🧠 YOUR BRAIN
What things are the brain's Reward System responsible for? How does that influence or affect addiction?
Feeling pleasure and enjoyment, Motivation and drive, Learning what to repeat, Reinforcing social connections
Because drugs can influence the reward system, they can also hijack the response making using the drug the most important thing.
What is addiction, and what makes it difficult for someone to stop using a substance?
When a drug or substance takes over control and you can't stop even if you want to.
The brain is basically rewired to demand the drug so it can be very difficult to overcome.
Some drugs have chemical structures that resemble the brain's natural neurotransmitters. What can happen when these drugs attach to receptors on neurons?
A. They always make neurons communicate normally.
B. They can activate receptors and disrupt normal brain messages.
C. They permanently stop all communication between neurons.
B. They can activate receptors and disrupt normal brain messages.
Someone starts using nicotine regularly. After a while, when they haven't had any, they feel irritated, restless, and really want it. They use nicotine again and feel better for a while. What cycle might be starting?
The Addiction Cycle
What are common symptoms of nicotine withdrawal? Name at least 2.
Common symptoms include:
Strong cravings
Irritability, anxiety, and restlessness
Difficulty concentrating
Sleep disturbances
Increased appetite
Low mood
What are some examples of things that you do that produce dopamine?
Sports, music, friends, eat good food, watch a good movie, play video games, time with pet, etc.
Can someone be addicted to a substance even if they no longer enjoy using it?
Yes! Someone may continue using to relieve cravings or withdrawal symptoms, or because substance use has become a strongly learned behavior.
Cocaine can interfere with the normal recycling of dopamine between neurons. What effect can this have?
A. Dopamine signaling becomes stronger or lasts longer than normal.
B. The brain immediately stops producing dopamine.
C. Dopamine can no longer affect the reward system.
A. Dopamine signaling becomes stronger or lasts longer than normal.
Taylor has been vaping for a while. Taylor takes a hit and soon thinks, “I want to do that again!” What is happening in the brain’s reward system?
A. Nicotine and THC increase dopamine, helping the brain learn to repeat the behavior.
B. Nicotine and THC turn off the reward system.
C. Nicotine and THC makes the brain stop producing dopamine.
D. Nothing changes in the reward system.
A. Nicotine and THC increase dopamine, helping the brain learn to repeat the behavior.
After surgery, Tyler (17) is prescribed opioids for pain. Tyler continued to use it even after he was not in pain anymore because he also felt less stressed when he took it. Over time, Tyler takes even more than he was prescribed. He wants to stop now but experiences cravings, nausea, and anxiety when truing to quit. Tyler is afraid to ask for help because he got the medication from a doctor.
What signs suggest Tyler may have developed an addiction, and what should Tyler do to safely get help?
Signs of possible addiction:
Taking more medication than prescribed.
Continuing to use it for emotional relief rather than pain.
Experiencing cravings and difficulty stopping despite wanting to quit.
What Tyler should do:
Tell a healthcare provider or trusted adult.
Seek medical guidance for managing withdrawal and stopping safely.
Ask about treatment and support for opioid use disorder.
Name a neurotransmitter affected when using alcohol, nicotine or other drugs?
Dopamine.
How does dopamine in the brain contribute to addiction?
Drugs change the reward system in the brain and dopamine responds differently, contributing to cravings.
Jake (16) and Ryan (28) begin using the same substance to cope with stress. Over time they use the substance more frequently.
Who is at higher risk of developing addiction? And why?
Jake. Because his brain is not yet fully developed so the drug will hijack that developmental process.
Chris started drinking occasionally at parties, and over time he looked forward to it every weekend. Now, Chris can't enjoy parties without alcohol. He misses a family event to drink and finds it hard to cut back.
What signs suggest that Chris may be developing an addiction to alcohol, and how might the brain's reward system be contributing?
Signs of addiction
Alcohol is becoming more important than other activities.
Chris has difficulty enjoying social situations without drinking.
Chris continues drinking despite negative consequences.
Chris wants to cut back but struggles to do so.
Chris may be losing control over drinking as the brain increasingly learns to prioritize alcohol.
After drinking heavily every day for several months, 19-year-old Ryan decides to stop drinking alcohol completely.
Within hours, Ryan begins sweating, shaking, and feeling extremely anxious. Later, Ryan becomes confused, and the shaking gets worse.
A friend tells Ryan, "Just tough it out. Withdrawal is uncomfortable, but it can't hurt you."
