What is a ‘drug’?
The scientific definition of a drug is a substance that alters the way in which the body or mind works.
The term applies to alcohol, drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, prescribed drugs, over-the-counter medication and solvents.
Alcohol misuse – effects and consequences
For most people, drinking responsibly can be part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Meanwhile, the inappropriate use of alcohol can damage the health and well-being of employees and have far reaching effects on their personal lives. Drinking under age can also cause problems in later life along with problems at school and particularly with education. British teenagers are the third worst binge drinkers in Europe and their alcohol abuse is causing serious illnesses. The effect of alcohol on the long-term health and performance of the young, if they do drink it excessively, can be disastrous. Underage problem drinking is a far more widespread problem in the UK than in any other Western country.
If this threat to our society is to be countered, children and young people need to have the informed opportunity to learn ‘to think before they drink’. The earlier this process starts the more effective it can be. These disturbing facts need action now and education is a way of doing this. Using interactive learning workshops can have a huge effect on countering the problem.
More than half of 15 and 16-year-olds admitted regularly drinking to excess, the research by the University of the West of England revealed.
Persistent heavy drinking can lead to a range of social, psychological and medical problems including dependence, depression, anxiety, changes in behaviour, irritability, cirrhosis of the liver, cancer of the mouth, high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Relationship problems, both personal and work-related, are also at risk, and if not recognised and managed, can lead to more serious consequences.
Alcohol misuse – why we should act
There are a number of reasons for having a proactive approach to alcohol.
These include:
- health and safety
- other legislative requirements
- the business case
- corporate image.
Failing to address factors that make school unsafe can place can have a knock on effect for other peers and is proven to have social and health issues all round. There is strong evidence that failing to tackle issues relating to alcohol is costly.
Costs can be due to:
- increased levels of absenteeism, lateness and sickness absence
- lower productivity
- accidents and mistakes
- unacceptable conduct
With one of 2020 Dreams interactive Alcohol Awareness Workshops we can get to the root of the problem and help children discuss their problems without feeling intimidated or uneasy. The goal is to make children aware of the long term and short term effects and how they can hinder them now and in later life. It is important to make sure that they are aware of all the facts so that they can make informed choices.
Drug abuse – effects and consequences
Substance or drug abuse refers to the over-indulgence in, and dependence upon, a psychoactive drug leading to effects that are detrimental to the individual’s physical or mental health, or the welfare of others. Inappropriate use of drugs may lead to addiction or substance dependence.
As well as the penalties for offences involving controlled drugs, there are well-documented links between drug use and impairments in cognition, perception, and motor skills, both at the acute and chronic levels.
It is worth noting that over-the-counter drugs and solvents are often misused, and can be as problematic as illegal drugs in relation to the effects that they have on the individual and the impact that it can have on their behaviour.
Health risks depend on the drugs taken and include:
- increased risks of developing certain cancers
- depression and more severe mental health problems
- brain damage
- vascular disease.
The social risks are far-reaching and include:
- financial difficulties
- effects on family, friends and the wider community
- contributions to the volume of crime.
Drug abuse – why we should act
The drug risks are similar to those listed for alcohol, it is important to give children and young adults a platform to discuss their problems issues and ask questions relating to drug use and consequences. 2020 Dreams Interactive Workshops give children a chance to explore the issues surrounding drug use and help them to make the right choices when faced with issues surrounding drugs.
The environmental factors that influence the risk of addiction are:
- Home and Family. Parents or older family members who abuse alcohol or drugs, or who engage in criminal behavior, can increase children’s risks of developing their own drug problems.
- Peer and School Friends and acquaintances have the greatest influence during adolescence. Drug-abusing peers can sway even those without risk factors to try drugs for the first time. Academic failure or poor social skills can put a child further at risk for drug abuse.
Other risk factors that influence addiction:
- Early Use. Although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, research shows that the earlier a person begins to use drugs the more likely they are to progress to more serious abuse. This may reflect the harmful effect that drugs can have on the developing brain; it also may result from a variety of early biological and social vulnerability factors, including genetic susceptibility, mental illness, unstable family relationships, and exposure to physical or sexual abuse.
- Method of Administration. Smoking a drug or injecting it into a vein increases its addictive potential. Both smoked and injected drugs enter the brain within seconds, producing a powerful rush of pleasure. However, this intense “high” can fade within a few minutes, taking the abuser down to lower, more normal levels. It is a starkly felt contrast, and this low feeling may drive individuals to repeated drug abuse in an attempt to recapture the high pleasurable state.
Our Drugs and Alcohol Education Services provides youth centres, schools and educational establishments with up to date relevant knowledge understanding and skills in relation to substance misuse.
To book a workshop on Drug or Alcohol Awarness please contact us on 0800 689 9909 for more information
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