Are you worried a young family member, friend, or loved one may be using or abusing alcohol? Here is some information that may help.

Talk with Them

Parent’s, older siblings and older loved ones have a major influence on a young person’s life, and this includes their decision to experiment with alcohol and other drugs. If you have concerns or just want to begin discussions early, speak to them, impart knowledge and guidance without being judgmental. These discussions can be hard, but they are worth it. For tips and resources on how to hold these types of conversations visit the Indian Health Service Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Talk They Hear You campaign.

Increase Protective Factors

Protective factors are positive experiences, elements, or influences in a young person’s life that help to combat negative influences of risk and therefor help to reduce the likelihood that they will get involved with drugs, alcohol, and have problem behaviors. Protective factors include:

• Connection to culture, family, friends, school and the community
• Positive beliefs and family values
• High self-esteem
• Coping and problem-solving skills
• Self-efficacy
• Opportunities for pro-social involvement and rewards for pro-social involvement within the family, school and community settings

Three things are needed to successfully provide and increase the level of protective factors:

• Provide opportunities for young people to activity contribute, participate, and be involved;
• Teach and equip young people with the skills and knowledge to successfully contribute and;
• Recognize and positively reinforce young people for their contribution, accomplishments, and involvement.

Examples of activities that increase protective factors

• Family dinners
• Attending cultural and community events
• School sports and clubs 

Know the Facts: Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Alcohol Intoxication

• Harder time making good decisions and decision making
• Unaware of risky or inappropriate behavior
• More likely to engage in risky behavior such as

Information Adapted from:

• Indian Health Service (https://www.ihs.gov/asap/familyfriends/)
• Substance Abuse Mental Health Services (https://www.samhsa.gov/underage-drinking/about) https://www.store.samhsa.gov/series/tips-teens
• Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment Survey
• National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens https://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/alcohol

Why is it important to know and understand opioids?

Six out of ten unintentional poisonings in Oklahoma involve at least one prescription drug and there are more than 700 unintentional poisonings each year. Prescription opioids are the most common prescription medication associated with overdose deaths and are involved in more overdose deaths than all illicit drugs combined. Many Oklahomans are unaware that misuse and abuse of prescription drugs can be just as dangerous and addicting as using illegal drugs.

In Oklahoma, American Indians have higher rates of unintentional poisoning deaths compared to Caucasian and African Americans within five out of six age categories.

American Indians also have higher rates of unintentional prescription opioid overdose deaths compared to Caucasian and African Americans within individuals aged 15-34, and 55-64

In 2017 American Indian’s and Alaska Native’s (AI/AN) had the second highest overdose rate from all opioids and heroin nationally compared to all race/ethnicities

What are opioids and what are they for?

In the medical setting, opioids are a classification of drugs that are used to treat and reduce moderate to severe pain, however, they can have serious side effects and risks. Opioids can be both legal and illegal/illicit drugs (CDC).

Common legal opioid drugs that are prescribed to treat and reduce pain include: oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Norco), morphine, codeine, hydromorphone, methadone, buprenorphine, and fentanyl. Illegal opioid drugs include heroin, opium, and illegally manufactured fentanyl (OBN, CDC, IHS).

Pharmaceutical fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever that is many times stronger than heroin, 50-100 times stronger than morphine, and is used to treat severe chronic pain (usually in cancer patients). Illegally manufactured fentanyl is on the rise and is being added to heroin and other illegal drugs.

Tips for individuals with opioid or other prescriptions:

• Take medications as the doctor prescribes them
• Never share, give away, or sell your medications
• Dispose of medications safely through a local disposal program (drop boxes). Visit obn.ok.gov Click here to find a disposal site near you.
• Equip yourself with an opioid overdose reversal medication such as Naloxone. Click here to find out where to obtain free Naloxone and other important information.
• Safely store medications using a lock box, pouch or other device that locks.

What should I know before getting a prescription?

• Talk to your doctor about “nonpharmacologic therapy” and “nonopioid pharmacologic therapy”
• Opioids are not first-line or routine therapy for chronic pain
• Establish goals with your physician – realistic goals for pain and function and consider the discontinuing of opioid therapy if the benefits and goals do not outweigh the risks
• Always ask your physician about the risks and realistic benefits of opioid therapy
• Know the Difference between Acute Pain and Chronic Pain
  • Acute – sudden, known cause, injury or surgery
  • Chronic – pain lasting 3 months or more and can be caused by a disease or condition

I get my medication from a doctor, how is it not safe?

• 1 in 4 patients receiving long-term opioid therapy in a primary care setting struggles with opioid addiction.
• In 2016 more than 11.5 million Americans reported misusing opioids
• Side Effects
  • Tolerance – needing a higher dosage or more medication for same pain relief
  • Physical Dependence – symptoms of withdrawal when medication stops
  • Increased Sensitivity to Pain

What does addiction look like?

• Symptoms/Side Effects of Opioid Misuse
  • Tolerance – needing a higher dosage or more medication for same pain relief
  • Physical Dependence – symptoms of withdrawal when medication stops
  • Increased Sensitivity to Pain
  • Constipation, Nausea, Vomiting, and Dry Mouth
  • Sleepiness and Dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Depression
  • Low levels of testosterone

  • Itching and Sweating

What are the dangers to my mind and body if I mix prescription medications together or in combination with alcohol and other drugs?

• Patients should talk to with their health care provider about whether they can safely use their prescription drugs with other substances including prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as Alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs.
• Drugs that slow down breath rate such as opioids, alcohol, antihistamines, CNS depressants, or general anesthetics should not be taken together
  • Risk of life-threatening respiratory depression
• Increase risk of opioid misuse
• Increase risk of overdose death

Sources:

• https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/it-safe-to-use-prescription-drugs-in-combination-other-medications
• https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/Original-PatientPoster-Digital.pdf
• https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/prescribed.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/Guidelines_Factsheet-a.pdf
• https://www.ok.gov/health/Protective_Health/Injury_Prevention_Service/Drug_Overdose/index.html
• https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/UP_Data_Charts_Tables.pdf
• https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/UP_Data_Charts_Tables.pdf
• https://www.ihs.gov/opioids/data/
• https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/index.html

The SPF-PFS Oklahoma Intertribal Consortium was awarded the 2017 National Exemplary Award for Innovative Substance Abuse Prevention Programs, Practices, and Policies from the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, Inc. and its subsidiary organization, the National Prevention Network.

Below are various resources from print to multi-media. Please feel free to use and share these materials with your tribe/organization.

Factsheets:

 

 

Videos:

Where Culture Meets Prevention

Why Culture is Prevention

Define Your Direction: Define Your Priorities

Define Your Direction: Impactful Statistics

Fore more Define Your Direction videos click here

IAMNDN: Don’t Drown Your Future in Alcohol

IAMNDN: Culture and Media Camp 2017

IAMNDN: Tee Pee Class Time Lapse

Fore more IAMNDN videos click here

Tradition Not Addiction: National Prevention Week

Tradition Not Addiction: Award Video

Tradition Not Addiction: Youth Perspective

Fore more Tradition Not Addiction videos click here

Southern Plains Tribal Health Board
Phone: (405) 652-9200
Fax: (405) 840-7052
Email: info@spthb.org