Celebrate with us and our Special Guest, Dr. H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., CAS, FASAM, Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Date:  May 28, 2010
Time:   1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Address:  1121 East McNichols Rd., Detroit, Michigan 48203

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Nicole Lee at 313.365.3100 x. 306 or Sophia Burr at x.304.

After the Safe & Sober March and Rally, join us for our Grand Opening Celebration!  Hope to see you there!

Bullying is when someone keeps doing or saying things to have power over another person.Some of the ways they bully other people are by: calling them names, saying or writing nasty things about them, leaving them out of activities, not talking to them, threatening them, making them feel uncomfortable or scared, taking or damaging their things, hitting or kicking them, or making them do things they don’t want to do. Have any of these things happened to you? Have you done any of these things to someone else? Really, bullying is wrong behavior which makes the person being bullied feel afraid or uncomfortable.

Why are some young people bullied?

Some young people are bullied for no particular reason, but sometimes it’s because they are different in some way - perhaps it’s the color of their skin, the way they talk, their size or their name. Sometimes young people are bullied because they look like they won’t stand up for themselves.

Why do some people bully?

There are a lot of reasons why some people bully. They may see it as a way of being popular, or making themselves look tough and in charge. Some bullies do it to get attention or things, or to make other people afraid of them. Others might be jealous of the person they are bullying. They may be being bullied themselves. Some bullies may not even understand how wrong their behavior is and how it makes the person being bullied feel.

What are the effects of being the victim of bullying?

When people are bullied, they can be affected emotionally and this could cause many problems for them in the future. People who are bullied repeatedly tend to be shyer, have lowered self-esteem, not want to make new relationships with new people, not able to focus in school, skip classes, or even drop out of school to avoid bullying. In very extreme cases the person may have thoughts of suicide and try to kill himself or herself.

What can the victim do?

If you see bullying in your school, your home, or anywhere, talk to an older person you trust. Remember, there is a difference between “tattling” and “telling”. Tattling is when a student tries to get someone in trouble. Telling is when a student tries to keep someone from getting hurt. If you are the one who is being bullied, know that you don’t have to stand for it and you can get help. Talk to an adult or a friend that you know you can trust. If your bully is in a class that you really like, you don’t have to switch out. Just as you don’t deserve to be bullied, you don’t deserve to have to leave your classes because someone is bothering you. That person should have to leave the class. You aren’t the one at fault, they are.

Are You a Bully?

Have you ever bullied someone else? Think about why you did it and how you were feeling at the time. If you are sometimes a bully, try to find other ways to make yourself feel good. Most bullies aren’t liked, even if it starts out that way. Remember, it’s best to treat others the way you would like to be treated.

The term inhalants refers to more than a thousand different household and commercial products that can intentionally be abused by sniffing or huffing (inhaling through ones mouth) for an intoxicating effect.

These products are composed of volatile solvents and substances commonly found in commercial adhesives, lighter fluids, cleaning solutions, and paint products.

There is a common link between inhalant abuse and teenagers. Some problems include: failing grades, memory loss, learning problems, chronic absences, and general apathy. Inhalant users also tend to be disruptive, deviant, or delinquent as a result of the early onset of use, the user’s lack of physical and emotion maturation, and the physical consequences that occur from extended use.

Between 1994 and 2000, the number of new inhalant users increased more than 50 percent, from 618,000 new users in 1994 to 979,000 in 2000. These estimates were higher than a previous peak in 1978 (662,000 new users).

Steroids

Steroids are synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone. Scientifically referred to as androgenic anabolic steroids, these derivatives promote the growth of skeletal muscle and increase lean body mass.

Steroids can be taken orally or via injection with a needle. Some consequences of steroid abuse are: higher blood pressure, liver problems, stunted growth, infertility, irregular menstrual cycles, and testicular shrinkage. Over time, steroid use can cause violent behavior, delusions, and paranoid jealousy.

The 1995 Youth Risk and Behavior Surveillance System showed that of 9th to 12th graders in public and private high schools in the U.S., 4.9 percent of males and 2.4 percent of females have used anabolic steroids at least once in their lives.

Resources

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
877-696-6775 (Toll-Free)
www.hhs.gov

HHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
5600 Fishers Lane
Parklawn Building, Suite 13C-05
Rockville, MD 20857
301-443-8956
www.samhsa.gov

HHS, SAMHSA
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
P.O. Box 2345
Rockville, MD 20847-2345
800-729-6686 (Toll-Free)
800-487-4889 (TDD) (Toll-Free)
877-767-8432 (Spanish) (Toll-Free)
www.ncadi.samhsa.gov

Sources: http://www.recoverymonth.gov/2003/kit/targeted.aspx

2. First use of alcohol typically begins around the age 13; marijuana around 14 (NIDA, Drug Use Among Racial/Ethnic Minorities, 1995, p.31).

