Habits and the Brain
Things that are hard to break, but can be helpful because they free up our mind from dull and repetitive tasks.
What are habits?
The class of drugs that speeds up the central nervous system and includes drugs like caffeine and cocaine.
What are stimulants?
The chemical in cigarettes and other tobacco products that makes them highly addictive.
What is nicotine?
A highly addictive and often deadly injectable opioid derived from the opium poppy.
What is heroin?
Potentially paranoid behavior, slower reaction time, respiratory irritation, and - in very rare cases - "triggering" of a psychotic break.
What are some of the negative side effects of smoking marijuana/cannabis/weed?
The "rewarding" neurotransmitter that contributes to habit formation by creating a pleasurable experience that our brains reinforce.
What is dopamine?
The class of drugs that slow down or sedate the central nervous system and includes alcohol and benzodiazepines.
What are depressants?
Any pattern of drinking that results in a BAC of 0.08% or higher.
What is binge drinking?
The prescription opioid, marketed by big pharmaceutical companies like Purdue, that has massively contributed to the opioid epidemic in the U.S.
What is oxycodone/Oxycontin?
A potentially explosive location or area full of dangerous and toxic chemicals (and byproducts) used in the production of a certain illegal stimulant.
What is a meth lab?
The area of the brain (or collection of areas) that is involved with linking thought to movement and habit formation.
What is the basal ganglia?
The class of drugs that mimic our body's natural pain-fighting mechanisms, which contributes to their potency and addictiveness.
What are opioids?
The sticky substance in cigarettes that can coat the lungs and is full of carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
What is tar?
An extremely strong prescription opioid with a VERY high risk of overdose or death, especially when it is mistaken for or mixed with other opioids.
What is fentanyl?
The real reason why sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine were harsher than for powder cocaine.
What is structural racism?
When we start to need more and more of a drug to achieve the same effect.
What is drug tolerance?
The class of drugs that includes the chemical compounds found in marijuana.
What are cannabinoids?
A substance or agent, like alcohol, that leads to the malformation of a developing embryo if ingested during pregnancy.
What is a teratogen?
The prescription opioid that is often used as a treatment for opioid addiction/dependence because it helps to reduce symptoms of withdrawal/detox.
What is methadone?
The reason why people who use inhalants (e.g. "huffing" paint or other toxic chemicals) experience a "high."
What is brain damage/cell death?
The area of the brain that processes emotions and controls our response to stress, which can also make it harder to break a habit because it can perceive any change from the "normal" as a threat.
What is the amygdala?
The class of drugs that alter our perception of reality and may include visual or auditory distortions.
What are hallucinogens?
The latest tobacco product to utilize misleading and targeted marketing to addict young users to replace dying customers.
The substance - now carried by many first responders - that can treat opioid overdose.
What is Narcan/naloxone?
The hallucinogenic compound in "magic mushrooms?"
What is psilocybin?