05 Lapses Relapse Choices

Summary

The video script discusses the concepts of lapse and relapse in substance use, emphasizing that lapse is a single instance of returning to a substance after quitting, while relapse signifies a full return to regular use. It stresses the importance of decision-making in preventing addiction and the need to view substance users as individuals in need of help rather than criminals. The speaker advocates for a paradigm shift, focusing on education and rehabilitation to assist those struggling with substance use and to promote good decision-making to avoid illegal drugs.

Takeaways

• 🚭 Lapse is a one-time event where a person who has decided to quit using a substance gives in to temptation, while relapse signifies a return to regular use.
• 🛑 The speaker emphasizes that addiction is not planned and that life is shaped by the decisions we make, highlighting the importance of making good choices.
• 🌟 The line between good and evil is determined by our choices, and education plays a crucial role in guiding individuals to make decisions that align with their goals and dreams.
• ❌ The speaker clarifies that drug users are not automatically criminals and that they need assistance rather than judgment, advocating for a shift in societal perception.
• 🤔 The speaker encourages individuals to learn from their environment, both positive and negative, and to make decisions that contribute to personal growth and problem-solving.
• 💡 The concept of 'paradigm shift' is introduced to promote a new perspective on drug users, viewing them as individuals with a chronic condition that requires support and rehabilitation.
• 🤝 The speaker stresses the importance of education in preventing drug use and in helping individuals make informed decisions to avoid the pitfalls of substance abuse.
• 🙅‍♂️ Blame is discouraged, and individuals are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions, learning from mistakes and making conscious choices to improve their lives.
• 👥 The speaker highlights the role of good friends and family in supporting individuals, advising against adopting negative behaviors and instead focusing on personal development.
• 🛡️ The ultimate goal of education, as stated by the speaker, is to create 'warrior protectors' who save lives and help others, rather than being oppressors.

Q & A

What is the difference between a lapse and a relapse in the context of substance use?

A lapse refers to a single instance of using a substance after a person has decided to quit, whereas a relapse implies a complete return to using psychoactive substances repeatedly, indicating a loss of control over substance use.

How does the speaker define a lapse in the context of smoking cessation?

In the context of smoking cessation, a lapse is exemplified by a person who has decided to quit smoking but uses a cigarette once after being offered one by others, despite having abstained for a long period.

What is the key message about addiction that Mr. Paulo shared with the audience?

Mr. Paulo emphasized that no one plans to become addicted, and addiction should be viewed as a chronic disease that requires assistance and understanding, rather than as a moral failing or criminal behavior.

Why is it important to educate individuals about drug use and its consequences?

Education about drug use is crucial to help individuals make informed decisions, avoid engaging in illegal drug activities, and to promote the understanding that addiction is a mental health issue that requires support and rehabilitation.

How does the speaker view the role of education in preventing drug use?

The speaker views education as a tool to empower individuals to make good decisions, protect and save lives, and to rehabilitate and reintegrate those who have become involved with drugs back into society.

What misconception does the speaker want to correct about individuals who use drugs?

The speaker wants to correct the misconception that all drug users are criminals. Instead, they argue that those who have not engaged deeply in drug use or committed crimes are not criminals but individuals who need help and rehabilitation.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of not pointing blame for one's choices?

The speaker emphasizes not pointing blame because it is the individual's responsibility to make choices, and blaming others, family, or circumstances does not address the root cause of the problem or the need for personal accountability.

What does the speaker suggest as an alternative to blaming others for one's actions?

The speaker suggests learning from the mistakes of others, making good decisions, and developing oneself by adopting positive behaviors and avoiding negative influences.

How does the speaker describe the role of a good friend in the context of decision-making?

A good friend, according to the speaker, will not influence you to do something bad. Instead, they should support and encourage you to make good decisions.

What is the main takeaway from the story shared by the speaker's team leader about blaming?

The main takeaway from the story is that blaming others, including friends, family, or even God, for one's actions is misguided. It is the individual's choices and decisions that determine their path, and personal responsibility should be taken for those choices.

