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Shelter in Place Modules 

The Hard Stuff: Substance Use, Addiction, & Trauma

Throughout this module, you will watch videos, participate in activities, and respond to discussion questions and a case study as if you were actually at The Spot for a 1-1.5 hour Peer Leaders session. By the end of the module, please email discussion questions responses and your case study response (all inside the purple rounded squares) with the subject line "PL SAT" to Danielle at youthprogramahs@gmail.com.

SUBSTANCE USE

What's substance use all about?

Substances

Substances are physical forms of matter. In the healthcare and even common context, substances typically refer to alcohol and drugs.

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Substance Use

Substance use is the usage or consumption of alcohol or other drugs. These activities include drinking, smoking, taking pills, snorting, inhaling, etc. People use substances for different reasons — sometimes they only want to try a substance, other times it's prescribed by their medical provider, and for some people the activities are only done for certain occasions. 

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Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is the use of alcohol and drugs to the point in which it harms the user and/or those around the user. Substance abuse can lead to dependence on alcohol and/or drugs, influencing behaviors, relationships, and even a person's sense of self. Substance abuse can be defined differently within the medical, public health, and criminal justice realms.

Types of Substances

Take a look at this list of substances and their categories. Identify which substances you already know or have heard of and those you have not.

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Stimulants. Substances that increase your body's functions. 

  • Adderall

  • Amphetamines

  • Cocaine, Crack

  • Ecstasy (MDMA)

  • Meth

  • Tobacco (Nicotine)

Depressants. Substances that decrease brain stimulation.

  • Barbiturates

  • Benzodiazepines

  • Alcohol

  • Sleep Medications

  • Tobacco (Nicotine)

Hallucinogens. Psychoactive substances that cause people to see and hear things that are not actually there.

  • LSD

  • Shrooms (Psilocybin)

  • Ketamine

  • PCP

Opioids. Strong and highly addictive painkillers that make a person feel a sense of euphoria. 

  • Heroin

  • Morphine

  • Percocet

  • Codeine

  • Vicodin

Inhalants. Inhaled substances that provide temporary feelings of euphoria.

  • Fumes from markers, paint, paint thinners, glue

  • Gas

  • Aerosol spray

Cannabis. Substance that acts like both a hallucinogen and depressant. 

  • Marijuana leaves

  • Edibles

  • Wax

  • Hash Oil

ACTIVITY

Pick one of the many substances on the bullet lists presented above. Create an infographic or meme informing people about the substance you chose. This can be made through an app or you can draw it. Be creative!

Substances & The Law

Significant Laws & Policies Regarding Substances

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Prohibition

The ban on alcohol between 1920 and 1933. It led to spikes in criminal activity and an alluring party culture during the decade it was in place. President Franklin D. Roosevelt repealed Prohibition and utilized it to create more opportunities in the economy as one response to the Great Depression.

 

War on Drugs

Initially called for in the 1970s by President Nixon, then reinforced by President Reagan in the 1980s, the War on Drugs is a long term US campaign that caused the massive increase in incarceration rates — this is due to the criminalization of nonviolent drug possession, and has contribute to disproportionate amounts of brown and black community members in prisons. The War on Drugs also reinforced ideas of substance-based stereotypes among marginalized populations:

  • Crack - Black

  • Marijuana - Latinx

  • Opioids - Asian

  • Meth & Heroin - Poor White

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Proposition 64 (California, 2016)

In 2016, California's Prop 64 legalized the recreational use of marijuana for people 21 and older. While it is a step forward in debunking stigma towards marijuana and its role in decriminalizing possession of it, controversy grows as dispensaries (especially those who are White and middle/upper class) have made profits off of the very same businesses poor people of color have been incarcerated for.

Substances in Culture

Because culture is such a huge influential factor in all of our lives, substances may come off as normal or abnormal depending on how we grew up and what we were exposed to. For example, some Black families tend to bond over smoking marijuana together and Southeast Asian families are known to stock up on Hennessy for parties.  Substances may have picked up a positive connotation for some folks and negative for others. It can symbolize relationship building, celebration, and even our identities. For some it may be a reminder of violence, financial strain, and other stressful experiences. Even if there was little to no substance use for people growing up, the opportunity presents itself for exposure through media and other social factors. Rave culture is making a comeback and has been gaining traction in introducing teens and young adults to drugs such as Molly, LSD, and ecstasy. 

After reading all that you've read and watching one of these thre​e videos, answer the questions below.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS​

VIDEO QUESTIONS​

  • ​In the video you chose to watch, what reference to substance use stood out most to you?

  • Do you believe that these videos accurately portray what it's like to be on substances? Why or why not?

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SUBSTANCES & THE LAW /CULTURE QUESTIONS

  • How has any of the three policies mentioned impacted you or your communities?

  • Why do you think it's important to learn about substances? Mention both health reasons and social impact.

  • Rave culture is notorious for drug use and overdose, yet promotes values of peace, love, and unity. Do you think rave culture is appropriate? 

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Let's Play! 

In the Pure Rush game, your job is to get ahold of 2 festival tickets while avoiding different substances. Below the game box screen is a button that links to the a mini booklet on different drugs. While playing the game, you will find that there's a thrill (and sometimes some frustration) to trying to get a hold on the things you want. 

If you are playing on your desktop or laptop, press space bar to jump over drugs and other obstacles. If you are playing on your phone, tap the screen to jump.

ADDICTION & TRAUMA

Substance use can intertwine with addiction to particular coping mechanisms that tie back to trauma. Trauma is the harm done to the mind that results from severely distressing experiences. Addiction does not only apply to substance use; it can be applied to activities like gambling and sex. People handle their traumas in different ways, so some have different physical reactions to substances as well as different levels of use. 

Leili Lyman's "For Youth in My City, Marijuana Is the Go-To Treatment for Trauma"

An article on Marijuana Use Among Youth in Richmond, CA

After reading the article, think about your communities (hometown, racial/ethnic groups, etc.)

  • How does consistent marijuana use play in the lives of those around you? Would you describe it as addiction?

  • What community traumas exist in your hometown, and how would you describe people's way of handling them? Outside of marijuana, are there other things people do to cope with trauma?

  • What traumas exist in your identity-based communities (race, ethnicity, class, gender, etc.)? How do you as an individual cope with those experiences?

CASE STUDY

Summary:

  • Studies were done on communities of color across the US

  • S​ome findings included:

    • Latinx, Asian, Indigenous → race based stress

    • Black → more racial discrimination

  • Traumatic stress crosses generations

    • Children would pick up on parents' and grandparents' trauma and behaviors​

    • People of color kept negative feelings through generations as they continued to experience stressful situations including police brutality,  internment, family separations, war, etc.

  • Physiological and psychological impacts

    • More prone to both long-term physical and mental health issues compared to White communities

    • Weakened physical health implied other diseases (high blood pressure, substance abuse, etc.)

Pretend you are a policy maker in charge of working with a high-risk group of youth of color. You organize a fishbowl session to better understand what needs they have in terms of the several mental health stressors and coping methods they have in their community. 

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  • How would you provide a supportive space for these youth without reinforcing their coping mechanisms, especially if many of them cope with their depression/PTSD/etc through marijuana usage?

  • You hear that the youth experience different situations in their communities and households, but have trouble finding help because all of their families refuse to accept mental health as valid. What kind of policy would you make for your local health centers to better serve their diverse needs?

YOU'RE DONE! 

Now please email discussion questions responses and your case study response (all inside the purple rounded squares) with the subject line "PL SAT" to Danielle at youthprogramahs@gmail.com.

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