🎗️ National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week, Jan, 22-27

Our nation’s teens are particularly vulnerable to falling prey to drug and alcohol addiction. At the center of this vulnerability is the fact that most teens don’t know the truth about drugs and alcohol. They tend to operate around myths that their peers pass around. How can we combat this problem and better educate our youth in the process? The answer to this question led to the founding of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. Drug treatment centers around the country agreed it was a great idea.

🎗️What is National Drugs and Alcohol Facts Week?

In 2010, a group of scientists from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) set forth to figure out how they could use science to educate teens about drugs and alcohol. Their task was to come up with creative ways to dispel myths kids often find on TV, through music, in movies, or from social media. Initially, the NIDA group decided that “Facts Week” would focus on drug use and addiction. In 2016, NIDA partnered with The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and alcohol became part of the agenda.

🎗️NATIONAL DRUGS AND ALCOHOL FACTS WEEK 2019

In this cycle, National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week will be held from Tuesday, January 22 through Sunday, January 27, 2019. Traditionally, the month of January has been home to this focus on teenage drug and alcohol abuse. After the success of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week 2018, people are looking forward to next year’s events.

Throughout the country, NIDA will be working with high schools and community government agencies to create special events. The events, as one would expect, will focus on myth-busting for teens. 

One popular myth is that "vaping is harmless," despite the fact that these products produce an aerosol that contains nicotine -- the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products, and that nicotine salt, found in many e-cigarette products, is extremely potent and addictive.

According to the 2018 Monitoring the Future Study, teen use of e-cigarettes among eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders surged at record proportions.

Have you ever looked at your child and wondered, “Why do they do that?” This has become a regular thought in my household lately. From mood swings to impulsiveness, “normal pre-teen/teen behavior” can appear to be anything but normal to parents and other bystanders. However, research reveals that patterns of brain development during these formative years play a significant role in shaping the child’s personality and actions.

🎗️Misconceptions and wrong information often fuel drug abuse, leading to addiction. Despite being an emotional issue, drug addiction is mostly surrounded by conflicting views. Moreover, portrayal of the stereotypical drug addict in movies and television has given rise to a plethora of misconceptions which divert the reality, creating problems for both the addict and the society.

Due to the prevailing misrepresentations about addiction, many addicts have to let go of their hopes of sobriety. Some of the most common myths that go around about drugs and alcohol are:

🎗️Myth 1: A typical drug user is a vile creature

The stereotypical image of a drug user that one visualizes is of a shabby-looking criminal living in the poverty-stricken bad side of town. A person dependent on drugs has the habit of mouthing obscenities and does not spend time on personal hygiene. However, studies have shown that drug addiction is a mental illness that can change the brain chemistry as well as the memory processes.

🎗️Myth 2: There is no way out of drugs

The old saying that “a leopard does not change its spots” is certainly not applicable in this case. Many success stories have, time and again, proven that even those who are neck deep into drugs can also return to sobriety, provided they get proper treatment and care.

🎗️Myth 3: Relapse is part of recovery

Though true in certain cases, a number of individuals have successfully come out of their addiction problem after undergoing proper recovery process at a drug rehab facility. Due to the prevailing fear of relapse, people often give up the fight against compulsive and even uncontrollable drug use.

🎗️Myth 4: Only hardcore drug abusers need treatment

Many drug abusers usually hit the rock bottom before going to the rehab, but this is not a rule. Recovery happens at all stages of addiction. Those who hit the rock bottom have to lose everything and even face the risk of death before they make it to the rehab.

🎗️Myth 5: Addiction is a sign of moral weakness

Drug addiction is a chronic mental illness that can change the way a person’s brain functions. Many a time, genetic predisposition also plays a major role in addiction, apart from other common factors, such as environmental, developmental, and other psychological factors. Thus, it is inappropriate to describe addiction as a reflection of one’s moral character.

🎗️Myth 6: Anything prescribed by a doctor is safe

Many prescription drugs are highly addictive and powerful, with chemical structures identical to heroin. In fact, if prescription drugs are abused, they may become the gateway to heroin and other street drugs.

🎗️Myth 7: Only hard drugs are lethal, the others are not that bad

While heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine are infamous for their life-threatening consequences, there are numerous other substances or intoxicants that can cause addiction and dependence leading to several impaired body functions and other mental health-related disorders. Alcohol is a classic example of a socially accepted and popular substance which can be lethal if abused.

🎗️There is hope

Drug addiction is a serious problem in the U.S. However, there are multiple treatment options to deal with this chronic disease.

Blogger: Egypt Assanti

ESD Baroness

{aka} Big Sister Southern Heat🎗️