The Brain and Addiction
What is the brain’s reward chemical that is released when we use substances?
What is dopamine?
What class of drugs do heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone belong to?
What are opioids?
True or False: Everyone who uses drugs will become addicted.
What is false?
Myth or Fact: You can always tell if someone has a substance use disorder just by looking at them.
What is a myth?
Name one benefit of completing a relapse prevention plan.
What is increased self-awareness, accountability, having a plan for triggers, etc.
True or False: The prefrontal cortex is responsible for impulse control and decision making.
What is true?
True or False: Marijuana cannot cause physical withdrawal symptoms.
What is false?
What are two risk factors that increase someone’s chance of developing a substance use disorder?
What are trauma and genetics (others include environment, age of first use)?
Myth or Fact: Addiction can change the brain, even after short-term use.
What is a fact?
What’s one physical sign your body might give you when you’re feeling triggered or stressed?
What is a racing heart, tense muscles, upset stomach, or sweating?
What part of the brain is hijacked during addiction, leading to compulsive behavior?
What is the limbic system (or reward pathway)?
Name two physical withdrawal symptoms from alcohol.
What are shaking and sweating (others include seizures, nausea, anxiety)?
This early-life experience increases risk for both addiction and mental illness.
What are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?
True or False: Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) just replaces one drug with another.
What is false?
What is a thought or belief used to make using seem like a good idea (e.g., “I’ve been clean long enough,” “One time won’t hurt”)?
What is a relapse justification?
This part of the brain develops last and is why teens are more vulnerable to addiction.
What is the prefrontal cortex?
What stimulant drug can cause paranoia, weight loss, and tooth decay?
What is methamphetamine?
Recovery isn’t just about quitting substances. What’s one reason people choose to stay in recovery?
What is wanting a better quality of life (other examples: to rebuild family relationships, find stability, or regain self-respect)?
Myth or Fact: People with addiction can’t recover unless they really want it.
What is a myth? (Recovery often starts even when someone is unsure, and motivation can grow over time.)
What’s one emotion people often mistake for anger that might actually be underneath it?
What is sadness, fear, shame, disappointment, or hurt?
When someone becomes addicted, which brain function is overpowered: survival instinct or logical reasoning?
What is survival instinct?
This drug is known for its high overdose risk due to respiratory depression.
What is fentanyl (or opioids)?
What is one thing a person in recovery can build into their routine to help avoid relapse?
What are coping tools, sober support, or healthy activities?
Myth or Fact: Most people relapse at least once during recovery.
What is a fact? (Relapse can be part of the process, not a failure.)
What’s the name for a technique that helps you explore ambivalence and motivation for change?
What is motivational interviewing?