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Contextualizing Youth Marijuana Use

11/23/2011. Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS. 2. Contextualizing Youth Marijuana Use.

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Contextualizing Youth Marijuana Use

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    1. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 1

    2. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 2

    3. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 3 Session Objectives to report on a series of consultations held with campus health and residence staff addressing marijuana use on campus. 2. to identify what is defined as problematic marijuana use from their perspectives. 3. to review best practices in responding to problematic use. 4. to review the participants’ “go-forward” recommendations based on discussions at the consultations. 5. to provide resources that will support these recommendations. 6. to provide an opportunity for ongoing dialogue about the issues and responses.

    4. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 4 WWW Sponsoring Organization Parent Action on Drugs (PAD) begun 25 years ago by parents in Ontario initiated peer education programming in 1985 mandate is to address issues related to youth substance use develops and provides a growing bank of programs and resources for youth, professionals and parents and caregivers PAD is a member of the Ontario Health Promotion Resource System

    5. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 5 WWW Partners Pilot Project (2005 – 2007) 11 Youth – ages 15 – 22, users and non-users, from across Ontario. Ontario Drug Awareness Partnership, Grey Bruce FOCUS Community Project. Choices, Alcohol and Drug Counselling for Youth; Breakaway, Youth and Family Services. 3 Secondary Schools in Toronto and 4 Secondary Schools in rural Grey Bruce. Phase 2 – + Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (2007-2008) Phase 3 – + BACCHUS/Student Life Education (2008-2009)

    6. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 6 Funding for the WWW project was provided by: Health Canada, Drug Strategy Community Initiatives Fund Supportive funding from Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion in-kind support from our partners

    7. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 7 Consultation process Spring 2007 – campus health professionals first identify a need to talk about responding to problems with marijuana use on campus Fall, 2007 – 1st presentation at OCHA (Ontario Campus Health Association)and BACCHUS regional meeting. Spring/Summer 2008 – larger consultation, needs assessment completed and Training Workshop developed. Fall, 2008 – OCHA provincial meeting and call for partners. Winter, 2009 – 2 day-long workshops (Waterloo and Ottawa).Partners: Wilfrid Laurier University, Algonquin College and the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy at Ottawa University.

    8. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 8 Consultation results During 1st discussions, three areas of concern were noted: Responding to students individually and counselling them regarding their use Lack of awareness about potential risks with a larger population Campus and residence policy which suspended or evicted students who were caught using marijuana

    9. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 9 Replicated in Pre-Workshop needs assessments 73% - Awareness – There is a generalized mind-set with users, and even some non-users which says, “There are no problems with weed”. 67% - Policy - Students evicted from residence for their use which has continued in some cases even after a fine or legal actions. 51% - Support - Individuals are showing clinical signs of problematic use. Other concerns negative behaviour with drug use, criminal/stigma issues concerns from other students

    10. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 10 The science of problematic marijuana use See Reference List: Statistics on Use in Ontario Injuries and Impaired Driving Chronic disease Addiction and mental health problems

    11. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 11 Drug, Set and Setting Risks usually associated with: Effects of the drug (which for most acts as a CNS depressant but which may act as a stimulant, an hallucinogen or a pain reliever) along with amount and pattern of use. Mindset or specific biochemistry of the user. Setting in which the substance is taken – e.g. hotboxing in residence.

    12. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 12 And yet… ‘Marijuana continues to be acknowledged in a nebulous fashion without interest in either anecdotal or empirical evidence about risks..’ Dennis Long, Executive Director, Breakaway

    13. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 13 Quick history lesson Cannabis – one of the most popular psychoactive substances in the world. Numerous benefits and prescribed in Canada. The challenges of “vice” education and the quest for abstinence. 1970’s – current. “Popular approaches are ineffective. Effective approaches are politically impossible” (Robin Room, 2000)

    14. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 14 Goal of the “What’s With Weed” Project To reduce problematic marijuana use among students. Definition of “problematic” – any use that is causing problems for users – with their health, at school, with their family, at their job, with the law, with their friends etc. To discuss problems, one needs to look at risks – and the perception of risks is limited.

