TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
Welcome to the Prevention
Dimension
Shu’ -y i’de-ghayt-nin’sh
Shu’-yi’de-ghayt-nin’sh means
We are getting well
Shu’ (sounds like “shoe”)
yi’ (“i” is a long “a” sound)
de (short “e” like in “den”)
ghayt (sounds like “kite”)
nin’sh (long “e”)
The articles and information you see here are offered as a way to increase
communication and share information, knowledge, and humor. We welcome
questions, suggestions, and artwork from youth age 12 to 17.
Please contact Lisa Brown at 1-800-600-5599, or 541-444-8286 to turn in
articles or information that may be printed in an upcoming issue of Siletz News.
You also may e-mail documents of interest to lisab@ctsi.nsn.us.
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Children with learning disabilities
and others who find it difficult to
fit in or become frustrated learning
Children of poverty who lack access
to opportunities to succeed and
resources when they’re in trouble
The more risk factors children
have, the greater their vulnerability.
And everyone has a different ability to
tolerate drugs and alcohol - what if
your child’s tolerance is very low?
Regardless of how “cool” drugs may
look, there is nothing glamorous about
the reality of addiction, a miserable
experience for the addict and everyone
around him or her. Addiction causes an
all-consuming craving for drugs,
leading an otherwise responsible,
caring person to destroy relationships,
work, and family life.
Addiction is a treatable disease.
Drug Myths vs. Reality
While we’re learning the facts
about drugs, many young people are
still getting lots of misinformation and
myths from peers. Be aware and be
ready to address these half-truths and
misinformation, such as:
Myth: Marijuana isn’t harmful
because it’s “all natural” and comes
from a plant.
Truth: Marijuana smoke contains
some of the same cancer-causing
compounds as tobacco, sometimes in
higher concentrations.
Myth: It’s okay to use marijuana
as long as you’re not a chronic user
or “stoner.”
Truth: Occasional use can lead to
frequent use.
Myth: Drugs are not that
dangerous and I can handle it.
Truth: Drug use is extremely
unpredictable and affects people
differently. Anyone can become
addicted to drugs.
Myth: Everyone is doing it.
Truth: Research shows that more
than four out of five eighth-graders have
not used drugs in the past month. Even
among high school seniors (the group
with the highest rate of marijuana use),
only a quarter of those polled in a
national study reported using the drug
in the last month. In any given school,
most students aren’t doing drugs.
Addiction: No one who begins
using drugs thinks he or she will
become addicted. Addiction is a
disease characterized by compulsive
drug-seeking behavior regardless of
the consequences.
Research conducted by the
National Institute on Drug Abuse
clearly shows that virtually all drugs
that are abused have a profound effect
on the brain. Prolonged use of many
drugs, including cocaine, heroin,
marijuana, and amphetamines, can
change the brain in fundamental and
long-lasting ways, resulting in drug
craving and addiction.
If and when a drug abuser becomes
addicted depends on the individual.
Research shows that children who use
alcohol and tobacco are more likely to
use marijuana than children who do not
use these substances. Children who use
marijuana are more likely to use other
addictive drugs. Certain genetic, social,
and environmental risk factors make it
more likely that certain individuals will
become addicted to alcohol, tobacco,
and other drugs. These include:
❖ Children of alcoholics who,
according to several studies, may
have inherited genes that make
them more prone to addiction and
who may have had more stressful
upbringings
❖ Sensation-seekers who may I ike the
novelty of feeling drunk or high
❖ Children with psychological
problems, such as conduct
disorders, who self-medicate to
feel better
The success of any treatment approach
depends on a variety of factors, such
as the child’s temperament and
willingness to change, and the extent
and frequency of use. Drug addiction
now is understood to be a chronic,
relapsing disease. It’s not surprising,
then, that parents may have to make a
number of attempts at intervention
before their child can remain drug-free,
and they should not despair if their first
try does not produce long-lasting
results. Even if it’s not apparent at the
time, each step brings the child closer
to being healthy.
Advice from a teen in treatment:
Jamal, 17, treatment client in a residential
program: “My mom and dad are both
addicts. When I was 15,1 was living with
my uncle and we got into a fight.
“I went to stay overnight at a
friend’s, and he was using marijuana.
So we got high. But smoking weed got
old, and a bunch of us went to our
dealer’s house, gave him all the money
we had, and he bought hard liquor for
us. It made me feel on top of the world
and alcohol became my drug of choice.
“I started ditching school and I got
suspended. I only went to get high
anyway. But now I couldn’t graduate. I
was living with my grandmother at the
time and a peer counseling teacher from
school recommended a residential
treatment center.
“When I got here, I didn't think I’d
stay. I thought I’d just come to cool
down. But they started forcing me to
change. The staff made me see that I
was out of control. In about six months,
I started changing. The counselors
threw my issues in my face -1 had been
molested and abused when I was young,
and I had had problems with my mom.
I made commitments that I had to keep.
I plan to graduate and move back to
New York and I hope to attend college.
“My advice to anyone doing drugs
is that if you feel vulnerable, find
someone - your best friend or someone
you know who cares - and do what is
hardest: Talk about your pain. The
people who take care of you shouldn't
be dictators too; they should share their
own experiences and let kids know that
they’re there for them. I wish my
parents had talked to me about their
own drug problems.”
For Parents. Some parents feel
like they have to sleep with both eyes
open when their children are growing
up. Adolescence is a natural period of
experimentation. Coupled with the
profound physical and emotional
changes kids undergo at this time, using
drugs (including alcohol) is a potential
problem - and a serious one.
Aside from the obvious clues - like
the smell of marijuana drifting from
your son’s or daughter’s bedroom -
other more subtle signs of substance
abuse include:
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Borrowing money frequently.
or stealing
A short fuse; becoming easily
irritated or frustrated
Sleeping or eating more or less
than usual
Sudden, noticeable weight loss
Unusual moodiness or withdrawal
Lack of interest in appearance or
poor personal hygiene habits
Secretiveness about new friends or
personal belongings
Decline in academic performance
If you notice any of these
symptoms, don’t preach, lecture, or lash
out. Instead, discuss the substance use
calmly and frankly. Let your children
know you’re concerned and let them
know why: Their use of alcohol and
other drugs not only is illegal, it’s also
not too smart. Be firm; tell your
children what you intend to do if they
continue to abuse alcohol or other
drugs, and follow through.
See Alcohol on page 21.
July 2002
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Siletz News
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