Living More Than OK By Aiming For Natural Highs. Frank Coulson, M. Ed. LPC, NCC

Transcription

1 Living More Than OK By Aiming For Natural Highs Frank Coulson, M. Ed. LPC, NCC

2 Living More Than OK Moving beyond negativity and okness. Continually spiraling up to flourishing and abundant living.

3 Marijuana User

4 Meth Addict

5 Why do people use drugs to get high? Here are some of the reasons young people have given for taking drugs: To fit in To escape or relax To relieve boredom To seem grown up To rebel To experiment They think drugs are a solution. But eventually, the drugs become the problem.

6 Stats on Drug use In 2012, 6.5 percent of 8th graders, 17.0 percent of 10th graders, and 22.9 percent of 12th graders used marijuana in the past month an increase among 10 th and 12 th graders from 14.2 percent, and 18.8 percent in /drugfacts/treatment-statistics According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration s (SAMHSA s) National Survey on Drug Use and Health, million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem in 2009 (9.3 percent of persons aged 12 or older). Of these, only 2.6 million 11.2 percent of those who needed treatment received it at a specialty facility.

7 Drugs in the workplace Nearly 75 percent of all adult illicit drug users are employed, as are most binge and heavy alcohol users. 1 Studies show that when compared with non substance abusers, substance-abusing employees are more likely to change jobs frequently be late to or absent from work be less productive employees be involved in a workplace accident file a workers compensation claim.

8 Sample Drug Stats

9 Heroin on the rise/ Pain Killers % increase in the use of Heroin. Heroin related deaths have increased 286 % during same time, Number of overdose deaths from pain killers is greater than those of heroin and cocaine combined. mine/2015/08/19/the-heroin-epidemic-in-9- graphs

10 Song Thoughts Song by Switchfoot Mess of Me

11 What about Marijuana? Safe? 33 Cancer causing chemicals 4 times as much tar on lungs than cigarettes one to one 50% - 70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons Teens greater risk of brain damage and lower IQ Many cases that show it is a gateway drug to stronger drugs. Source (Bennett, W. J., 2015)

12 Marijuana Though many consider it a harmless drug, there is a large body of research that connects prolonged marijuana use to addiction and deterioration of the brain s functions While intoxicated the individual will lack the ability to stay focused on the topic of conversation, and may drift into other, unrelated subject matters Lack of energy, loss of motivation. Marijuana causes a distinct lack of motivation in the user. Look for a loss of interest in activities that were once a prominent part of the individual s life. Researchers report that marijuana long term effects in chronic users include memory loss and attention problems that can affect their work, their life, and their ability to learn.

13 Addiction 1 : the quality or state of being addicted <addiction to reading> 2 : compulsive need for and use of a habitforming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly : persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be

14 Addict Positive or Negative term 1: to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively <addicted to gambling> 2 : to cause addiction to a substance in (a person or animal) Origin of ADDICT Latin addictus, past participle of addicere to favor, from ad- + dicere to say more

15 Dr. William Glasser on Positive Addiction I became aware that inside of us, if we learn how to tap it, we have a great source of potential strength. a positive addiction activity can add a small but important dimension to our lives (p227 Control Theory) Glasser s most researched activities were running and meditation

16 Positive Addictions Find activities where you are in control and you enjoy and tap into your creativity. Positive addictions you are in control Negative addictions you are out of control Similar to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi s Flow concept.

17 Positive vs. Negative Addiction My first observation which still holds true, is that a positive addiction increases your mental strength and is the opposite of a negative addiction which seems to sap the strength from every part of your life except in the area of the addiction. Glasser (Pg. 39 of Positive Addiction)

18 FLOW: What is it?

19 Elements of Flow Balance of challenge and skill, merging of action and awareness, clear goals and feedback, concentration the task in the moment, Sense of control (lack of worry), loss of self, consciousness, transformation of time.

20 Flow Dr. Csikszentmihalyi Joy, Creativity, the process of total involvement with life. Optimal Experience feeling a sense of exhilaration, a deep sense of enjoyment that is long cherished.

21 Natural Highs

22 Chocolate as a Natural High?

23 Natural High What is it about? Organization started by Jon Sundt Seeks to help schools with drug awareness Encourages students to aim for natural highs in their life instead of drugs. Relates well with Glasser s Positive Addictions and Flow by Dr. Csikszentmihalyi.

24 Education Info

25 Natural High video example Natural High video Natural High P.O.D. member on natural highs What did you think of the story? What can students or clients learn from the video?

26 What are your natural highs? Ways to help people not make a mess of themselves.

27 Resources acts/high-school-youth-trends gs/why-do-people-take-drugs.html Glasser, W. (1984). Control Theory. Harper & Roe. NY:NY Glasser, W. (1976). Positive Addiction. Harper & Roe. NY:NY Natural High

28 resources Csikszentmihalyi, M. Flow: The psychology of optimal experience Harper Perrenial. New York. Bennett, W.J. & White, R.A. 2015). Going To Pot. Center Street. New York.

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