ARE YOU HAVING TOO
MUCH FUN?
Partnership for Health
Substance Abuse Action Team
PEOPLE MISUSE DRUGS FOR MANY
DIFFERENT REASONS
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Get feeling of euphoria
Relieve emotional and physical pain
Be sociable
Peer pressure
Curiosity
Stress
HUNTERDON COUNTY QUICK FACTS
Substance Use
Hunterdon
NJ
Binge Drinking1
29.3%
25.5%
Current Marijuana Users2
5.9%
4.8%
Heroin Abuse Treatment Admission, Hunterdon County3
2008
2012
Number
Percentage
(%)
Number
Percentage
(%)
190
20.7
293
29.1
PROBLEM CUTS ACROSS AGE AND
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
• Among those admitted for Substance Abuse
Treatment4:
– 19% unemployed
– 36% student or not in the labor force
– 44% employed full or part-time
– 18% are 18-21 years old
– 18% are 45-54 years old
FOCUS AREAS OF THE SUBSTANCE
ABUSE ACTION TEAM
1. Heroin use and opiate abuse among young
adults (18-29 years old)
2. Substance abuse and misuse among older
adults (55 years and over)
NEGATIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND
PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEMS
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Cardiovascular conditions
Pregnancy complications
HIV/AIDS
Sexually Transmitted Infection
Domestic violence
Child abuse
Motor vehicle crashes
Homicide
Suicide
ALCOHOL
• Legal for individuals 21 years and older
• Socially accepted. Used in social gatherings, can help one
relax and ease the nerves
• Moderate drinking is 1 drink/day for women and
2 drinks/day for men5
12 fl oz (355 mL) of
beer or wine cooler
5 fl oz (148 mL) of wine
One mixed drink with
1.5 fl oz (44mL)
of 80-proof liquor
(e.g. vodka, gin, scotch,
bourbon, brandy, rum
ALCOHOL
• A depressant – Affects mood, emotions, brain function
• Most widely used and abused drug in the US6
• People may not be aware of the onset of addiction/dependence
• As potent as many illegal drugs
• Can be dangerous when mixed with other drugs
• Alcoholism is a TREATABLE illness
ALCOHOL EFFECTS
Alcohol CAN result in numerous health problems:
• Chronic medical conditions (e.g. liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis,
various cancers)
• Aggravate existing conditions
• Interfere with use of medications
• Unintentional injuries and violence
• Alcohol abuse or dependence
• Coma and death
“One simple phone call can save a life”
Call 9-1-1
9-1-1 Lifeline Legislation
• Any underage person who calls 9-1-1 to get help
for someone who is also underage and may be
showing signs of alcohol poisoning, will be
immune from prosecution for underage
drinking
• Applies to public and private property
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS THAT YOU OR
YOUR LOVED ONE HAS A PROBLEM
• Failure to fulfill major responsibilities at work, school, or
home
• Drinking in dangerous situations (e.g. driving, taking care of a
child, operating heavy machinery)
• Legal problems related to alcohol
• Continued drinking despite ongoing relationship problems
that are caused or worsened by drinking
• Strong craving for alcohol
• Inability to limit drinking
MARIJUANA
• Slangs: weed, pot, grass, joint, ganja
• Methods of ingestion:
– smoked, capsules, vaporization, cooked
into favorite recipe or candies, mixed in a
drink, suppositories
• Most commonly used ILLEGAL drug in the US7
• Medical marijuana is legal in some states,
under physician supervision
• Kids can purchase them via phone
MARIJUANA, IT’S NOT WHAT IT USED
TO BE
• THC, the primary active ingredient in marijuana, is a
mind-altering substance
• Marijuana can be laced with other dangerous and
toxic drugs (heroin, cocaine, PCP, embalming fluid)
• A depressant, stimulant and can also be a
hallucinogen
• Can cause cancer. One joint affects the lungs 4 times
as much as a cigarette8
• Can lead to a serious addiction
MARIJUANA RISKS/EFFECTS
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Recreational marijuana use is ILLEGAL in NJ
Impair driving motor skills
Affects judgment, perception and concentration
Using at a young age is linked to mental health issues –
schizophrenia, loss of IQ9
Frequent respiratory infections
Insomnia, paranoia, anxiety
Addiction
Cancer
MARIJUANA: KNOW THE SIGNS
• Seeming dizzy and having trouble walking
• Having a hard time remembering things that just
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happened
Acting disinterested in school, family or activities he
or she used to enjoy
Acting silly for no apparent reason. May appear
animated with rapid, loud talking and bursts of
laughter
May have distortion of perception and
hallucinations
HEROIN/OPIATES
• Opiates (Percocet, Oxycodone, Codeine) are used
medically
• Cause sedation or euphoria
• Methods of ingestion: snorting or sniffing, smoking, IV,
suppository
• Sold as white, off-white or brown powder, or sticky
