Brain Chemistry
Drugs and the Brain
Addiction Science
Withdrawal & PAWS
Healing the Brain
100
These chemical messengers allow nerve cells in the brain to communicate with one another.
What are neurotransmitters?
100
This class of drugs includes heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone and works by attaching to specific receptors in the brain to reduce pain and produce feelings of euphoria.
What are opioids?
100
Addiction is a chronic, treatable disorder that affects this organ, changing how we experience reward, motivation, and self-control.
What is the Brain?
100
Sweating, nausea, shaking, and anxiety are common symptoms of this process that occurs when the body adjusts to stopping or reducing substance use.
What is Withdrawal?
100
This essential daily activity helps the brain repair, process memories, and regulate emotions during recovery.
What is sleep?
200
This brain chemical starts with the letter D and plays a major role in motivation, reward learning, and reinforcement. Addictive substances can interfere with how it works, making the brain want to repeat substance use.
What is dopamine?
200
Alcohol slows activity in the central nervous system, making it part of this class of drugs, even though some people initially feel more energetic or outgoing after drinking
What are depressants?
200
When someone needs increasingly larger amounts of a substance to experience the same effect, they have developed this.
What is Tolerance?
200
Unlike acute withdrawal, which typically lasts days to weeks, symptoms of this syndrome can persist or return for weeks or months into recovery.
What is post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)?
200
This physical activity can naturally improve mood, reduce stress, and support the brain's recovery from substance use.
What is exercise?
300
The brain has a natural braking system that helps calm nerve activity. This neurotransmitter starts with the letter G and is especially important in understanding alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawal.
What is GABA?
300
Cocaine and methamphetamine increase the activity of this brain chemical, which is involved in motivation, reward, and reinforcement.
What is dopamine?
300
When the brain and body adapt to repeated substance use, stopping suddenly can produce withdrawal symptoms. This adaptation is called what?
What is physical dependence?
300
Withdrawal from these two substances of drug classes can cause life-threatening seizures and delirium.
What are alcohol and benzodiazepines?
300
Building healthy relationships, attending recovery meetings, and connecting with others strengthens this important protective factor against relapse.
What is social support?
400
This brain chemical starts with the letter G and acts like the brain's accelerator, increasing nerve activity. During alcohol withdrawal, too much of this activity can lead to anxiety, tremors, and seizures.
What is Glutamate?
400
Medications such as Xanax and Ativan enhance the effects of this brain chemical, which acts like the brain's braking system by slowing nerve activity.
What is GABA?
400
People, places, smells, and even certain songs can activate memories associated with substance use, producing these powerful urges.
What are cravings?
400
Difficulty sleeping, mood swings, irritability, and trouble concentrating can occur during this phase of recovery, even after physical withdrawal symptoms have improved.
What is post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS)?
400
This practice teaches people to focus on the present moment without judgement, helping them recognize cravings without automatically acting on them.
What is mindfulness?
500
Exercise, laughter, and other enjoyable activities can stimulate the body's natural opioid system. These chemicals help regulate pain and stress and are sometimes associated with a runner's high.
What are endorphins?
500
During an opioid overdose, this lifesaving medication rapidly attaches to opioid receptors, displacing opioids and reversing respiratory depression. Its effects may wear off before the opioid does.
What is naloxone (Narcan)?
500
This remarkable ability of the brain allows it to form new connections, adapt, and change throughout recovery.
What is neuroplasticity?
500
Starting this medication too soon after using fentanyl or other full opioid agonist can trigger sudden, severe withdrawal because it displaces opioids from brain receptors.
What is buprenorphine (Suboxone)?
500
Often called the brain's executive control center, this region is responsible for planning, decision-making, and impulse control and can be affected by chronic substance use.
What is the prefrontal cortex?