Drug Addiction in Teens - DVD

Illicit drugs include marijuana/hashish, cocaine (including crack), heroin, hallucinogens, inhalants, or prescription drugs used without a prescription. These drugs are chemicals and while each drug produces different physical effects, all abused substances share one thing in common. They hijack the normal function of the brain and change the way the brain responds to issues of self-control, judgment, emotion, motivation, memory and learning. Drugs change the signals coming to and from the brain. Although this can cause temporary euphoria it can also cause hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia and uncontrolled behavior. Marijuana is the number one gateway drug for teenagers. It is stated that teens who smoke marijuana are 85 times more likely to use other illicit drugs. Many teens do not understand why or how they can become addicted to drugs. It is often mistakenly assumed that drug abusers lack moral principle or willpower and that they could stop using simply by choosing to change their behavior. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease and quitting takes more than good intentions or strong will. Because drugs change the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug abuse, quitting and recovery is a lifelong commitment. Student Discussion Includes What is drug addiction? The two major causes of addiction. How quickly can you become addicted to drugs? The drugs a teen most commonly abuses. Living an addicted life. The worst part about living with drug addiction. Long-term effects of drug use. Drug cravings. Relapse. Rehab. Long term recovery. A teens advice to other teens.

Pablo, a Caribbean peasant and Isabel, a politician's mistress, open a brothel that becomes internationally famous. Though they gain wealth and power, the one thing that Isabel seeks continues to elude her - acceptance by the church. Rejected by the Church and betrayed by Pablo, Isabel suffers a devastating fall from grace, which leads to her ultimate death.

With the rising phenomenon of social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter, constant interconnectivity with friends and family is now part of a teens daily life. However as opposed to enriching their lives, is social media just another avenue for teens to become addicted to? One of the biggest problems facing our teens today is the addictive, pervasive effects of social media. It can lead to increased distractibility, anxiety, depression and apathy. Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a very real feeling that's starting to permeate through teens social relationships. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are making this increasingly more difficult for a teen to avoid. Teens can quickly become self-absorbed in a superficial online world. As a direct result, they crave affirmations from their peers in the form of likes, favorites, shares, retweets, reblogs, and revines. They can even start to feel irrelevant without loads of social media attention. Teens who have trouble connecting face to face may depend on the Internet as a place where they feel understood by their peers and use it as a replacement for social interaction. While they might use social networking sites to connect with others, spending too much time on the internet can actually lead to social isolation, symptoms of depression and withdrawal from family and friends.