Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
True or False: Addiction is a mild form of Substance Use Disorder.
False; Addiction is the most severe form of SUD.
What are coping skills?
Coping skills help you tolerate, minimize, and deal with stressful situations in life. Managing your stress well can help you feel better physically and psychologically and it can impact your ability to perform your best.
How does drug use during adolescence affect decision-making and risk-taking behaviors?
Drug use can impact important cognitive functions, potentially leading to riskier behaviors and poorer decision-making.
How do adverse childhood experiences impact health outcomes later in life?
Increased risk for substance use, mental health issues, or chronic physical health conditions.
What factors increase the likelihood of addiction? (Name at least 3!)
Genetics, Developmental Stage (age), mental health disorders, family, friends, the addicitiveness of a drug
What is Substance Use Disorder? (How is it defined? Best answer wins!)
A substance use disorder (SUD) is a mental disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior, leading to a person’s inability to control their use of substances such as legal or illegal drugs, alcohol, or medications. Symptoms can range from moderate to severe, with addiction being the most severe form of SUDs.
Coping skills _______ resilience by helping people better manage difficult or negative emotions.
Coping Skills Increase Resilience
What are some of the long-term effects of drug use on the developing brain?
Increased risks for mental health issues or cognitive deficits later in life, memory issues, learning deficits, etc.
What are some examples of adverse childhood experiences that were included in the ACE Study?
Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction
One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill how many people? (Closest answer will get the points!)
One kilogram of fentanyl can kill 500,000 PEOPLE
What are some co-occurring mental disorders that can be paired with SUD? (Name three)
Anxiety, Depression, Attention Deficit Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Personality Disorders, Schizophrenia, and more.
Paula struggles with coping with difficult situations. What are three coping skills you can remind Paula of to better manage her struggles?
Deep Breathing
Writing/ Journaling
Physical Activity
Positive Self-Talk
Art
Meditation/Mindfulness
Puzzles
Music
Positive Friend Group
Pets
How does drug use affect brain development during adolescence?
Interferes with the formation of important neural connections and pathways, alters brain development, etc.
What are some strategies for addressing the impact of adverse childhood experiences?
Seeking therapy, building supportive relationships, or engaging in self-care practices
What large government organization does not regulate the production of vapes? What problems does this cause?
The FDA does not currently regulate the production of vapes.
Because of this, it varies greatly what is in and makes up each vape. A number of chemicals have been found to be present in nicotine and marijuana vapes that have been scientifically proven to be detrimental to our health, and can cause severe damage.
What is the primary neurotransmitter that allows you to feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation?
Dopamine
What is mindfulness?
A mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations
What are some healthy ways to promote brain development and protect against the negative effects of drug use?
Engaging in regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and practicing stress-management techniques.
What is the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study and why is it important?
A large-scale research project that examined the relationship between childhood trauma and a variety of negative health outcomes.
These chemicals have been found to be present in vape smoke and can cause irreversible damage.
What are formaldehyde, acrolein, acetaldehyde, lead, chromium, nickel?
This happens when our neurons become less reactive to elevated levels of dopamine. (Hint: we may start to feel like we need more of a substance to get the same effect)
Building Tolerance
Replacement Therapy
Which areas of the brain are particularly vulnerable to damage from drug use during adolescence?
Prefrontal Cortex, Hippocampus
How can understanding the ACE Study help individuals in addiction recovery?
By recognizing the connection between past trauma and current substance use, or by addressing underlying trauma in therapy
A new group of synthetic opioids that are becoming increasingly prevalent across the United States. Why are these dangerous?
Nitazenes. They are very powerful synthetic opioids that have never been approved for clinical use.