Addiction Basics
"With continued substance use, the brain will stop producing this natural chemical that enables pleasure."
What is Dopamine?
This is a legal substance that slows brain function, delays reaction times, and impairs physical coordination. It is one of the deadliest substances to withdrawal from.
What is alcohol?
Considered a medical condition, a person shows the following symptoms when experiencing it: shallow breathing, pinpoint pupils, seizures, and bluish skin/lip color.
What is overdose?
What is Play-Doh?
The physical and psychological distress that occurs when a person suddenly stops or reduces their intake of a substance.
What is withdrawal?
Vicodin, OxyContin, and Codeine belong to a specific class of pain-killing medications.
What is Opiates (opioids)?
"This powerful region of the brain is responsible for rewards, motivation, and the reinforcement of drug-seeking behavior."
What is the reward system (limbic system)?
"This famous English playwright is credited with inventing over 1,700 common words, including "lonely" and "swagger."
What is William Shakespeare?
"This term describes an uncontrollable craving for a drug and use despite negative consequences, classified as a chronic brain disease."
What is addiction?
A common over-the-counter medication that can cause severe irreversible liver damage if taken in excessive amounts or mixed with alcohol.
What is acetaminophen (Tylenol)?
The brain structure that governs decision-making skills and impulse control. It is often impaired with long-term substance use.
What is the prefrontal cortex?
"Introduced by Gary Dahl in 1975, this fad product came in a cardboard box with air holes and straw, making millions off a completely free natural resource."
What is the Pet Rock?
"This term describes the simultaneous presence of both a substance use disorder and a mental health condition."
What is co-occurring disorder (dual diagnosis)?
Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin belong to this class of prescription sedatives and carry a high risk of dependence.
What is benzodiazepines?
"Chronic alcohol abuse can cause a severe, life-threatening vitamin B1 deficiency known by this duel-name medical syndrome."
What is Wernicke-Korsakoff (wet brain) syndrome?
"This was the very first item ever scanned with a barcode at a supermarket checkout in 1974."
100 bonus points if you know the brand.
What is chewing gum?
100 bonus points: (Wrigley's Juicy Fruit)
A powerful physical and psychological phenomenon that triggers strong urges to use a substance when exposed to people, places, or things associated with past use.
What is triggers (cravings)?
This is an herbal substance derived from a tree in the coffee family, that acts as a stimulant when taken in low doses and acts as a sedative when taken in high doses.
What is kratom?
The brain's ability to reorganize and physically change its structure and neural pathways in response to learning or recovering.
What is neuroplasticity?
"Ounce for ounce, this material can support four times the weight of a steel bar of identical size."
What is human bone?