Education

2017 Resource Guide in Spanish!

Brand New! Our Spanish Resource Guide is here!!

The purpose of our Education Strategy Team is to make our community members aware of the issues of substance use and misuse and how they can be involved in prevention efforts. We are available to present at meetings involving parents, HOAs, civic organizations, faith communities, businesses , youth, educators – you name it! Don’t see exactly what you’re looking for ? No problem! Contact us to develop a customized presentation.

 

INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC SUBSTANCES IS BELOW THESE RESOURCES:

We have published two resources guides focusing on alcohol and prescription drugs. Click to read these valuable resources.

 

2015 Alcohol Resource Guide

2016 Opioid Resource Guide

 

 

Community Resources: These are only a sampling of the many resources available. CCAPSA does not endorse a particular organization or product and encourage families to research and discover what tools will work best for them.

 

Partnership for Drug-Free Kids – is a drug misuse prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery resource that helps families with children

 

MADD – Georgia OfficeThe mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking.

 

Let’s Be Clear Georgia – Is a partnership of private and public agencies, employers, and individuals engaging in best practices and policies to prevent marijuana misuse in Georgia. CCAPSA is a member of Let’s Be Clear Georgia.

National Families In ActionNFA is a nonprofit organization founded in Atlanta in 1977. NFA researches and publishes information about addiction and substances with an emphasis on marijuana.

 

SAMSHA – Eight Dimensions of Wellness /   National Wellness Week

SAMSHA is the federal agency charged with improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce the impact of substance misuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

 

The Council on Alcohol and Drugs  – The Council serves the community through high-quality services and effective prevention programs including educational programs and services designed to engage children and teens, address the needs of parents, and to provide employers, educators, health professionals, policy-makers and the media with authoritative information on tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

Voices for PreventionV4P is a program of CCAPSA that provides policy education and advocacy training regarding substance misuse prevention-related legislation and supporting activities.

CADCA  – “Building Drug Free Communities – CADCA is a membership organization of over 5,000 anti-drug coalitions, each working to make their community safe, healthy, and drug-free. CCAPSA is a member of CADCA.

KSU Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery This facility supports KSU students, faculty, parents, and the community at large gain a better understanding of alcohol and other drugs, addiction and recovery at this critical juncture in a young person’s life.

Heroin Working Group – The objective of the U.S. Attorney General’s Northern District of Georgia Heroin Working Group (HWG) is to identify, address and thereby reduce the growing problem of heroin, which includes prescription opioids, as these abusive narcotic substances infiltrate and increase within our communities.

Georgia Prevention Project – The  Project is a statewide prevention program aimed at reducing the use of dangerous drugs among teens and young adults that accomplishes its work through awareness campaigns, educational programming and strategic partnerships with national and community based organizations.

 

Information on Substances:

