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AIMS
Actions to help people to develop/maintain independence
Values promoted include antidiscrimination, confidentiality, and protection
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
To increase knowledge and understanding about the problems, effects, and forms of drug use.
Consider how the Value Base of the Youth and Community Project Worker affects the
decisions made by her/him
LEARNING OUTCOMES
To present a case study and explore the nature of drug abuse, responses by youth and community workers and their care values. |
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| INTRODUCTION | |||||||||||||||||||||
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DRUG USE
Discuss the use of any non-medical drug that could be placed into three categories but that there are many different levels within each Users move between different levels. Use alcohol as a simple example. |
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TASK A
Give out the information sheets and complete the grid in groups of 4. Discuss the two questions: "Why do young people experiment with drugs?" "Why do people become dependent on drugs?" |
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TASK A
Information sheet Click here to download this resource material as a pdf file |
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| FORMS OF DRUGS USE | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The non-medical use of drugs is not a single activity but can involve a range of behaviours.
These can best be understood as falling into three main forms experimental, recreational and dependent. |
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| Experimental | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Drug use is over short period of time (short term) and is often a group activity.
As the name suggests it is exploratory; an early method of use and situation will be influenced by the location and culture of the experimenter. The drug user is often ill-informed, lacking knowledge and prior thought. Experimental use can be dangerous, as novice users (for the first time) have not had time to learn how to avoid the worst risks. Sometimes experimenters are fortunate enough to have more experienced users advise them on the risks to avoid. Much drug use amongst young people is experimental. |
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| Recreational | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Drug use is not novice use. It has taken place over a longer period of time. It is also usually a group activity.
It is a more experienced form of use. Control has been established over what, where, when and how much is used. In different cultures there are different norms of recreational drug use. In the UK the most widely used recreational drug is alcohol. It is estimated that up to 90% of UK adults drink alcohol at some time in the year. Any drug, including heroin and other so-called hard drugs, can be used in a recreational way. Recreational use has often a lower risk than experimentation or dependency. |
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| Dependent | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Drug use is long term and often solitary or small group activity. It involves a compulsion continually to use for physical and/or psychological reasons.
It is possible to use drugs dependently "with some control" (if continuous supplies are available), much dependent use involves a lack of control by the user. Although there may be a favourite drug, dependent users will often switch to other drugs if their main drug of choice is not available. Dependent drug use can involve use of dangerously high quantities of drugs and chaotic patterns of use. In many cases dependent use is accompanied by emotional, psychological and/or social problems. High levels of repeated use may bring physiological and psychological problems in their wake. |
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TASK A
Drug use response sheet Click here to download this resource material as a pdf file |
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TASK B
Divide the students into small groups of 4. Briefly explain the information on the information sheets. Distribute to each group a copy of a different case study and copies of the value bases, job description and the information sheets (all on following pages). Distribute the questions on the Task B response sheet for the groups to consider. Bring the groups together to present their responses to their case study. Focus on ensuring that each group has a range of actions for the youth and community worker. They must describe and explain their case study - use posters, OHPs etc Every member of the group must be involved. They could take on various roles and describe the case study from their point of view eg `I am the youth worker, my role in the situation is to...' |
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TASK C - CARE VALUES
Complete the response sheet for `care values' in groups of four The students may try to link actions of the youth and community worker with their care values Bring the groups together. Ask each group to describe at least one action and the care values being upheld and discuss |
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EXTENSION
For your chosen organisation, find out the care values of both the people in the organisation and describe how their codes of conduct uphold their care values
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TASK B
Information sheet - the effects of drug use Click here to download this resource material as a pdf file |
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| The effects of drug use are influenced by many factors. The three main sets of factors are:
Drug Factors, Individual Factors and Situational Factors. You can assess the relative impact of these factors by asking the following questions: |
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| DRUGS FACTORS | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Which substance has been taken?
Was the drug a slowing down (sedative), a speeding up (stimulant) or hallucinogenic type of drug? What else (if anything) is mixed with it? How much has been taken and over what time period? How has it been taken? (i.e. smoking versus injecting) |
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| INDIVIDUAL FACTORS | |||||||||||||||||||||
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What does the user expect to happen (individual expectations and cultural beliefs about use)?
What is their body weight, sex and general state of health? At the time of use were they tired or fresh? How much experience have they had of the drug? What is their state of mind at the time of use are they relaxed or anxious? |
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| SITUATIONAL FACTORS | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Where was the drug consumed and with whom?
What was the atmosphere/situation in which the drug use occurred? (Think of the difference between an "official" sherry party and a late night "do" with close friends.) What are the living and material conditions of the user? |
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All of the above factors can have an impact on the effects of drugs and the way they are experienced by the user. We often think only of which drug it is. In fact the individual and situational factors can have a more powerful impact on effect than the drug factors. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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TASK B
Brief job description for a Youth and Community Project Worker Click here to download this resource material as a pdf file |
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| They aim to: | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Provide a substance use service for young people under the age of 19
Give out information Offer help and advice Offer treatment both medical and counselling Work with children and their carers and families Work with non-users who have carers who use drugs and alcohol Offer one to one individual appointments Provide talks with groups of young people who are at risk of becoming users Provide drug awareness sessions for other agencies who work with young people. |
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TASK B
Information sheet Click here to download this resource material as a pdf file |
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| THE PROBLEMS OF DRUG USE | |||||||||||||||||||||
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To help analyse the nature of drug problems, it is useful to divide them into three separate sets health, lifestyle and management. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| HEALTH PROBLEMS | |||||||||||||||||||||
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These depend on what substance has been used, how it was used, how much, the situation and general health of the user.
Drugs are neither safe nor dangerous of themselves. It all depends on how much, how, when, where and by whom they are taken. All the factors which influence drug affects can effect the nature and extent of health problems. In many cases the situation or context of use will have a crucial bearing on the degree of risk eg drinking and driving is always dangerous whilst drinking on its own may not be. |
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| LIFESTYLE PROBLEMS | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Does the young person have social, emotional relationships or learning problems?
Drug use is unlikely, in itself, to cause such problems although it may contribute towards them. In cases of illegal drug use or supplying drugs there is, by definition, a potential legal problem. Regular drug use may lead to financial problems. |
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| MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS | |||||||||||||||||||||
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These are the problems that drug use can cause for you as a worker for parents and for the rest of society.
The youth worker who sees a young person smoking a cannabis joint in the toilets of a youth club has a management problem. He/she has to intervene (get involved). Failure to do so is a breach of the law, and would probably also produce a critical response from the employer. Young drug users will rarely recognise management problems as their problems. Often, they will not view drug use as problematic in any way. |
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TASK B
Information sheet Click here to download this resource material as a pdf file |
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| THE RESPONSE OF DRUG USE | |||||||||||||||||||||
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An effective response to drug use is based upon careful analysis of the drug problems. There are three possible responses Control, Care, and Education | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CONTROL | |||||||||||||||||||||
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is most often used in response to management problems. It can range from increased policing, prosecution and customs controls to rules, discipline and punishment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| EDUCATION | |||||||||||||||||||||
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can range from simple provision of information to full educational programmes. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| CARE | |||||||||||||||||||||
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can range from immediate first aid to counselling and other talking approaches. In the case of long term dependent use of some drugs, medical interventions such as detoxification or maintenance prescribing may be needed.
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TASK B
Case studies Click here to download this resource material as a pdf file |
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TASK B
Case studies - response sheet Click here to download this resource material as a pdf file |
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TASK C
Response sheet Click here to download this resource material as a pdf file |
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