Substance Abuse Awareness Project

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AWARENESS PROJECT OUTLINE

This is a project where you are required to research a specific substance abuse issue, gather reliable health information and resources, and present your findings to the rest of the class.  Using your gathered data, you will need to come prepared to each class, ready to work on this project.

You will be completing questions based on ONE of the following roles: PATIENT, MEDICAL EXPERT, and FAMILY/LOVED ONES.  These questions will be the basis for the poster you are going to create.  You are also expected to create 2 Inquiry Questions for each section.  The answers from your questions and research should be organized into categories for your poster, to make it easier to read.  Your answer need to be in YOUR OWN WORDS, and you need to have CITATIONS TO SHOW WHERE YOU GOT YOUR INFORMATION FROM.

POSTER PROJECT CRITERIA

CONTENT/ACCURACY	DESIGN	EFFECTIVENESS
The poster includes at minimum, the following types of information: - Title -Clearly identified substance abuse issue topic - Common symptoms - Possible causes - Treatments - Relevant statistics (U.S. or Canada only please) - Available local services and resources - Citation of all of the sources where you found the information	The poster has graphic elements such as: - Cohesive look (all of the parts of the poster work together to create a poster that looks as if it was made by a professional team) - Logical and easy to follow graphics and organized poster content - Creative use of visual elements (e.g., images, colours, shapes, sizing of letters, etc.)	The poster has the following qualities that attract people's attention, and make it easy to understand the content: - It is easy to read and identify different sections - The information is presented in clear writing and enhanced by design elements - Content and design of the poster are informative and respectful of the topic

  

ROLES:

Patient

As the patient, you are responsible for researching the symptoms associated with the substance abuse.  How might you think, feel, and act?

Medical Expert

As the Medical Expert, you are responsible for researching current treatments for the substance abuse and informing others about different substance abuse professionals.

Family Member/Loved Ones

As a family member of a person diagnosed with a substance abuse issue, you are responsible for researching resources in the community to help with substance abuse.  Additionally, you are to research anything that relates to the community and stigma.

THE BIG QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ANSWER

FROM THE PERSEPCTIVE CHOSEN, HOW COULD FORMS OF HARRASSMENT AND UNSAFE SITUATIONS LEAD TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES?

QUESTIONS FOR PATIENT:

1. What are some common symptoms that patients experience when affected by the specific substance abuse issue you have been assigned?

2. What are some known or possible causes of this substance abuse?

3. How many people in Canada are diagnosed with substance abuse? What are some other relevant statistics that might be helpful for patients?

4. What are some reasons someone might not seek help for substance abuse?

5. What other information do you think will help people better understand substance abuse and seek appropriate help?

6. Write your two inquiry questions here:

QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY/LOVED ONES:

1. What are some signs of the substance abuse that you can identify?

2. Are there any negative stereotypes about people affected by substance abuse? Please describe.

3. List at least three local substance abuse resources/services available for helping and supporting people affected with this substance abuse as well as their family members?

4. List at least three online resources with reliable information about this substance abuse and explain why you consider them credible.

5. What other information do you think will help people better understand this substance abuse and seek appropriate help?

6. Write your two inquiry questions here:

 QUESTIONS FOR MEDICAL EXPERTS:

1. What are some risk factors in substance abuse? And how is the specific substance abuse you researched diagnosed?

2. What are general methods used to treat this substance abuse?

3. Why is it important to identify and treat substance abuse patients?

4. What are some medical science careers available in helping and researching substance abuse issues?  

5. What other information do you think will help people better understand this substance abuse condition and seek appropriate help?

6. Write your two inquiry questions here:

RESOURCES

- CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) at http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/Pages/home.aspx

- National Institute on Drug Abuse at https://www.drugabuse.gov/

- Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse at http://www.ccsa.ca/Eng/resources/Pages/default.aspx

- Charity Village at http://charityvillage.com/

- Drug and Alcohol Help Line at http://www.drugandalcoholhelpline.ca/

- Drug Free Kids Canada at http://www.drugfreekidscanada.org/

- Teen Challenge at http://www.teenchallenge.ca/get-help/educational-resources

- Sick Kids Substance Abuse Programs at http://www.sickkids.ca/AdolescentMedicine/What-We-Do/Programs/Substance-Abuse-Program/index.html

- Government of Canada National Help Resources at http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/healthy-living-vie-saine/substance-abuse-toxicomanie/help-aide/get-help-obtenir-aide-eng.php

LIST OF SUBSTANCE ABUSES

- Alcohol

- Cocaine

- Gambling

- Gaming

- Hallucinogens

- Heroin

- Inhalants

- Ketamine

- LSD

- Cannabis

- MDMA

- Methamphetamine

- Over-the-counter medicines

- Prescription Opioids

- Prescription medicines (Depressants, Stimulants, Tranquilizers, etc.)

- Steroids

- Tobacco

- Vaping/E-Cigarettes