  • Alcohol
    • Alcohol is the oldest and most widely used drug in the world.  Nearly half of all Americans over the age of 12 are consumers of alcohol.  It is classed as a depressant, meaning that it slows down vital functions – resulting in slurred speech, unsteady movement, disturbed perceptions and an inability to react quickly.  There are three basic types of alcoholic drinks: beer, wine and liquor. Read more about alcohol >
  • Cough and Cold Medicine
    • Cough and cold medicines can be consumed orally in tablet, capsule, or syrup form. They are sometimes mixed with soda for flavor and are often misused in combination with other drugs, such as alcohol or marijuana. Over-the-counter (OTC) prescription cough and cold medicines contain active ingredients that are psychoactive (mind-altering) at higher-than-recommended dosages and are frequently misused for this purpose. Two commonly misused cough and cold medicines are Dextromethorphan (DXM) and Promethazine-codeine cough syrup. Learn more >
  •  Tobacco
    • Use of tobacco products is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing over 400,000 people in one year! In addition, 131,000 of Georgia’s youth under the age of 18 will die prematurely from tobacco use! Recent stats show how common tobacco still is:
      • In Georgia, 49% of middle school students have tried cigarettes.
      • In Georgia, roughly 423,000 youth are exposed to second hand smoke at home.
      • According to the CDC, teen smokers are
        • 3X more likely to use alcohol
        • 8X more likely to use marijuana
        • 22X more likely to use cocaine
    • Nearly 54% of Cobb teenagers responded that they see only moderate, low or no risk to smoking a pack of cigarettes per day. (2016 GSHS)
  • E-cigarettes, Vaping, and Nicotine
    • Electronic cigarettes, or “e-cigarettes”, include e-pens, e-pipes, e-hookah, and e-cigars, are known collectively as ENDS – electronic nicotine delivery systems. According to the FDA, e-cigarettes are devices that allow users to inhale an aerosol containing nicotine or other substances. These may also include flavorings, colorings and other chemicals, which will increase their appeal to young people. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes are generally battery-operated and use a heating element to heat e-liquid from a refillable cartridge, releasing a chemical-filled aerosol.E-cigarettes can expose users to several potentially harmful chemicals, including nicotine, carbonyl compounds and volatile organic compounds. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which can cause addiction and can harm the developing adolescent brain.E-cigarette use has increased considerably in recent years, growing an astounding 900% among high school students from 2011 to 2015. These products are now the most commonly used form of tobacco among youth in the United States, surpassing conventional tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and hookahs.
    • Read more in the 2016 Surgeon General Report
    • Download Vaping and Nicotine Awareness Resources PDF
  •  Marijuana
    • Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). The plant contains the mind-altering chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinal (THC) and more than 400 other related compounds. THC is the main active chemical in marijuana; the amount of THC in marijuana determines the strength or potency and therefore its effects. Since 1980 the THC content in marijuana has been increasing. There are many different slang terms for marijuana and, as with other drugs, they change quickly and vary from region to region. Astro turf, bhang, dagga, dope, ganja, grass, hemp, home grown, J, Mary Jane, pot, reefer, roach, cannabis, Texas tea and weed. Read more about marijuana >
  •  K2/Spice
    • For several years. Spice mixtures have been easy to purchase in head shops and gas stations and via the Internet. Because the chemicals used in Spice have a high potential for misuse and no medical benefit, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has designated the five active chemicals most frequently found in Spice as Schedule I controlled substances, making it illegal to sell, buy, or possess them. “Spice” refers to a wide variety of herbal mixtures that produce experiences similar to marijuana (cannabis) and that are marketed as “safe”, legal alternatives to that drug. Sold under many names, including K2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks, and others is labeled “not for human consumption”. These products contain dried, shredded plant material and chemical additives that are responsible for their psychoactive (mind-altering) effects. More on K2/Spice >
  • Prescription Drugs
    • Recreational use of prescription drugs is a serious problem with teens and young adults. According to research conducted by Partnership for Drug Free Kids as many as one in five teens say they have taken a prescription drug without having a prescription for it. Painkillers, tranquilizers, antidepressants, sleeping pills and stimulants may appear “safe” due to being prescribed by doctors, but they can be just as addictive and potent as the heroin or cocaine sold on the street. The vast majority of teens abusing prescription drugs are getting them from the medicine cabinets of friends, family and acquaintances. Due to their potential for misuse and addiction, many prescription drugs have been categorized by the U S Drug Enforcement Administration in the same category as opium or cocaine.  Misuse of prescription drugs can be even riskier than the misuse of illegally manufactured drugs.  The high potency of some of the synthetic (man-made) drugs available as prescription drugs creates a high overdose risk.  This is particularly true of OxyContin and similar painkillers, where overdose deaths more than doubled over a five-year period.
