🧠 YOUR BRAIN
🚨 STRESS MODE
👥 FRIENDS & CHOICES
⚡ Nicotine Plugged
🔌 Nicotine Unplugged
100
This part of your brain helps you plan, make decisions, control impulses, and think about consequences.
Answer: The prefrontal cortex
100
What part of the brain acts like an alarm system, helping detect possible threats and triggering an emotional response?
Answer: AMYGDALA
100
True or False: During the teen years, approval and acceptance from friends can have a strong influence on decisions.
Answer: TRUE
100
True or False: Nicotine is a drug that can change how your brain works.
Answer: True
100
Question:
True or False: A craving for nicotine will last forever unless you use nicotine.
Answer: False. A craving actually only lasts on average 3 - 5 minutes.
300
This brain chemical helps your brain learn what is important and motivates you to do it again.
Answer: Dopamine
300
When stress gets really high, what can become harder for your brain to do?
Answer: Thinking. Discuss how this looks in real life.
300
You're with friends and someone suggests doing something you know could get you in trouble. Part of you wants to go along because everyone is laughing and having fun. Another part is thinking about what could happen afterward.
What two brain systems are helping pull you in different directions?
Answer: Amygdala (reward/social motivation systems)+ the prefrontal cortex
300
Taylor has been vaping for a while. Taylor takes a hit from a vape and shortly afterward feels a strong sense of, “I want to do that again.”
What is happening in the brain's reward system that can help reinforce the behavior?
Answer: Nicotine is triggering the desire for more.
300
Someone is having a strong urge to use nicotine. Name ONE thing they could do instead of giving in to the urge.
Answer: Delay, drink water, deep breathe, do something else, talk to someone, move, distract themselves, etc.
500
You're supposed to be doing homework. Your phone buzzes with a notification. You tell yourself, “I'm not going to look.” But you REALLY want to check it.
What two brain systems are competing for your attention?
The Reward System (VTA) and the prefrontal cortex.
500
An adult at home has had a stressful day. They haven't used nicotine for several hours and seem irritated and restless. They say, “I need a cigarette/vape. It helps me calm down.” After using nicotine, they seem calmer. What might actually be happening?
Answer: Withdrawal symptoms which feel like stress. Stress is created by nicotine so requires nicotine to relieve it.
500
You're hanging out with friends and someone offers you a vape. You weren't planning to vape, but everyone else seems okay with it and you don't want to feel left out.
What might be happening in your brain as you decide what to do? Identify at least 2 things.
Answer: Multiple areas are being triggered at once.
500
Someone starts using nicotine regularly. After a while, when they haven't had nicotine, they feel irritated, restless, and really want it. They use nicotine again and feel better for a while. What cycle might be starting?
Answer: The Addiction Cycle
500
Jordan wants to stop vaping, but whenever a craving hits, Jordan thinks, “I can't do this.” What are TWO things Jordan could do to help break the nicotine cycle?
Answer: Use a coping strategy and get support/help.