Lesson video

Fantastic.

Welcome to RSHE lesson on drugs and alcohol.

My name is Mr. Duffy and today we're going to look at seeking help for addiction.

Now this lesson does cover issues about addiction.

If this is a sensitive topic to you, we recommend checking with a trusted adult before starting or doing the lesson with a trusted adult nearby.

So hopefully you've done very well on your intro quiz.

We're going to recap addiction.

We're going to then look at the treatment for addiction, where to get help, and you do your exit quiz at the end of the lesson.

So let's take a look at some key words then.

So addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking, or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you.

Withdrawal is the combination of physical and mental effects that a person experiences after they stop using or reduce their intake of a substance such as cannabis.

So for this lesson, you're going to need an exercise book or paper because you're going to need to write some things down, in which case you're going to need a pen or a pencil.

So what causes addiction? Pause the video and I'll see you in a second.

So there are lots of factors that can contribute to someone having an addiction.

This can include low self-esteem, trauma, loss or guilt, or poor social and communication skills.

And all these reasons can lead someone to potentially having an addiction.

So what are the physical dangers then of drugs? We can have this feeling of a withdrawal symptom when trying to cut back or quit, and that's certainly something that people feel when they're trying to stop using drugs.

And as a result, this is why treatment is really, really important.

The other problem is that they develop a tolerance for that drug.

And this is a really important point to understand and why treatment is extremely important.

Because someone, the tolerance has improved, if you want to call it that word, due to the amount of drugs that they're taking, they want to get the same effect.

This means that their tolerance increases which means they have to take more.

As a result of this, they're actually taking more drugs which is going to do more harm.

Health problems like irregular heart rate, high blood pressure, lung damage and seizures.

Injury, both accidental and self-inflicted.

Overdose and potential death.

And this is why someone with an addiction needs to get the treatment early.

So what are the effects then of heroin.

What are the short term effects and long-term effects? And I'll see you in a second.

So the short term effects of heroin use can include euphoria.

So feeling high, amazing, really good, a dry mouth, warm flushed skin, arms and legs feel heavy, upset stomach and vomiting, itching, a fuzzy brain.

So I've been a bit confused.

Switching in and out of drowsiness or falling asleep.

The long-term effects can be really, really serious.

And it's important to look back on why people use drugs and also might be looking at some of the drugs that we've discussed in previous lessons.

Collapsed veins.

It is really, really bad for an addict.

Someone who is using heroin is injecting directly into the veins, and these veins do collapse.

These veins, when they collapse or certainly if they're not injected properly can cause a wound, this can cause a skin infection like an abscess.

It can lead to the loss of a limb.

And they can also experience insomnia, so unable to sleep.

Infections in the heart lining and valves, higher chance of getting HIV and AIDS, Hepatitis B and C because they're mixing needles, liver and kidney disease, mental disorder, lung disease, and pneumonia and tuberculosis, and menstrual problems and miscarriages in females.

Let's look at this scenario.

Chelsea's brother has become withdrawn and secretive.

She has noticed his appearance has changed as he is not taking care of himself.

He appears depressed and drowsy at times.

Why is Chelsea concerned and what would her first steps be to help her brother? Please pause the video and jot down some ideas.

Thank you.

You might think Chelsea's concerned about her brother's drug use and the effects of this.

She should speak to a trusted adult about her concerns, or advise her brother to see a doctor so he can start to tackle the problem.

Of course, exacerbating these signs does not mean Chelsea's brother is definitely using drugs.

But it can get treatment.

And that's really important to understand that just because he's an addict, just because someone's an addict, doesn't mean that that's it for them.

And they can end up with no job, on the streets, taking drugs, and potentially lead to death.

Actually, treatment is available and in some cases, they can reverse some of those health problems. Certainly they can lead a drug-free life, which is really important.

And if a person needs treatment for drug addiction, they are entitled to NHS care in the same way, anyone else who has a health problem, with the right help and support, it is possible for that person to get drug-free, and more importantly, stay drug-free.

Let's look at this statement.

The NHS can help people recover from drug addiction.

Is that true or false? Please point to the correct answer now.

Well, the answer is indeed true.

If you need treatment for drug addiction, you're entitled to NHS care in the same way as anyone else who has a health problem.

With the right help and support, it is possible to get drug-free and stay that way.

A GP is a good place to start.

They can discuss the problems and get addicts into treatment.

So what do drug treatments involve then? Talking therapies such as CBT, or cognitive behavioural therapy, helps someone to see how their thoughts and feelings are affecting their behaviour.

So one of the things that build discourse, whether it's in a one-to-one or a grade, is what are the triggers? What are the triggers for that person to then do that behaviour? And if they can understand those triggers, then they can come up with strategies to prevent that behaviour from occurring.

Treatment with medicines.

If a person is dependent on heroin or another opioid, they may be offered a substitute drug such as methadone.

This is safer.

The methadone is controlled.

It's synthetic, in some cases, therefore it's actually safer.

But what they can do with the methadone is reduce the amount that they need slowly over time so that it helps them wean them off the heroin and hopefully then, they become drug-free.

Detoxification or detox.

This is for people who want to stop taking opioids like heroin completely.

It helps them to cope with withdrawal symptoms safely.

So they would do this at a clinic where they would go onto a detox programme.

Self-help.

Some people found support groups like Narcotics Anonymous helpful.

So they may find their local self-help group and start that treatment right away.

So Chelsea is worried about her brother's drug abuse.

However, her brother has opened up about his addiction, which is fantastic.

And that's what another, is a first step for an addict, to say I need help.

And he now wants help.

And that's really important for an addict.

For an addict to actually hopefully go onto this path, or this road of being drug-free, they need to want the help.

So where could he first go to seek advice? Pause the video and I'll see you in a second.

The GP or the general practitioner, the doctor, is always the best place to start.

They can then discuss a person's problems in more detail, and then select the treatment that is best for that person, whether that's CBT or whether that's medicine, or go into a self-help group.

They'll be able to discuss the amount of drugs that has been used, and the types of drugs that have been used.

And then hopefully, they'll maybe direct them and come up with a bespoke package for the individual.

So the GP is always the best place to start.

But if they're not maybe confident talking to a GP or they don't have a GP, then they can approach their local drug treatment services themselves.

Now, hopefully going and speaking to these people, they'll give them the confidence so they can go and speak to their GP and put them in touch with the GP who can then talk to them in more detail about the addiction.

And again, get that bespoke package for them.

Now, there is loads of help and advice on this topic and these are some of the websites and some of the people that are out there that can help families, individuals, with people whether it is directly impacting them, whether they're addicted to drugs or alcohol themselves or that a family member is addicted to alcohol and drugs.

And these sorts of places are available to them.

So if you do want more advice on these topics, please visit maybe one of these websites, or talk forum, and I will see you soon.

I really hope you've enjoyed this lesson.

I really hope you've learned something today.

I think what's really important to take from this lesson is that an addict isn't always an addict.

There is a root out there, there is a treatment to success, and there is a treatment to help them become drug-free.

If you'd like to please ask a parent or carer to share your work on Twitter, tagging @OakNational and #LearnwithOak.

I really hope you've enjoyed the lesson today and I will see you soon.

Goodbye.