Outlines

00:00

🚭 Understanding Lapse and Relapse in Substance Use

This paragraph discusses the concepts of lapse and relapse within the context of substance use. A lapse is a one-time event where an individual, who has decided to quit using a substance, gives in to temptation, such as a smoker accepting a cigarette after a period of abstinence. Relapse, on the other hand, signifies a complete return to substance use, indicating a loss of control and a transition back to chronic or regular use. The speaker emphasizes the importance of decision-making in preventing addiction and the need to view substance users not as criminals but as individuals in need of help and rehabilitation. The narrative also touches on the idea that addiction is a chronic disease that should be treated with assistance and understanding rather than stigmatization.

05:01

🛡️ Becoming Warrior Protectors Through Good Decision Making

Paragraph 2 focuses on the importance of making good decisions to avoid turning to illegal substances as a solution to problems. It encourages individuals to grow and develop themselves to achieve their dreams and goals, rather than seeking temporary relief through harmful means. The speaker highlights the role of education in creating 'warrior protectors' who save lives, as opposed to 'warrior oppressors.' The paragraph also addresses the influence of friends and family, emphasizing that individuals should not blame external factors for their choices. It shares anecdotes to illustrate the point that blaming others, including family or even God, is unproductive and that individuals should learn from the mistakes of others and make conscious decisions to improve their lives.

10:04

✅ The Power of Good Decision Making

In this brief paragraph, the speaker reiterates the significance of good decision-making. It serves as a reminder that the choices we make define the line between good and evil. The paragraph reinforces the idea that individuals have the power to shape their lives through the decisions they make, and it encourages a mindset of personal responsibility and self-improvement.

Keywords

💡Lapse

A lapse refers to a single instance of returning to a behavior one has decided to quit, such as using a substance. In the script, it is used to describe a momentary failure in maintaining abstinence, for example, a person who has decided to quit smoking but accepts a cigarette from a colleague. This concept is crucial in understanding the journey of recovery, as it acknowledges that setbacks can happen without defining the individual's overall progress.

💡Relapse

Relapse is a term used to describe a full return to a previous behavior, such as substance use, after a period of abstinence. It implies a loss of control and a pattern of repeated use, as opposed to a single occurrence. The script emphasizes that relapse is a sign of becoming a chronic or regular user again, which is a significant setback in the recovery process.

💡Psychoactive substances

Psychoactive substances are chemicals that affect the central nervous system and can alter perception, mood, consciousness, or behavior. The script discusses these substances in the context of addiction and recovery, highlighting the importance of avoiding their use to maintain a healthy lifestyle and achieve personal goals.

💡Good decision making

Good decision making is a central theme in the script, emphasizing the importance of making choices that align with one's goals and values. It is presented as a key factor in preventing substance use and promoting personal growth. The script encourages individuals to make decisions that will help them avoid pitfalls and achieve their dreams.

💡Paradigm shift

A paradigm shift refers to a change in the basic assumptions or paradigms that guide people's behavior and thinking. In the script, it is used to advocate for a change in perspective regarding substance users, from viewing them as criminals to seeing them as individuals in need of help. This shift is crucial for promoting understanding and support for those struggling with addiction.

💡Chronic disease

The script describes addiction as a chronic disease, which is a condition that persists over time and requires ongoing management. This perspective is important for understanding that addiction is not a moral failing but a complex health issue that requires treatment and support.

💡Mental illness

Mental illness is a term used to describe a wide range of mental health conditions that affect a person's mood, thinking, and behavior. The script suggests that addiction can be considered a form of mental illness, emphasizing the need for treatment and compassion rather than stigmatization.

💡Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation refers to the process of helping individuals with addiction or other health issues to regain their skills, confidence, and ability to function in society. In the script, rehabilitation is presented as a crucial step in helping drug users reintegrate into society and overcome their addiction.

💡Stigma

Stigma is the negative stereotype or prejudice against individuals based on their perceived differences. The script discusses the need to avoid mental stigma, especially towards those who have used illegal drugs, emphasizing that they are not inherently evil but need assistance and support.

💡Warrior protectors

The term 'warrior protectors' is used in the script to describe individuals who are educated and empowered to help others, particularly those struggling with addiction. It contrasts with the idea of 'warrior oppressors' and highlights the importance of education in enabling people to protect and save lives.

