The chemical messengers in the brain that transmit signals between neurons, influencing mood, memory, decision-making, movement, and behavior. It altered by substance use.
Neurotransmitter
A term indicated the co-occurrence of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder in one patient.
Dual Diagnosis
A practice of focused attention and mindfulness that promotes relaxation, self-awareness, emotional regulation, and overall mental well-being. It also helps alcoholics disconnect from craving and judgemental thoughts
Meditation
Service focuses on strategies reducing negative consequences of substance use without requiring complete abstinence
Harm reduction service
A word describe the body’s adaptation to a substance, leading to tolerance and withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped
Physical Dependence
A disorder indicated in DMS 5, involve excessive fear, worry, or nervousness, with symptoms such as restlessness, tension, and difficulty concentrating. Some often self-medicated with substances.
Anxiety Disorder
A peer-support fellowship helping individuals recover from alcohol addiction through the 12-step program and mutual accountability
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Service provides round-the-clock, facility-based care where individuals receive intensive medical, psychological, and therapeutic support for recovery
Inpatient / residency Service
A sudden, uncontrolled bursts of electrical brain activity causing changes in behavior, movement, awareness, sensations, or consciousness
Seizures
An intense feeling of unease or dissatisfaction, often involving sadness, irritability, anxiety, and difficulty experiencing pleasure.
Dysphoria
A treatment strategy that emphasizes completely refraining from substance use to achieve and maintain recover
Abstinence-based approach
A place where people could inject illegal drugs under medical supervision in a safe space
Legal site (Insite/ Supervised Injection Site)
It is called as brain’s reward circuitry, their dysregulation drives addiction, rather than being cause by lack of willpower
Dopamine Receptors
The contrast of dysphoria, an intense, often temporary, feeling of extreme happiness, pleasure state; sometimes linked to substances or experiences
Euphoria
A once a month, slow-release injection for individuals with alcohol use disorder. It blunts the effects of alcohol and prescription painkillers. Also, prevent relapse to opioid dependence
Vivitrol
Service with evidence-based research and proven clinical practice to prevent, treat, and support recovery from substance use disorders
Evidence-based practice
A part of the brain that responsible for decision-making, regulates planning, impulse control, problem-solving, emotions, social behaviour, and goal-directed actions
Prefrontal cortex
A term describes stressful or traumatic childhood events, such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction, with lifelong effects on health.
Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)
A medication that binds opioid receptors, helps normalize brain functions affected by addiction, including dopamine levels. Should be taken in clinic. Research states if it used appropriately, it can reduce mortality by about 50%
Methadone
Service provides clean syringes to reduce disease transmission, promote harm reduction, and connect people who use drugs to support services.
Needle exchange programs