Brain Basics
Which brain area helps with planning, weighing consequences, and impulse control?
Prefrontal cortex; it continues developing into young adulthood.
Name one way some drugs can affect the brain.
Answer: Attention, memory, judgment, mood, or reaction time.
Name one internal influence on a decision.
TEACHER ANSWER: Answer examples: feelings, stress, beliefs, goals, curiosity.
Is addiction simply a lack of willpower?
No. It is a health condition influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
Name one reliable source for drug information.
CDC, NIDA, SAMHSA, a health professional, or approved school resources.
What are neurotransmitters?
Answer:
Chemical messengers that help nerve cells communicate.
Why can taking another person's prescription medication be dangerous?
Answer:
It may be inappropriate, interact with other substances or conditions, or cause unexpected effects.
Give one clear refusal statement a student could use under pressure.
Answer examples: “
No thanks'; 'I'm not taking that'; 'Let's do something else'; 'I'm leaving.'
Name one risk factor for harmful substance use.
Answer:
Ongoing stress, trauma, peer pressure, easy access, or family history.
What should you record when using a source for your project?
Organization/author, page or article title, date if available, and URL or other source details.
Why can a drug that changes brain communication affect several behaviors?
Answer:
Brain systems work together, so attention, memory, mood, coordination, and judgment may all be affected.
How might misusing a stimulant affect sleep and decisions?
Answer:
It may cause sleep problems, anxiety, increased heart rate, or overconfidence and poor judgment.
A stressed student is offered someone else's prescription pill. Name one influence and one safer choice.
Answers
Stress or peer pressure; refuse it, leave, contact a trusted adult, or use a healthy coping strategy.
Name one protective factor that can reduce risk.
Answer:
Supportive adults, healthy coping, positive peers, school/community connection, accurate information, or access to care.
Why compare information from more than one reliable source?
To check accuracy, get context, and avoid misinformation or unsupported claims.
Why is it incomplete to call dopamine only the 'pleasure chemical'?
Dopamine also supports motivation, learning, and noticing rewards or cues.
Name one thing that depressants and stimulants do to your nervous and or central nervous system.
Depressants generally slow central nervous system activity; stimulants generally increase activity. Both can be dangerous when misused.
Why can pausing before acting improve a pressured decision?
It creates time to consider options, consequences, goals, and support instead of reacting automatically.
Does trying a drug automatically mean a person will develop addiction? Give one reason why or why not?
No. Outcomes vary; no single exposure guarantees addiction, although any use can carry risks.
A source says a drug has 'no risks' but provides no evidence. What should you do?
Verify it with credible health sources and avoid unsupported claims.
Why might impairment happen before a person realizes their thinking has changed?
Substances can affect attention, inhibition, perception, or judgment, reducing a person's ability to recognize impairment.
Someone feels 'fine' after mixing substances. Why is that not proof they can safely drive?
Feeling fine is unreliable; reaction time and judgment may be impaired, and combinations can be unpredictable.
A friend says, 'Everyone is doing it, so it must be safe.' What is wrong with this reasoning?
Popularity does not prove safety; it is peer pressure/bandwagon reasoning. Check reliable information and make an independent choice.
Why is it harmful to describe a person with addiction as 'weak'?
It stigmatizes a health condition, ignores contributing factors, and can discourage people from seeking support.
Your sources disagree about long-term effects. What is the strongest next step?
Compare reputable health agencies and research summaries, check dates/evidence, describe uncertainty accurately, and ask the teacher or a health professional if needed.