Your Brain On Drugs Lr

 CHANGE SLIDE  All addictive drugs produce their effects by altering the synaptic activity.  CHANGE SLIDE  Show video “World’s most dangerous drug”

 CHANGE SLIDE  Humans engage in behaviors that are rewarding; pleasurable feelings provide positive reinforcement so that the behavior is repeated.  There are natural rewards and artificial rewards, such as drugs.  CHANGE SLIDE  Natural rewards reinforce behaviors required for survival. (food, water, sex, nurturing)

 CHANGE SLIDE  The reward pathway is in the limbic system consisting of the nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the prefrontal cortex.  The neurons of the VTA contain dopamine which is released into the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex in response to natural or artificial reward stimuli.  CHANGE SLIDE  Stimulation of the reward pathway produces highly pleasurable sensations, providing positive reinforcement which promotes further drug use.

 As Travis said: Addiction is a state in which a person engages in a compulsive behavior, even when faced with negative consequences.  The behavior is rewarded and reinforced via the reward pathway.  A major feature of addiction is the loss of control in limiting intake of the substance or behavior.  CHANGE SLIDE  Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease resulting from fundamental changes in the brain.

 When a substance is used repeatedly over time, tolerance may develop.  The brain adjusts its chemistry to offset the effects of the drug and tolerance develops.  CHANGE SLIDE  As tolerance develops, more of the drug is needed to produce the same effects.

 Substance dependence develops when neurons adapt to repeated drug use and only function normally in the presence of the drug.  When dependency develops, the brain has become dependent upon the substance to function.  CHANGE SLIDE  Without the substance the user experiences withdrawal and intense cravings for the substance.

 CHANGE SLIDE  It is possible to be dependent on a drug without being addicted. Although, if one is addicted they are most likely also dependent.  For example; A terminal cancer patient being treated with morphine for pain will experience withdrawal if the drug is stopped, but they are not a compulsive user of the drug therefore they are not addicted.

 CHANGE SLIDE  Drug addicts and overeaters experience similar responses in the reward pathway.  Image of nucleus accumbens in the reward center: red=high dopamine receptors, yellow & green=lower dopamine receptors.  With less dopamine receptors a person has difficulty feeling joy.  Scientific studies have revealed that the brain activity of alcoholics and drug abusers is very similar to that of compulsive gamblers and overeaters.

 Prolonged drug use causes the dopamine neurons in the reward pathway to cease functioning.  This state of dopamine deficiency causes the user to experience chronic feelings of anxiety, depression and an inability to just feel good.  CHANGE SLIDE  The person can only feel normal when under the influence of the drug.

 Continued drug use causes long-lasting, even permanent, changes in the functioning of neurons.  CHANGE SLIDE  Long-term drug use alters the brain in fundamental and long-lasting ways. (normal brain vs. meth brain)  CHANGE SLIDE  Addiction is a disease of the brain.

Your Brain On Drugs Lr

by LeAnne Rozner

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

Statistics

Your Brain On Drugs Lr Presentation Transcript