03 Levels Of Engagement - Experimental & Circumstantial

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the levels of engagement with illegal drugs, particularly among youth. They discuss experimental or recreational use as a common entry point and stress the need to evaluate one's friends and environment to avoid negative influences. The speaker also touches on the dangers of curiosity and the importance of self-evaluation and self-worth. They advocate for cutting ties with those who engage in detrimental behaviors and highlight the significance of choosing friends wisely to align with personal goals. Additionally, the script mentions circumstantial or occasional drug use, such as soldiers using drugs to cope with war stress, and the need for psychological first aid in such situations.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Understand the levels of engagement with illegal drugs to help individuals effectively.
• 👫 Recognize that experimental or recreational use is a common entry point for youth into drug use.
• 👀 Learn to evaluate and profile the people around you to identify those who might lead you to try illegal drugs.
• 🚫 Good friends will not expose you to environments that could lead to unhealthy or troublesome situations.
• ⚠️ Be aware that curiosity can be detrimental, especially when it leads to engaging in risky behaviors.
• 💡 Remember the importance of the acronym shared to help evaluate and retain information about avoiding illegal drugs.
• 👂 Listen to frequent reminders about the dangers of drug use to counteract forgetfulness.
• 📢 Be non-tolerant of friends who engage in self-destructive behaviors and consider distancing yourself from them.
• 🛑 Know when to cut ties with individuals who do not value your well-being or who have negative intentions.
• 🤔 Evaluate the intentions of those around you and choose friends who support your goals and well-being.
• 💼 Circumstantial or occasional drug use can occur due to situations like stress or lack of confidence, and it's important to understand these contexts.

Q & A

What are the different levels of engagement with illegal drugs mentioned in the script?

The script discusses two levels of engagement with illegal drugs: experimental or recreational use, and circumstantial or occasional use.

Why is experimental or recreational use a common reason for youth to engage with illegal drugs?

Experimental or recreational use is common because it often serves as the starting point for youth, driven by curiosity and peer influence.

What is the importance of evaluating the people around you regarding drug use?

Evaluating the people around you is crucial because good friends and individuals will not expose you to environments that could lead to unhealthy situations or trouble.

What does the speaker mean by 'predicament' in the context of drug use?

In the context of drug use, 'predicament' refers to an unpleasant or troublesome situation that is difficult to escape from, often leading to negative consequences.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of not being curious about illegal drugs?

Curiosity about illegal drugs can lead to detrimental outcomes, and the speaker emphasizes this to educate and protect the audience from potential harm.

What is the personal acronym the speaker shared with their students, and what is its purpose?

The acronym is not explicitly mentioned in the script, but its purpose is to help students understand, remember, and apply the information discussed about the dangers of drug use.

How does the speaker feel about friends who engage in activities that are detrimental to themselves?

The speaker is non-tolerant of such behavior and believes in the importance of maintaining a safe personal space, even to the point of cutting ties with friends who engage in harmful activities.

What advice does the speaker give about helping friends who are involved with drugs?

The speaker advises not to allow oneself to be pulled into a negative situation and to help only those who are willing to help themselves, recognizing when the effort is futile.

What is the significance of choosing friends wisely according to the script?

Choosing friends wisely is significant because it impacts one's goals and potential, and it is essential to surround oneself with people who have good intentions and support one's growth.

What is an example of circumstantial or occasional drug use mentioned in the script?

One example is soldiers using drugs to cope with the stress of war or to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of psychological first aid and debriefing in high-stress situations?

The speaker emphasizes psychological first aid and debriefing because individuals exposed to high-stress or traumatic situations may suffer from mental health issues, and these practices help to evaluate and support their mental condition.

Outlines

00:00

🚫 Understanding the Dangers of Drug Use

The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing the various levels of engagement with illegal drugs, particularly among youth. They stress the significance of evaluating the intentions of those around us, especially friends, who may influence our decisions. The speaker asserts that good friends would not encourage drug use, which can lead to unhealthy and troublesome situations. They also discuss the concept of 'predicament,' explaining how friends should not put us in unpleasant or difficult situations. The talk concludes with a reminder to be cautious of curiosity, especially when it comes to illegal substances, and to apply the knowledge shared to make informed decisions.