  •  Stimulants
    • Sometimes called “uppers,” stimulants are a class of drugs intended to increase energy and alertness. These drugs increase blood pressure, heart rate and breathing. Examples of these types of drugs would be: Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta and drugs called “bennies”. The most commonly used street drugs that fall into this category are cocaine and amphetamines. Street names include: R-ball, Skippy, The smart drug, Vitamin R, Kibbles and bits, Speed, Black beauties, hearts, truck drivers, crosses, or LA turnaround. Prescription stimulants come in tablets or capsules that can be swallowed, injected in liquid form or crushed and snorted. Read on >
  •  Depressants
    • Sometimes called “downers,” these drugs come in multicolored tablets and capsules or in liquid form. The drugs slow down your brain and nervous system functions. They are often referred to as central nervous system depressants. They include sedatives and tranquilizers to make a person calm, drowsy or to reduce tension or anxiety; Rohypnol, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Haldol, are known as “major tranquilizers” or “antipsychotics” as they are supposed to reduce the symptoms of mental illness. Depressants such as Xanax, Klonopin, Halcion, Valium are often referred to as “benzos” help with anxiety and stress. Other depressants, such as Amytal, Nembutal and Seconal, are classed as barbiturates that are used as sedatives and sleeping pills. Learn more >
  •  Antidepressants
    • Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. They work to balance some of the natural chemicals in our brains. Antidepressant medicines are the second most prescribed prescription in America. Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Celexa are some of the commonly used antidepressants. The most widely prescribed antidepressants come from a class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Research suggests there is little difference in the effectiveness of newer antidepressants, but there may be differences in side effects, cost, and how long the medication takes to work. The SSRIs act on serotonin, a chemical in the brain that helps regulate mood. Serotonin also plays a role in digestion, pain, sleep, mental clarity, and other bodily functions, which is why SSRI antidepressants cause a wide range of side effects including hostility, agitation, and anxiety. Read more about antidepressants >
  •  Opioids
    • Opioids are derived from or stimulate the effects of the pain-relieving compounds found in opium, the dried sap of the opium poppy, which grows throughout Asia, North Africa, South America, and Middle East. Opium is used to relieve pain, calm anxiety, and help people sleep. Morphine was the first drug refined from opium in 1803, and others quickly followed, like heroin and codeine. Prescription opioids can come in a variety of forms: a time-released capsule or tablet that can be crushed and snorted, a liquid (such as cough syrups containing codeine), injectable syringes, suppositories, patches worn on the skin, or lozenges that dissolve in the mouth. The most widely misused opioids today include both heroin and prescription medications such as hydrocodene (Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), oxycodone (Percocet and OxyContin), and codeine. Opioids work by binding directly to receptors on the brain, causing a feeling of an intense and pleasurable high followed by relaxation. The body can quickly build up a tolerance, requiring more and more of the drugs to get the same result. The opiate effects of mental addiction then set in. Read more >
  •  Heroin
    • Heroin can be white, gray, brown powder or black sticky substance, known as “black tar”. Heroin is an opioid drug that is synthesized from morphine, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the seed pod of the Asian opium poppy plant. It can be taken orally, smoked, snorted, used as a suppository, or injected into a muscle or vein. It enters the brain very rapidly, which contributes to its health risks and to its high risk of addiction. When it enters the brain, heroin is converted back into morphine, which binds to molecules on cells known as opioid receptors. These receptors are located throughout the body and brain and control perception of pain and reward systems. Nearly half of young people who inject heroin surveyed in three recent studies reported abusing prescription opioids before starting to use heroin. Learn more >
    • Club Drugs
      • A wave of new drugs has become increasingly popular with today’s adolescents and young adults. These drugs are commonly known as club drugs, a term originating from the rave phenomenon. Many club drugs are also called designer drugs, referring to the fact that many of the drugs are manmade (for example, Ecstasy or ketamine) rather than found in or derived from nature (for example, marijuana or opium derivatives). Club drugs are pharmacologically heterogeneous group of psychoactive drugs that tend to be misused by teens and young adults at bars, nightclubs, concerts, and parties. Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), Rohypnol, ketamine, as well as MDMA (ecstasy) and methamphetamine are some of the drugs included in this group. Read more about club drugs >