Brain & Addiction
What brain chemical is strongly involved in the reward system and reinforcement of pleasurable experiences?
What is dopamine?
Do stimulants generally speed up or slow down activity in the central nervous system?
What is speed up?
What type of substance can significantly alter perception, sensory experiences, mood, and a person's sense of reality?
What are hallucinogens/psychedelics?
Do depressants generally slow down or speed up activity in the central nervous system?
What is slow down?
True or False: A craving means you have to use.
What is False?
When someone needs more of a substance to achieve an effect they previously experienced with less, what is this called?
What is tolerance?
Name one example of a stimulant.
What are cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, or amphetamines?
Name one example of a hallucinogenic or psychedelic substance.
What are LSD, psilocybin, PCP, or ketamine?
Name one commonly known depressant.
What are alcohol or benzodiazepines?
Name one healthy way to respond to a craving.
What are delay, distraction, leaving the environment, breathing, or calling someone for support?
True or False: Addiction is simply a lack of willpower.
What is False?
After stimulant use, a person may experience extreme fatigue, low mood, irritability, and strong cravings. What is this commonly called?
What is a crash?
What recovery concern can arise because hallucinogenic experiences can be unpredictable?
What are fear, confusion, anxiety, paranoia, or impaired judgment?
A person uses alcohol because it temporarily helps them relax after a stressful day. What recovery skill needs to be developed?
What are healthy stress-management and emotional-regulation skills?
What should a person do when they recognize an early warning sign for relapse?
What is take action early and use their recovery supports/coping plan?
What happens when the brain begins associating certain people, places, emotions, or situations with substance use?
What are learned triggers/associations?
A person says, "I don't even want to get high. I just need cocaine because I have no energy." What recovery issue should be explored?
What is psychological dependence/use to regulate functioning or emotions?
A person says, "I use because I want to escape reality." What underlying recovery issue should the counselor explore?
What is avoidance of emotional distress?
Why can suddenly stopping heavy or regular alcohol or certain sedative use require medical attention?
What is because withdrawal can become medically serious?
A client is grieving and begins isolating from everyone. Why could this be concerning for recovery?
What is isolation can increase emotional distress and reduce access to support, potentially increasing relapse vulnerability?
A person experiences stress, thinks about using, and immediately begins craving. What concept does this demonstrate?
What is conditioning or learned association?
Someone experiences sadness after a stimulant crash and decides to use again to feel better. What cycle could this create?
What is the use → crash → emotional distress → craving → use cycle?
Complete the recovery cycle: Emotional discomfort → substance use → temporary escape → ________.
What is the problem/emotion remains and may lead to further distress or continued use?
Someone says, "Alcohol is the only thing that calms me down." What question could help shift their thinking toward recovery?
What is "What other healthy ways can you learn to calm yourself?"
A person experiences a strong craving after an argument. Name the three major steps they should consider before acting.
What are pause, identify the trigger/emotion, and choose a healthy coping/support strategy?