Question:
Why could Ryan's withdrawal be dangerous, and what should Ryan do?
Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. Ryan needs immediate medical evaluation.
How can drugs affect the messages being sent throughout the brain?
Drugs can change how we think, feel, behave, and make decisions.
After struggling with addiction, Jordan decides to stop using drugs. At first, cravings are strong and she struggles to enjoy things that used to make her happy.
Jordan begins attending counseling, exercising, and practicing healthier ways to handle stress.
Over time, the cravings become more manageable, and Jordan begins enjoying life without drugs again.
Question:
How can Jordan's brain change during recovery, and why is practicing new habits important?
Neuroplasticity. The brain will wire the new behavior if they keep practicing it.
The Addiction Cycle includes 4 stages.
1. Trigger. - Stress, emotions, or certain situations
2. Craving. - A strong urge to use the substance
3. ?
4. Temporary Relief - Uncomfortable feelings briefly decrease
Identify the missing stage
Substance use
Ethan (17) is in a car accident and taken to the hospital. The nurse asks whether he uses any substances. Ethan drinks heavily almost every day but is afraid to tell the nurse incase he gets in trouble. He says no, but the next day he becomes anxious and sweaty, his heart is racing and he feels confused.
What might be happening to Ethan, and why is it important for him to be honest with his healthcare team about his substance use?
Ethan may be experiencing alcohol withdrawal, which can become life-threatening.
Someone who has become physically dependent on a substance decides to stop using it. Withdrawal can be uncomfortable, but with certain substances, it can become life-threatening.
Which TWO substances are especially known for potentially life-threatening withdrawal, and why?
A. Nicotine and cannabis — because stopping them causes the brain to shut down.
B. Alcohol and benzodiazepines (such as Xanax or Valium) — because suddenly stopping can cause dangerous overactivity in the nervous system.
C. Opioids and nicotine — because withdrawal from either always causes seizures.
D. All substances have the same withdrawal risks.
B. Alcohol and benzodiazepines.
Both affect systems that help regulate nervous system activity.
With physical dependence, suddenly stopping can cause severe nervous system overactivity.
Complications can include seizures, delirium, and potentially death.
Medical supervision may be necessary for safe withdrawal.
On Fridays Cameron hangs out at her friends house and they drink alcohol. One Friday Cameron arrives at the house and immediately craves alcohol, even though no one has offered any yet.
How can Cameron's brain trigger a craving before any alcohol has been consumed?
The brain has created an association with her friend's house and drinking alcohol.
Why might one person develop an addiction to a substance while another person using the same substance does not?
Addiction risk is influenced by several factors, including:
Genetics and family history
Age when substance use begins
Stress, trauma, and mental health
Frequency and amount of substance use
Environment and social influences
Morgan uses a drug regularly over several months. At first she only needed a little bit to feel the effects, but over time she needed to use more to feel anything. She decided to stop using, but when she tries she feels cravings, anxiety and physical discomfort.
What is happening in Morgan's brain and body that makes stopping so difficult, even though Morgan wants to quit?
Tolerance, physical dependence, withdrawal, and cravings.
A teen buys Kratom because they see ads that say it is a "natural" product. Because they believe its safe, they combine it with alcohol. Later the teen becomes unconscious and has trouble breathing.
Why is it dangerous to believe that natural substances are automatically safe, and what should someone do in this situation?
Natural substances can still affect brain receptors, cause dependence, and interact dangerously with other drugs. Unconsciousness and abnormal breathing are medical emergencies. Call 911 immediately.
Some disposable vapes contain enough nicotine in their e-liquid to equal the nicotine content of hundreds of cigarettes. Certain vaping devices can also deliver nicotine very efficiently, making it possible to absorb large amounts in a short time.
During a party, Jordan repeatedly uses a high-nicotine vape. After a while, Jordan feels nauseated, dizzy, and shaky. Then Jordan starts vomiting, becomes confused, and has trouble standing.
A friend says, "Just sit down. It'll wear off."
Question:
What might be happening to Jordan, and which symptoms tell you that medical help is needed?
Jordan may be experiencing nicotine poisoning (nicotine toxicity).
Early warning signs: Nausea, dizziness, headache, sweating, shakiness, and a racing heartbeat.
Danger signs: Repeated vomiting, severe confusion, difficulty walking or standing, fainting, seizures, or difficulty breathing.
What to do: Stop nicotine exposure, tell a trusted adult, and seek immediate medical assistance for severe symptoms.