Opioids 101
what are opioids commonly prescribed for
Which brain region is responsible for the 'reward' feeling from drugs
nucleus accumbens
What drug can reverse an opioid overdose?
naloxone (Narcan)
Benzodiazepines are prescribed to treat what condition?
anxiety or panic disorders
What is MDMA?
A synthetic drug that acts as both a stimulant and a hallucinogen.
Name one prescription opioid
Oxycodone / hydrocodone / morphine
Long term opioid use reduces natural production of what chemical?
dopamine
What does naloxone do at the receptor level?
block opioid receptors (antagonist)
What neurotransmitter do benzodiazepines enhance?
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
What are some examples of GABA
Diazepam (Valium) / Lorazepam (Ativan) / Alprazolam (Xanax)
/ Clonazepam (Klonopin)
What illegal opioid is made from morphine and injected or snorted?
heroin
what part of the brain helps with memory and is affected by opioids?
hippocampus
Which part of the brain is depressed during an overdose, leading to stopped breathing?
brainstem
What does MDMA stand for?
What is 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine?
Which lobe is most responsible for logic and planning?
frontal lobe
What synthetic opioid is 50 times stronger than heroin
Chronic opioid use reduces gray matter in which decision-making area?
Prefrontal cortex
True or False: Naloxone has a longer half-life than fentanyl.
False
What are two common effects of MDMA on mood and perception?
euphoria and emotional closeness
The amygdala controls what emotional response, which is heightened in addiction?
fear or anxiety
What class of receptors do opioids bind to in the brain
What is the brain’s ability to heal and rewire after addiction called?
neuroplasticity
Enlarged brain ventricles can be a sign of what process in chronic drug users?
Brain atrophy
MDMA causes a surge in what three neurotransmitters?
serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine
What part of the brain helps regulate movement and balance?
cerebellum