black substance
• Comes in small packets
• Easily obtainable
HEROIN/OPIATES
• More addictive than morphine
• Develop high tolerance – need to use more to feel the same
high
• Heroin is frequently mixed with other dangerous substances,
making it lethal
• Can be hazardous to mix opiates with other drugs
• Impairs ability to drive
• Overdose can cause death
• Prescription drugs are easily addictive –
MUST USE WITH CAUTION AND SUPERVISION
• Prescription drugs can lead to heroin use as
heroin is a cheaper alternative
HEROIN/OPIATES: RISKS/EFFECTS
• HIV, Hepatitis C
• Loss of bone and teeth
• Severe acne
• Nerve damage
• Painful withdrawal
• Overdose
• Death
HEROIN/OPIATES: KNOW THE SIGNS
• Scars or “tracks” on the arms or on the backs of hands
• Changes in energy level throughout the day
• Flu-like symptoms when in withdrawal
– Body aches, runny nose
• Diarrhea and vomiting
• Change in appetite
• Constantly asking for money
NEW JERSEY OVERDOSE
PREVENTION ACT
• An individual can call 9-1-1 to report a drug
overdose without the fear of being arrested
and prosecuted for drug possession
• Protects the person making the call and the
person who has overdosed
PREVENT RX DRUG ADDICTION
• TAKE MEDICATION CAUTIOUSLY
• Dispose of unused/expired medication in a
permanent prescription drop-off box.
• Do NOT flush unused medications down toilet.
• Do NOT pour unused medications down a sink or
drain.
• Find a drop-off box location near you at
www.safecoalition.org. Hit Rx button.
TOBACCO
• Smoking Tobacco remains the leading cause of
preventable death and has negative health
impacts on people at all stages of life10
• Tobacco dependence is a chronic condition that
often requires repeated intervention.
• Counseling plus the use of medications (Rx and
OTC) is more effective than either alone and
should be encouraged for all who are willing to
make a quit attempt.
TOBACCO CESSATION RESOURCES
• Check with your insurance provider to see what
counseling and medications may be covered for tobacco
cessation.
• HMC: www.hunterdonhealthcare.org under the heart and
vascular services
• New Jersey Quitline: (866) 657-8677 or
http://njquitline.org
• Quitnet: http://www.nj.quitnet.com
• Mom’s Quit Connection: (888) 545-5191
or www.snjpc.org
SUMMARY
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All drugs – whether licit or illicit, prescribed or from
street sources – have the potential to harm the user and
can be abused
• HELP is available
– Anderson House
– Daytop Village of NJ
– Hunterdon Medical Center
– Hunterdon Behavioral Health
– Safe Communities Coalition
– Hunterdon Drug Awareness Program
CONCERNS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
OR DEPENDENCE
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Change in usual behavior
Use creates problems for user or others (family, school, work,
social lives)
Use in inappropriate and dangerous situations
Use to cope with problems and unpleasant feelings
Performs acts they would never do while not using
Unable to control use
Increased tolerance requiring larger amounts
Use of opiates beyond original prescribed intent
Sleep a lot
Moody
Gain or lose weight
C.A.G.E QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever felt you ought to CUT DOWN on your drinking
or drug use?
2. Have people ANNOYED you by criticizing your drinking or drug
use?
3. Have you felt bad or GUILTY about your drinking or drug use?
4. Have you ever had a drink or used drugs first thing in the
morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover
(EYE OPENER)?
* A “Yes” answer to any of these 4 questions, is a potential
indication of alcohol or drug problems.
THANK YOU!
PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH & THE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE ACTION TEAM
SUBSTANCE ABUSE ACTION TEAM
Anderson House
Daytop Village Outpatient of Hunterdon
County Department of Human Services
Hunterdon County Division of Health
Hunterdon Behavioral Health
Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center
Hunterdon Regional Community Health
Readington Township Board of Health
REFERENCES
1. 2010 Hunterdon County Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance
System
2. 2009 Household Survey on Drug Use and Health
3. 2008 and 2012 Hunterdon County Substance Abuse Overview
4. 2012 Hunterdon County Substance Abuse Overview
5. 2014 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alcohol FAQs
6. 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
7. 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
8. 2007 Aldington, et al. Effects of cannabis on pulmonary
structure, function and symptoms
9. 2012 Meier et al. Persistent canabis users show
neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife
10. 2010 US Surgeon General. How tobacco smoke causes disease