    15. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 15 We can address this in several ways: Increase awareness of the risks. Address attitudes about the risks. Increase opportunities for action to avoid or reduce the risks. And we can do this with populations or with individuals.

    16. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 16 Health promotion World Health Organization: "the process of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinants, and thereby improve their health”. WWW and health promotion strategies at secondary schools Education and skill-building Re-orienting health services Community action Supportive environments

    17. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 17 Two-pronged approach to campus problematic marijuana use 1. Health promotion and population health approaches Awareness and education Supportive environments Healthy public policies Re-orienting health services Community action 2. Individual support Motivational counselling Stages of Change

    18. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 18 Best practice - Awareness and Social Marketing Identify and involve the target group. Identify communication objectives (e.g. to increase awareness of risks with marijuana users). Develop key messages. Disseminate messages through appropriate channels. Evaluate responses and identify changes needed.

    19. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 19 Best practice - Drug Education Based on sound research. Comprehensive multisystemic & multilevel. Addresses strengths & protective factors. Makes sense to the targeted population. Includes evaluation. The intervention lasts in time. These elements are reinforced by collaboration which also becomes an important element of effective interventions.

    20. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 20 Drug education can be Universal: For the general population Targeted: For at risk populations/individuals

    21. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 21 Universal drug education Generally modest results. May change attitudes and knowledge but there is less effect on behaviour. Changing false beliefs more effective. Strategies involving resistance to peer pressure generally produce weak or no effects. Users, especially heavy users, show very few if any benefit from general interventions

    22. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 22 What research demonstrates is useful for users… Targeted education specific to the drug. Peer interventions. Motivational counselling and Stages of Change. Online assessment. Harm reduction.

    23. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 23 nters into supportive relationship on blaming ives options cknowledges their choices ains awareness ducates around potential harm

    24. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 24 Best practice - Counselling for Change Assessment and feedback. Identifying pros and cons of use. Goal-setting. Identifying ways of dealing with risky drug-taking situations. Support, encouragement and suggestions come from the counsellor. All developed in a “Stages of Change” approach.

    25. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 25 Stages of Change No problems – don’t bug me Uuh… Problems – a little alarm is going off Planning Time! – very important Taking Action! - follow through – did it work?

    26. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 26 Best practice – Campus Drug Policies As part of overall health promotion strategies, policies tend to have the most impact in changing behaviour. Comprehensive drug response policies should include clear rules, regulations, and consequences, offered in tandem with: an educational strategy early intervention recommendations referral options for counselling and treatment.

    27. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 27 Scan of existing campus policies Alcohol use is addressed with education, intervention and punishment. Drug use is limited to punishment if mentioned at all. Drug use (usually referring to marijuana use) often results in immediate suspension or eviction. Alcohol use is more likely to be addressed in a stepped approach. Smoking (tobacco), while illegal in many areas, receives the least amount of consequences with usually a fine.

    28. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 28 Often it is up to Residence staff to interpret and deliver policy injunctions. The majority of workshop participants identified alcohol as much more problematic than marijuana use on campus. Policies addressing alcohol are more comprehensive and often meet criteria for best practice.

    29. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 29 4 Corners

    30. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 30 4 Corner Discussions drug use is a normal part of growing up there are more problems with marijuana use than alcohol use on campus students who break the rules about weed should suffer the consequences zero tolerance is a necessary policy for campus residences

    31. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 31 Best Practice - What’s With Weed Developed by youth for youth. Accurate information on risks and risk reduction. Tested with student groups both universal and targeted. Program supports a harm reduction approach and options for change. Peer education is key in the secondary school component. Includes online assessment and feedback. www.whatswithweed.ca

    32. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 32 What’s With Weed Resources Posters Matchbooks Cards DVD Youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwJ32XegxD8

    33. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 33 Samples of products for campus

    34. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 34 From The Field: Responding to the Issues At the workshops, three smaller groups looked at ways to increase opportunities to address: awareness/social marketing. responding to individuals. policy issues. Participants self-selected issues. Process and players important.

