Substance Abuse

Prevention and Awareness

November 24-25, 2022
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

In the Philippine statistics of drug usage, nearly

half of drug abuse cases were reportedly done by
15 to 19 years old adolescents. Children take the
initiative on trying substance abuse by having
access to a prescription medication at home and
illegal drugs that have been circulating on streets.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Some adolescents may try

to take up substance due to
curiosity, peer pressure,
mental health problems,
social isolation, bad
parenting experience, and
the absence of programs
designed to shape
adolescents.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Substance abuse happens to the adolescents

when their curiosity became a coping mechanism to
their problems in life.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

What is Substance Abuse?

The use of illegal drugs or the use
of prescription or over-the-counter
drugs or alcohol for purposes other
than those for which they are meant to
be used, or in excessive amounts.
Substance abuse may lead to social,
physical, emotional, and job-related
problems.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Substance that adolescents might abuse

• Alcohol
• Tobacco (Nicotine)
• Prescription medication
• Illegal drugs
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the substances that can be abused

easily by anyone due to its easy access from the stores
selling it. Even from home, parents allowing their children
to drink alcohol at the early age can be the cause of
alcohol abuse of the adolescents.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Alcohol

It can be abused by adolescents by drinking too much,

too often. Lately, in our society, many adolescents are
trying to escape their problem by getting drunk off from
alcohol.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Smoking Tobacco/Cigarettes

Like alcohol consumption, smoking tobacco products is

not much different when we are talking about substance
abuse. Since Tobacco has easy access like alcohol, many
individuals can purchase it from the store with ease.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Smoking Tobacco/Cigarettes

Adolescents might try and be addicted to tobacco since

they often see it in the adults they refer as role models as
their way of relieving their stress.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Smoking Tobacco/Cigarettes

Adolescents nowadays experiencing various challenges

and problems in their lives to the point they look for any
coping mechanisms that might ease up their heavy
feelings.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Smoking Tobacco/Cigarettes

One of them is taking substances that can give them

the feelings of being high, that leads to engaging in any
illegal substances
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Prescription Medication

Some adolescents are living together with a parent or

any relative that is taking prescription medicines that are
highly exclusive for specific patients only. Some
adolescents gain access to those prescription medicines
due to the negligence of adults, resulting into satisfying
their curiosity and taking those medicines.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Prescription Medication

Most of prescription medications are giving the effects

of relaxants especially those high level of pain killers.
These prescription medicines are only used for specific
patients to accommodate the pain given by their illness.
Taking this high level of medicines might ruin your health
in the long run.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Illegal Drugs

In our society that experiencing heavy war on drugs,

various kind of illegal drugs are being used by individuals.
From higher social status to low-income individuals, they
are using different illegal drugs such Methamphetamine
hydrochloride (mostly known as Shabu), Cannabis Sativa
(Known as Marijuana), and Cocaine.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Consequences of teenage drug abuse

1. Drug addiction/dependency – teens who
abused drugs are more likely to develop drug
dependency in their life.

2. Mental Health problems – excessive usage of

drugs can induced mental health issues such as
depression and anxiety.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Consequences of teenage drug abuse

3. Impaired judgment – drug abuse slows down
the processing of information needed in
formulating decisions

4. Engaging in risky sexual behavior – Poor

Judgment can lead to teens losing sight of the
consequences of their sexual behavior.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Consequences of teenage drug abuse

5. Decline in academic performance – Drug
abuse also affects the performance in school
specially in its cognitive ability.

6. Withdrawal from society – Feelings of isolation

worsen as teens abuse drugs and their thought
processes are impaired too.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

How to help Teens stay drug free

1. Spend quality time and make meaningful
connections with family and friends

2. Open the conversation about drugs and other

susbtance and discuss their views about it
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

How to help Teens stay drug free

3. Explain why drugs and substance abuse
are dangerous and should be avoided.

4. Identify risks in the teens surroundings and

how to resist them.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

How to help Teens stay drug free

5. Be honest in your own views on

substance abuse
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Asynchronous activity:
Imagine that you went in an unfamiliar urban area. And some
locals there are offering you some things you didn’t know
about.
1. What are the substances or illegal drugs that you are
aware of existence? List down all the names of illegal
drugs you know.
 Substance Abuse Prevention and Awareness

Asynchronous activity:
2. List 3 ways how will you avoid the usage of illegal drugs
and substances.
3. List 3 ways how will you help a person (Imagine it is a
friend) who is currently abusing illegal drugs or substances.