05:00

🤔 Evaluating Friendships and Personal Values

The speaker advises on the importance of valuing oneself and choosing friends wisely, as they can significantly impact one's goals and well-being. They discuss the need to identify and 'debug' negative influences in one's life, drawing parallels to computer programming where errors are removed to improve functionality. The speaker also touches on the idea of setting boundaries, including cutting ties with those who do not value us or contribute positively to our lives. They reiterate the importance of understanding the value others place on us and making decisions based on self-respect and self-worth.

10:03

💊 Circumstantial Drug Use and Psychological Support

This section delves into the concept of circumstantial or occasional drug use, where individuals may turn to substances to cope with specific situations or to achieve a desired effect. Examples include soldiers using drugs to manage stress from war or individuals with depression using prescription drugs to alleviate symptoms. The speaker highlights the importance of psychological first aid and debriefing protocols for those exposed to traumatic situations, such as emergency responders. The talk underscores the need for support systems and awareness of the mental health implications of drug use in these contexts.

Keywords

💡Engagement Levels

Engagement levels refer to the varying degrees of involvement or participation in an activity, such as drug use. In the video, the speaker discusses different levels of engagement with illegal drugs, emphasizing the importance of understanding these levels to help individuals. The script mentions experimental or recreational use as a common starting point, which illustrates the initial level of engagement that can potentially lead to more serious issues.

💡Experimental or Recreational Use

This term is used in the context of the initial, often casual, use of illegal drugs. The speaker points out that this is one of the most common reasons for youth to start using drugs, which can be a gateway to more serious addiction. The video stresses the importance of evaluating one's social circle to avoid being influenced by peers who might encourage such behavior.

💡Predicament

A predicament in the video refers to an unpleasant or troublesome situation that is hard to get out of. The speaker uses this term to describe the potential consequences of engaging with drugs, emphasizing that good friends would not expose one to such situations. The concept is used to highlight the importance of making wise choices and avoiding harmful environments.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is mentioned as a potential driving factor that could lead individuals to try illegal drugs out of a desire to explore or experience something new. The speaker warns against the dangers of unchecked curiosity, especially in the context of drug use, and advises viewers to be cautious and make informed decisions.

💡Acronym

An acronym is a word formed from the initial letters of a phrase, and in the video, the speaker mentions sharing a personal acronym with students to help them remember important information. This tool is used as a mnemonic device to aid in retaining and applying knowledge in real-life situations, particularly regarding the dangers of drug use.

💡Circumstantial or Occasional Use

This term refers to the use of drugs in specific circumstances or on an occasional basis, rather than as a regular habit. The video provides examples such as soldiers using drugs to cope with the stress of war or individuals using prescription drugs to manage depression. The speaker discusses how these situations can lead to drug use that is not necessarily habitual but still carries risks.

💡Debriefing Program

A debriefing program is a structured process used to review and discuss experiences, often after a stressful or traumatic event. In the context of the video, the speaker recommends such programs for individuals who have been exposed to high-stress situations, like soldiers or emergency responders, to help them process their experiences and mental states.

💡Psychological First Aid

Psychological first aid is a concept mentioned in the video as an important aspect of support for individuals who have experienced traumatic events. The speaker emphasizes its inclusion in first aid lectures and its relevance for those who might be exposed to stress, such as soldiers or emergency personnel, to help them cope with potential psychological effects.

💡Free Will

Free will is discussed in the video as the ability of individuals to make choices and take actions independently. The speaker mentions that even with the best intentions, one cannot help those who do not decide to help themselves, highlighting the importance of recognizing when to step back and not allow others' choices to negatively impact one's own well-being.

💡Debugging

In the video, debugging is used metaphorically to describe the process of identifying and removing negative influences or 'errors' in one's life. The speaker uses the term, borrowed from computer programming, to encourage viewers to evaluate their relationships and environment to ensure they are not detrimental to their goals and well-being.

💡Cutting Ties

Cutting ties refers to the act of ending relationships or connections with individuals who have a negative influence. The speaker advises viewers to be willing to cut ties with those who engage in harmful behaviors or who do not value them, emphasizing self-preservation and the importance of surrounding oneself with positive influences.

Highlights

Understanding the levels of engagement of individuals who use illegal drugs is crucial for helping them.

Experimental or recreational use is a common reason for youth to start using illegal drugs.

Good friends and individuals will not expose you to environments that promote illegal drug use.

Curiosity can be detrimental, especially if it leads to unhealthy or troublesome situations.