💡Blame

Blame is the act of attributing responsibility or fault for an action or event. The script discourages blaming others, God, or external circumstances for one's choices and actions. It uses examples to illustrate that individuals are responsible for their decisions and should focus on making good choices rather than pointing fingers.

Highlights

Lapse is a one-time occurrence, whereas relapse indicates a return to substance use after a quit attempt.

A lapse is exemplified by a smoker who has decided to quit but accepts a cigarette from others, using it only once.

Relapse is characterized by the inability to control substance use, leading to chronic and regular use after a quit attempt.

Paulo emphasizes that addiction is not planned and that life is based on decisions, with choices marking the line between good and evil.

The importance of educating individuals to make good decisions is highlighted to help them achieve their goals and dreams.

Engaging in illegal drug activities is not conducive to achieving one's dreams, and education is key to avoiding this path.

There's a misconception that drug users are automatically criminals; the speaker advocates for a paradigm shift towards viewing them as in need of assistance.

People who have not deeply engaged in drug use or committed crimes are not yet criminals and can be helped through rehabilitation.

The goal is to save lives by educating and rehabilitating individuals, rather than stigmatizing or blaming them for their struggles.

Paulo refers to drug addiction as a chronic disease that requires assistance and is akin to a mental illness.

The speaker stresses the need for a paradigm shift away from mental stigma and towards understanding and helping those with addiction.

Good decision-making is emphasized as a key factor in avoiding substance abuse and in helping individuals reintegrate into society.

The speaker encourages individuals to avoid blaming others or external factors for their problems and to focus on making good choices.

The story shared by the speaker's team leader illustrates the importance of not pointing blame and taking responsibility for one's actions.

The speaker advises learning from the mistakes of others, whether family or friends, and not adopting bad habits.

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of education in becoming 'warrior protectors' who save lives, not 'warrior oppressors'.

