Back To the Future: The Adolescent Mind at Work

1. Back To the Future: The Adolescent Mind at Work Presented by: Andrica WilcoxenDave SullivanPaula Davis Joycelyn Burgo COMBAT CONFERENCE September 27, 2012

2. Workshop Agenda • A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste! • How Substance Abuse Effects Learning, Intervention Strategies and Why This Is Important!

3. Ice Breaker

4. What happens in the brain? • We feel good when neurons release DOPAMINE into the synapse. • Synapse: when a signal is passed from one neuron to another

6. What happens in the brain? • Dopaminecrosses to the next neuron and binds to the receptors, providing a jolt of pleasure. • Excess dopamineis taken back up to the sending cell while the nerve cell releases GABA that works to prevent the receptor nerve from being over stimulated.

7. What happens in the brain? • Addictive substances/behaviors INCREASE the amount of dopaminein the synapse that heightening the feeling of pleasure. • Addiction occurs when repeated drug use/addictive behavior disrupts the normal balance of the brain circuits that control rewards, memory and cognition ultimately leading to compulsive drug using/unhealthy behavior like sex addition/gambling/etc.

8. What happens in the brain? More recent data now suggest that the release of dopamine can even be triggered by the environment associated with the reward, without the reward itself even having to be present! Dopamine would then be responsible for a whole set of behaviors designed to obtain the reward.

9. Did you know…. • Youth who begin drinking before the age of 18 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those youth who wait to drink until age 21. • Girls are binge drinking more than boys. • Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 teens die each year from alcohol poisoning. • 1 in 8 adolescents are abusing/dependent on alcohol/drugs. • 1 in 5 youth are directly impacted by someone who is chemically dependent. Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth 2006

10. “Goggle” Activity

11. Effective teaching strategies! We tend to remember: • 10% of what we read • 20% of what we hear • 30% of what we see • 50% of what we hear and see • 70% of what we say • Participate in discussion/presentation • 90% of what we SAY and DO • Simulating or doing the real thing • The PROCESS of learning!!

12. Effective Methodology “No matter how creative, colorful or exciting a lesson is, if the teacher’s brain is the ONLY one interacting with the material, the teacher’s brain-NOT the student’s brain-is the only one forming dendrites.” *“The Brain Matters: Translating Research into Classroom Practice” Patricia Wolfe

13. Academic Achievement and Alcohol • Increased alcohol use, especially average number of drinks per week, is related to decreased class attendance, poor test performance, and grades.

14. Kids & Counseling:“Why I do better when I’m High?”

15. An Adolescent Brain

16. “Cokehead” Activity

17. Effective Methodology • National/State Health Standards • Skill Based • Brain Based • Cooperative Learning • Differentiated Instruction • Multiple Intelligences • Critical Thinking • Pyramid of Learning • Student Based vs. Teacher Driven • Relevant and FUN!!!!!!

18. Tobacco Substance Use “Laboratory experiments confirm that nicotine alters the structure and function of the brain within a day of the very first dose.” -Dr. Joseph DiFranza University of Massachusetts Medical School

23. Patterns of Co-Occurrence Among at Risk Behaviors (Grades 9-12)

24. Addiction • Addiction is a chronic or recurrent condition proposed to be precipitated by one or more of the following: genetic, biological/pharmacological andsocialfactors. • Addiction is characterized by the repeated use of substances or behaviors despite clear evidence of morbidity secondary to such use. • Example: 35 million smoker as attempt to quit every year, but only 7% achieve abstinent for one year!

25. Stages of Substance Use • A. Nonuse-no use at all • B. Experimentation - learning how the "fix" works. • C.Early stage/Misuse--using fix to get pleasure/high. • 1. Few consequences from use of fix. • 2. Ability to control use of fix in most cases. • 3. Tolerance to fix increasing: can use more. • D. Middle stage/Abuse--using to get relief from pain. • 1. Use of the fix becoming a problem/source of pain. • 2. Losing control over fix; adding new fixes. • 3. Discomfort when not using or moving toward a period of usage. • 4. Emotional numbness, depression, mental preoccupation, defensive. • E. Late stage/Addiction- using to obliviate consciousness. • 1. Severe psychological/physical consequences. • 2. Many blackouts.. periods of dissociation from self/reality. • 3. Suicide, insanity, accidental death, physical sickness, prison.

26. Addition Cycle

27. Functions of Substance Use • A. Gives a temporary sense of pleasure or relief. • B. Keeps one out of touch with inner turmoil/emotional pain. • C. Provides "energy source" for maintaining oneself in a role. • D. Provides a means to gain control over one's emotional experiences. • E. Helps to maintain one in a "fixed identity."

28. Early Intervention Early intervention, when done correctly, is extremely effective in helping the substance abuser accept help and recognize how their behavior affects those around them.

29. Video Parents Just Don’t Understand! DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince (1988) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW3PFC86UNI “You are the agent of change, intervene early!”

30. THANK YOU Dave SullivanExecutive Director, ArtsTechdavesullivan@artstech-kc.orgJoycelyn Tucker BurgoConsultantjoycelyn_burgo@yahoo.com Paula DavisProgram Director, ArtsTech pdavis@artstech-kc.orgAndrica WilcoxenCommunity Prevention Specialist, KCKCC Regional Prevention Centerawilcoxen@kckcc.edu

31. Questions / Feedback?

32. Other Data

33. National Health Standards 2006 • Standard 1 – Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health. • Standard 2 – Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology and other factors on health behaviors. • Standard 3 – Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information and products and services to enhance health. • Standard 4 – Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks. • Standard 5 – Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health. • Standard 6 – Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal setting skills to enhance health. • Standard 7 – Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce risks. • Standard 8 – Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family and community health.

34. Prevalence of Additions • Tobacco Addiction...71.5 million • Alcohol Addiction...18.7 million • Sex Addiction...16 million • Food Addiction...4 million • Drug Addiction...3.6 million • Gambling Addiction...2 million Time Magazine /July 2007

35. Drug Addiction • 3.6 million are dependent on drugs • 8,000 people try them for the first time TODAY! • 700,000 are currently in treatment for addiction • More than ½ first-time users are female and younger than 18 years old • Marijuana, cocaine and pain relievers are the leading drugs of abuse