An acronym was shared to help students evaluate and retain information about avoiding illegal drugs.

It's important to make the right decision and not engage in activities involving illegal drugs.

Learn to evaluate the intentions of friends who might encourage illegal drug use.

The speaker personally does not tolerate friends engaging in harmful activities and has cut ties with some.

It's crucial to maintain personal safe space and not neglect red flags in relationships.

One should not allow themselves to be pulled into a negative flow or environment.

Identifying people who need help is important, but also recognizing when they won't help themselves.

The first level of engagement is common among friends and requires profiling individuals and environments.

Cutting off ties with people who are not willing to improve their negative situation is advised.

Valuing oneself is the first step in understanding how others value you.

Debugging in life involves identifying and removing errors that prevent achieving goals.

Choose friends wisely as they can greatly impact your ability to achieve your goals.

Circumstantial or occasional drug use can occur due to stress or a desire to achieve a certain effect.

Soldiers are an example of individuals who might use drugs due to the stress of war.

The importance of psychological first aid and debriefing protocols in high-stress situations.

People who are shy or less confident might use substances to build up their confidence.

Circumstantial or occasional use can include prescription drugs given to treat depression.

Transcripts

now let's move forward to

the different levels of engagement so we

call this the levels of engagement of

different individuals so we need to

understand the levels of engagement of

this

individuals who gets to use illegal

drugs so that we can also try to look

into the different ways on how we can go

and try to help them out

and as we try to look into here we can

see that there's this experimental or

recreational use this is one of the most

common reasons why the youth gets to

engage into the use of illegal drugs and

this can be the starting point so again

i go back to the main point that i said

in our previous videos that's why you

need to learn how to to evaluate the

people around you profile them

know their intentions good people good

friends

good individuals will not be

pushing you to go and try

illegal drugs that's period that's a

period

this

people around you if they are considered

to be as your friends

they will not be exposing you to the

to the

environment

to an environment from where

we all know

will be putting you in a predicament

will be putting you in a

unhealthy situation

so when i say predicament that just

means a good friend will not be put to

putting you in a situation an unpleasant

situation a troublesome situation

from where

it will be difficult for you to get

outside or free to get out of that

troublesome situation so that's just

what i mean by predicament

and remember curiosity is not a good

thing to take note of guys especially

now that you are educated i am hoping

that you will be remembering the things

that we are talking about here and

curiosity can really be uh detrimental

especially if you know

and get to evaluate that the situation

will be putting you into trouble

so i hope you remember the acronym the

personal acronym that i shared to my

students know it understand it remember

it retain the information and then apply

it in real life meaning

you now know that curiosity towards

these things can really put you in a

predicament in a troublesome situation

and can be an unhealthy situation for

you so i'm hoping that you will be

making the right decision of not

engaging into these kinds of activities

you might at some point everyone

encounter a situation from where a

friend of yours will be telling you

let's try this out and again

these are people who are not really

caring for you and learn to evaluate

their intention

and i'm repeating myself here

i know that these topics have been

discussed to you way way back before in

your younger years i'm sure that some

schools have this as a program in their

curriculum however we are reminding

everyone

so the solution to forgetfulness is

frequent reminders

[Music]