Transcripts

so now let's talk about lapse and

relapse and this just simply means that

when we say lapse this will be

done

only one time

when we say relapse the person who's

using the substance who have decided to

quit

already completely returned to using the

psychoactive substances that they have

used before

when when or before they decided to quit

so lapse

perhaps let's say for example you're a

smoker you

were exposed to a number of individuals

who were smoking in the office however

you have already decided to quit and

they offered you one

piece of cigarette and then you decided

to go and use that cigarette even though

you have been preventing yourself from

using cigarette for a long period of

time and you only did it once that's

what we call lapse but when you say

relapse you are now no longer able to

control yourself from exposing yourself

to using the substance more than once

again

even though you have quitted before but

you undergone relapse that means you are

now becoming a chronic user again you're

becoming a regular user of the

psychoactive substance

and one of the most important

topic that i just want to share here is

what mr paulo explained to us one of the

pda officers who is in charge of

educating the people when it comes to

drug education he said no one ever plans

to become addicted but everything in our

life is based on decisions that we make

and again as i've said in our previous

lessons what marks the line between good

and evil are choices that we make and

that's why making choices is the biggest

factor here and that's why we are

educating individuals to make right and

good decisions that will be helping them

achieve their goals and dreams

and

engaging into illegal drug activities

will not be helping you out with regards

to your

goal of achieving your dreams

so i hope guys you understand the

concept here that

the individual who is using

does sent really

we we have certain misconceptions if

this person is a user he's already a

criminal okay we want to shift from that

paradigm shift and as explained by sir

paulo here this people needs assistance

because they are sick

okay

if they haven't reached the highest

level of engagement into drug use and

they have not committed any criminal act

these are people who are not yet

criminals considered to be criminals

we still have a chance to help them out

we still have a chance to

to assist them out to get outside of

that pit hole as we may call it we want

to help save lives that's why we

educate individuals that it doesn't

necessarily mean that the person has

been involved into the use of illegal

drugs that automatically makes them a

criminal that is a threat to the society

okay they need help and that's why we

want to rehabilitate them we want to

provide them

with certain

certain

services so that we can try to help out

this individual to get out of that pit

hole

that from where they fell

when they got involved into illegal

drugs

so i really like what sir paulo said in

his webinar he said that this is a

chronic disease

and it's uh something that we should

look into as a form of disease that

needs some assistance

it is a form of mental illness

so i hope that we'll be having a

paradigm shift we don't

ha we don't practice the mental stigma

of

making the individuals who got involved

into the use of illegal drugs as people

who are already evil

remember this is a mental chronic

illness

and again

this is why we also emphasize the

importance of

good decision making

and as

to what sir paulo said these are some of

the key points that he said in the

webinar that he conducted this is not

because you got influenced by a friend

not because of a family problem

and

we don't point blame guys no one to

point blame the future depends on

choices that we make

so i hope that that's clear guys that

drug users we want to help them out we

want to reintegrate them into society

that's why we want to rehabilitate them

and as much as possible we

educate people to avoid getting involved

into the use of illegal drugs by

understanding the importance of good

decision making

and we avoid pointing blame we

don't just say that it's because of a

family problem and again it really

depends on the individual individuals

evaluation of things that are happening

around him

i'm hoping that as an individual who got

to be who gets to have the opportunity

to be educated

you will look into not adding worries to

your problems not adding additional

problems to your problems but instead

you find solution to your problems

and start moving forward by growing and

developing yourself so that you can

achieve your dreams and goals

and don't go and try to turn your

attention to

to band aid solutions like the use of

illegal substances

so i hope that this is clear guys we are

here we are educating you so that you

can become warrior protectors who will

be saving lives and we are not warrior

oppressors that's something that i

wanted to emphasize the reason why we

are becoming educated is because we want

to protect and save lives as warriors uh

let's say you are yours in a way because

we engage ourselves into

helping out other people who are in need

and we try to lend a hand and at the

same time

we aim to protect lives

i just want to emphasize here the main

idea here again remember guys good

friends will not be influencing you to

do something bad and in terms of family

problem no family is perfect there will

be some

conditions in our lives from where

parents are not perfect guys that's

something that i

really emphasize to my students but

don't continue the route cut off the

road if for example you know that it is

a

broken road this is something that i

learned from one person

try to cut off the roots if you see some

good things in what your parents are

doing then adapt those good things and

if you saw some things that are bad

don't adopt those bad things okay into

your habits

develop yourself learn from the mistakes

of other people learn from the mistakes

of people that are around us maybe

family or friends and of course the most

important part here is don't

point blame i really like the

story of my

tl in the call center industry when one

of our teammates were

were

terminated because she was sleeping on

the job

and

our ttl during that time was feeling

really bad about the condition one of my

teammates was even blaming him for not

fighting for our teammate

and

one of my teammates was saying that tl

we were we were a family here why did

you allow

the management to

have one of our teammate

be

removed from the job

and one of the things that he did he did

not answer back he calmly

uh went went

went off or he calmly communicated with

the team member and in the early in the

morning he shared to us a

email an email that contains a story of

an author and in that story

it was a story about pointing blame

there were three parts first the author

wrote about his friend

that

that was blaming him

because he did not did anything to

intervene when his friend

started

doing something bad and that is trying

to cheat on his wife and end result his

friend

had to separate or got separated from

his wife and that friend of his

was blaming the author and the other

said who was the one who cheated on his

wife was it me or is was it you so one

of the common things that people blame

will be other people that's one of the

main point of the altar there and the

second one was the condition from where

a young lady got pregnant early pregnant

and she was blaming god

she was saying god why have you forsaken

me and one of the answers of that author

to the that question was that why are

you blaming god it's not god who creates

babies it's sex that creates babies man

and a woman

who engage in who who were in a

relationship and they decided to make a

baby right so again another

thing that people blame will be another

point of finger that people normally

blame is god so again god doesn't have

anything to do

with the choices that you make and the

last one will be the devil uh uh there

in that story uh our tl said that our uh

in the author's story he said there that

uh there was a criminal who was put in

jail and he was blaming the devil that

the the

devil was was

was tempting him to do those criminal

activities or criminal acts and again

those are just key things that i really

like about that story that our tl sent

us when he felt that one of the

teammates one of our teammates were

blaming him

for

the event that happened to our

another teammate who got fired from the

job

so

i hope that you understood the

importance of good decision making and

remember what marks the line between

good and evil are choices that we make