    35. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 35 Results and Recommendations Social marketing and awareness: General Identify your role in increasing awareness of risks and risk reduction?(as a Don, Health Promoter, Peer Educator, Administrator). Continue to work across sectors to create a supportive environment. Social marketing campaigns directed at marijuana issues will be more challenging than other issues. Need to see/hear what others are doing. Take some time together to plan a comprehensive strategy. Terms of reference - staff need to decide where they stand on marijuana use/harm reduction and whether they are more comfortable turning a blind eye or following the policy as it is.

    36. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 36 Programmatic suggestions Dons may need to increase awareness of the policy rather than the drug (‘major infraction”) to get attention of those who don’t see the problem. Use WWW resources (posters, matchbooks) to bring attention to the issue and the website Large group - General awareness. Use prizes to overcome reluctance. Dons meet ahead with interested students and other partners to plan. Could be week-long events. Start right – e.g.at orientation or early 2nd semester. Use campus messages that move from res to-res. Smaller group – 2 peer educators meet with 4-12 students with activities ( e.g. 4 corners), share stories. Non-judgmental approach (challenging but think about counselling re. impaired driving). Individual - Highlight the online tools in conversations with users www.whatswithweed.ca, www.etoke.com

    37. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 37 Responding to the individual: Recommendations 1. Review your role in responding– as a Don? as health promoter? as a counsellor? As a peer educator? As enforcement? There will and should be a variety of different players with different roles when responding to the individual. 2. Dons may need more information and support as “First responders” to help students take the first step towards counselling. Who will provide this support? 3. Assess your own attitudes, values and your institution’s policies towards marijuana use and harm reduction (e.g. there are some campus centres which do not promote HR counselling). Find your own support. 4. As a counsellor, follow general rules for engagement - building a relationship; working on openness; find out why they are using; talk them down from anger. Marijuana use doesn’t change the need for supportive counselling. 5. Collaborate with community supports and campus police to develop coordinated response.

    38. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 38 Specific issues to raise.. 1. Key risks? health concerns, impact on roommate, monetary consequences, clinical symptoms of dependency (“perma high”, not able to function without use, building up tolerance) 2. Check out your use - use “What’s With Weed” resources for assessment tools. 3. Review “Stages of Change” information on website and in packages. Accept level of readiness to change. Person has to commit to exploring the issue. 4. “Are there changes you would like to make?” Create a “safe plan”, recommend using ˝ as much as they may need to cut back for the summer. 5. Develop a contract with the student. 6. Identify psychoeducational opportunities e.g. small group work with education and skill-building activities.

    39. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 39 Policy Concerns - Recommendations Review your role in policy review or development – as a Don, as a Health Promoter, as campus police etc. Review objectives – to change the policy or have students pay attention to current policy? In developing new policy, look for non- traditional partners - students in criminology, law, health, or social justice groups or campus media. Accept need for time to get it right.

    40. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 40 Promotion of existing policy Review ways that students learn about drug policy & the consequences. One campus has an annual survey to assess attention to their policies. Another has an awareness campaign - “Residence in NOT for everyone”. Promote the policy a couple of times a year – orientation and 2nd semester. Peer educators could be used in an awareness campaign about marijuana risks and responses on this campus, including what the policy states.

    41. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 41 Continuing the dialogue… We are in the early stages of looking for effective responses. We would like to continue these discussions with the participants of this webinar. What are you seeing that is problematic? What responses are working for you? Or What have you heard about that you would like to test within your own environment?

    42. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 42 In the next two weeks… Look for a message about an online portal for a discussion group on responding to problematic marijuana use on campus. We will post the three scenarios to start the discussion. Comment on the scenarios according to the questions we pose – or pose your own. Or put forward your own scenario and what you are dealing with at your campus and get feedback from others. PAD will moderate the discussion.

    43. 11/23/2011 Parent Action on Drugs/BACCHUS 43 Closing Any questions? For more information or to access other resources or other programs, contact: Diane Buhler, Parent Action on Drugs, (416) 395-4970 or 1-877-265-9279 pad@sympatico.ca www.parentactionondrugs.org Thank you!

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