one thing that i personally do

i am a bit of a non-tolerant individual

when it comes to my friends guys

i really don't tolerate people who will

be doing certain things especially if it

will be detrimental to themselves

and i have some friends that i really

unfriended i really

cut my ties with because i understand

the value of my personal

safe safe space and at the same time i

i understand myself well enough that

these kinds of red flags that i noticed

will be

something that i will not be

i will not be

neglecting i really

try to

cut some ties with some people

especially if i know that their

their intention is not good

not only to my to myself but also to

themselves

i will do an extra effort of explaining

things to them but if for example these

people really

cannot be helped out i

i always tell my students that don't

allow yourself to get pulled pulled

into the

flowing river don't go with the flow of

the liver if you know that the flow of

the liver will be drowning you

no matter how much

effort you try to exert and trying to

help out people who

doesn't want to help themselves out guys

it will be

a waste of your time so it's really

important that you identify those people

who you will be trying to help out there

are some people who we want to try and

try to help out so many times that we

wanted to help them out get out of a

certain situation however if they don't

decide on their own if they don't have

the

free will to take action on their own no

matter how good your intention is these

people will not be able to

get themselves out of that

that spot

that spot in their lives that is

detrimental to them okay so don't blame

yourself if for example some people

are really not going to be trying to

help themselves out uh at least you you

know you have exerted an effort to lend

a hand

however know the point in time from

where these people are already pulling

you down

okay you have to understand that

that

limit

that

that line between you not getting pulled

into the flow of the dark river as we

may say here as i i always tell my

students okay i hope that there are some

things that that will be something that

you try to remember there are some

people who will really not be helping

themselves out

so this first level of engagement guys

is commonly for

if we try to analyze it this will be

commonly

uh something that we might experience

together with some people around us

especially friends that we get to meet

in this lifetime so it's really

important guys that you try to profile

the individuals around you the

environment that you have

and again don't be afraid to cut off

ties if you know that these people are

not willing to

take action to

get out of the negative situation that

they are in

and don't allow yourself to be pulled

into that negativity

i know that sometimes this is going to

be difficult especially if you've been

friends with a lot of

with a certain individual for a long

period of time

just remember it's not about the length

of time that you have a relationship

with an individual it's about how these

people will be valuing you

okay

so that's something that i just want to

reiterate uh to my students

understand how people are valuing you

and the first step of understanding this

is you valuing yourself first and if

these people doesn't see the value

in you or they don't value you well

enough

learn to identify and make an evaluation

on whether you need to debug these

people from your life or debugging means

finding the errors in your life

in computer programming that's uh what i

call debugging you or we call it

debugging we try to find errors in our

program

and in in

our daily lives we also have some errors

that we need to debug we need to

evaluate and find out what are the

things that we are doing that is

detrimental that is preventing us from

achieving our goals and what are the

the things in our environment that is

also doing that keeping us from

achieving our potentials

from

us being able to achieve our highest

potential as a human being

i hope that this is clear guys

the importance of understanding this

level

of engagement and i just want to end my

discussion with regards to this level

choose your friends well

this will have a very big impact when it

comes to your target goals

so learn to

evaluate the people around you if they

have good intentions

choose your friends well okay

try to identify if these are people who

will try to push you up and help you

achieve your goals or are they going to

be pushing or pulling you down

okay

okay now for the next level here we have

the circumstantial or occasional use

so this usually happens

so this just means that there's an

individual who is trying to achieve a

something that is desirable

and they are using drugs because they

want to occasionally use it for them to

have uh

achieve a certain desirable effect

a good example of this will be soldiers

who are using

drugs because of being exposed to the

stress of war

we know that there are some

people who go to war and they end up

having a stressful

post-traumatic syndrome

and

that is why we also include in our first

aid

lectures the importance of psychological

first aid

this is why

i

highly emphasize to my students who are

taking up

first aid management and

situations from where they will be

engaging into responding to certain

emergency situations

uh the importance of psychological first

aid because they will be exposed to a

lot of stressful situations in on the

field

a part of the program that i recommend

or we recommend when it comes to

responding to

highly stressful situations will be the

debriefing program or there should

always be a debriefing

especially if individuals in the

response team will be exposed to a

highly stressful traumatic situation

there's there should be a debriefing

protocol that is followed

to evaluate the condition of the mental

condition of the person

you guys can be mandated by the

government to render your services as an

nstp graduate so you might

need these skills and you should be

aware of these situations at least you

will have also you you can take the

initiative to also go and ask your

superior if ever you will be deployed as

an nstp graduate to

try to ask if they have a debriefing

protocol or a program for those people

who have been exposed to a traumatic

situation

so going back to the example of soldiers

who are

really a good example of people who gets

to

engage into the use of some drugs

because of circumstantial cases

or they get involved into occasional use

of certain drugs

because they have been exposed to

certain situations that requires them to

use those drugs

there are also some people who are shy

or let's say people who are less

confident of themselves and they end up

using certain substances for them to

build up their confidence

so this can be served under the

circumstantial level or occasional use

situation

there are some

patients who are let's say people who

are depressed and most of the time they

get a prescription drug so that they can

go and try to uplift themselves

and find a little bit of

a little bit of

[Music]

wellness from their depressed condition

through the prescription drugs that were

prescribed to them

so circumstantial or occasional use can

also be under the condition of having

some

people use drugs mainly because

it was prescribed to them by a a doctor

or let's say a doctor gave them a

prescription to take certain drugs okay