The focus of the drug prevention program should be on the underlying cause of drug use.
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4. Promising information in preventing dangerous behaviors
The global society and educators implementing programs to inform the danger of drug usage is not effective!
Recent drug research revealed that prevention programs need the values component
Students who had a religious affiliation and who embraced spiritual values were much less likely to use drugs
Promising information in preventing dangerous behaviors among youth:
The global society and educators have responded to these concerns of drug usage, by designing and implementing programs to prevent entry into these potentially dangerous behaviors. Classes are being taught, informing students regarding the danger of drug usage. Nevertheless, students continue to use drugs and engage in sexual intercourse before marriage. These attempts to eliminate the issues apparently are not effective.
Recent drug research revealed that drug treatment and prevention programs need the values component.
It was shown that students who had a religious affiliation and who embraced spiritual values were much less likely to use drugs. These Christian values are essential in promoting a drug free society.
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5. Underlying causes of drug use
Hopelessness
Depression
Worthlessness
Feeling of separation
Underlying Causes of Drug Use
Therefore, we need to treat the underlying cause of drug use such as hopelessness,
depression,
worthlessness,
feelings of separation, etc.
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6. Coming into the arms of the Lord and promoting Christian values are great places to start!
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7. Resiliency Definition:
Resiliency is the capacity to maintain competent functioning in spite of adversity or life stressors
Resiliency
Behavioral research typically explores what puts young people at risk for their involvement in at-risk behaviors. Recently, the concept of resiliency, a new and powerful paradigm, has inspired hope among researchers including educators.
Definition:
Resiliency is the capacity to maintain competent functioning in spite of adversity or life stressors
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8. Behavioral research findings on resiliency
It is developed over time with environmental support
Despite hardships, resilient individuals develop coping skills that enable them to succeed in life
They have strong commitment to self and/or their God, willing to deal with problems
Behavioral research findings on resiliency
It appears to develop over time in the context of environmental support.
Resilient individuals are those who, despite severe hardships and the presence of at-risk factors, develop characteristics of coping skills that enable them to succeed in life.
Researchers explained resilience in terms of hardiness, and suggested that resilient individuals have a strong commitment to self and/or their God, willing to take action and deal with problems.
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9. It’s about hope. They have a sense that adversity can be overcome
They have a positive attitude, strong sense of purpose & internal focus of control—seeing obstacles as challenges that can be overcome
They have strong ability using religious faith to maintain a positive vision of life
It’s about hope. They have a sense that adversity can be overcome
These individuals focus on factors that account for success
Resilient individuals have positive attitudes toward their environment, hold a strong sense of purpose, and develop a strong internal locus of control that enables them to see life’s obstacles as challenges that can be overcome.
Resilient youth appear to have strong ability to use their religious faith to maintain a positive vision of a meaningful life.
Resiliency seems to be all about hope; it is the sense that adversity can be overcome, that there is life beyond the obstacles of today.
Rather than focus on the shortcomings of students such as academic failure, drug use, or other at-risk behaviors, the resilient construct attempts to identify factors that account for success.
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10. I Individual Attributes
Easygoing temperament or disposition
Intellectual capabilities
Realistic appraisal of the environment
Self-efficacy
I Individual Attributes
It is known that children who are sexually or physically abused, and raised in homes where the parents are alcoholics, face severe hardship during their developmental years and are at great risk for poor social and/or academic outcomes. However, not all of these young people emerge scathed. Some do well. Resiliency research identifies some factors associated with resilient kids which include the following:
Easygoing temperament or disposition
Intellectual capabilities, especially verbal and communication skills
Realistic appraisal of the environment
Self-efficacy (confidence that one’s internal and external worlds are predictable, controllable, and hopeful)
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11. Sense of direction or mission
Social skills
Sense of direction or mission
Capacity to understand and respond to other’s feelings
Humor
Adaptive distancing
Social skills
Sense of direction or mission, such as evidence of a special talent, passion, faith, or strong interest
Capacity to understand and respond to other’s feelings
Humor
Adaptive distancing, such as the ability to think and act separately from troubled caretakers
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12. II Family protective factors
Consistent, warm, positive relationship with caring adult
Positive family environment and bonding
High but realistic parental expectations
II Family protective factors
Consistent, warm, positive relationship with caring adult
Positive family environment and bonding
High but realistic parental expectations
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13. Family responsibilities and household tasks
Positive parental modeling of resilience and coping skills
Extended support networks, including family and friends
Family responsibilities and household tasks
Positive parental modeling of resilience and coping skills
Extended support networks, including family and friends
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14. III School Protective Factors:
Opportunities for involvement in school decision making
High but realistic expectations for students’ performance
Caring, supportive school atmosphere
III School Protective Factors:
Opportunities for involvement in school decision making
High but realistic expectations for students’ performance
Caring, supportive school atmosphere
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15. IV Community protective factors:
Positive community norms
Opportunity for involvement in community resources for children and families
IV Community protective factors:
Positive community norms (such as sense of caring, commitment, mutual protection, non-drug use), and opportunity for involvement in
Community resources for children and families (such as child care, nutrition, health programs, and drug-free recreational resources)
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