3. A clear relationship exists between alcohol use and grade-point average among college students: students with GPAs of D or F drink three times as much as those who earn As (C Presley and P Meilman, “Alcohol and Drugs on American College Campuses,” Student Health Program Wellness Center, Southern Illinois University, 7/92).

4. High potency of marijuana may be contributing to a substantial increase in the number of American teenagers in treatment for marijuana dependence. According to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), one in four 12-17-year-olds who report using marijuana in the past year display the characteristics of abuse or dependency. For younger users, the risk of marijuana abuse or dependency exceeds that for alcohol or tobacco. (Office of National Drug Control Policy)

5. In 2006, 1.9 million Americans age 12 and older had abused methamphetamine at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. (Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health; http://www.samhsa.gov/.)

6. 16.2 million Americans age 12 and older had taken a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. (Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health; http://www.samhsa.gov/.)

7. In 2005, 6.8 percent of youths aged 12 to 17 used marijuana in the past month, and 3.5 percent had used cigars with marijuana in them (”blunts”) in the past month. (Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health; http://www.samhsa.gov/.)

8. Among youths, past month use of both marijuana and blunts increased with age and was more likely among males than females (marijuana: 7.5 vs. 6.2 percent; blunts: 4.2 vs. 2.9 percent) (Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health; http://www.samhsa.gov/.)

9. Regardless of family income, youths aged 12 to 17 who did not participate in any activities had higher rates of past month cigarette and illicit drug use than those who participated in four to six or seven or more activities. (Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health; http://www.samhsa.gov/.)

(H)uman (affects humans)
(I)mmuno-deficiency (refers to a weakening of the body’s defense system)
(V)irus (a germ that can be spread between people)

What does AIDS stand for?

(A)cquired (caused by exposure to something)
(I)mmune (affecting the body’s defense system
(D)eficiency (a weakened state or condition
(S)yndrom (having more than one of the symptoms of illness)

What is the difference between being HIV+ and having AIDS?

Being HIV+ means you have tested positive for the virus that causes AIDS. Having AIDS means that you have an HIV infection, that you have 200 or less T-more counts (a certain type of infection fighting cell) and/or you have had one or more AIDS-defining illness (opportunistic infections). Once you have an “AIDS” diagnosis, you will always have it, no matter what your current health condition. Having an AIDS diagnosis may provide you with additional government health entitlements and benefits.

What fluids can carry HIV from one person to the next?

The following fluids can spread HIV from a person who has it to a person who does not. We cal them “transmission” fluids:

• Blood
• Semen/Pre-come
• Vaginal Fluids
• Breast Milk

Other body fluids like saliva, tears, and sweat do NOT transmit HIV.

What are some ways fluids get from one person into another? How is HIV Spread?

Unprotected Sex:

• Vaginal (high-risk)
• Anal (high risk)
• Oral (low risk)

Drug Use

• Sharing drug-use equipment (i.e. needles, cottons, cookers, etc.)
• Bad judgment when high or drunk.

Mother to Child:

• During the birth process
• Breastfeeding

How can I get tested for HIV?

You can find out if you have HIV by getting a blood test or an oral fluids test. Free testing is widely available. The Detroit Recovery Project’s Welcome Center offers free HIV/AIDS testing Mon - Thurs 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Located at 335 East Grand Blvd just 2 blks just north of Jefferson. For more information, please contact Sharon Boyd at 313. 579.5462

ASC offers the OraQuick Advance Rapid HIV-1/2 Antibody test, which collects oral fluids from the mouth to determine if HIV antibodies are present, and provides results in as little as 20 minutes. A positive test result should be confirmed by an HIV blood test.

When should I begin treatment if I am HIV+?

There is no one answer to this question that applies to everyone. Please consult your physician. Many doctors recommend starting your treatment when your CD4 count is less than 350.

There are many types of treatments today and each one has its plusses and minuses. But please remember that while medications may be difficult to take and repercussions to the success of your treatment regimen.

How Do I Select a Doctor if I an HIV+?

Find a doctor who is familiar with treating HIV diseases – an HIV Specialist. You may “interview” several doctors before making a permanent selection. Don’t jump from doctor to doctor – build a relationship over time. Learn about your health and don’t leave all the decisions up to your doctor. Your doctor is your partner in health.