Brain Bee Chapter 13: Addiction

What is Addiction?

A chronic brain disorder that causes both physical and psychological dependence

What are two important factors related with Addiction?

• Tolerance: The body gets used to a drug and it needs more 

• Withdrawal: When there are dangerous and unpleasant effects without the drug

How do abused drugs create pleasure?

By activating a group of neurons called the brain’s reward system

How do drugs affect neurotransmitters?

Some drugs imitate neurotransmitters, some block them from working, and some change how they are released and how they are turned off

What are internal and external factors that increase the risk of addiction?

• Internal factors include things like certain genes

• External factors include stress and a person’s social environment

Genes related to addiction fall into two main groups:

• Some genes affect how brain circuits respond to drugs

• Others affect how the body processes drugs

What is Morphine?

An Opium from the juice of poppy flowers

What is Heroin and what are its characteristics?

Heroin is from Morphine

• Its injected into a vein, where it turns in to morphine and reaches the brain in 10 sec

• Then it attaches to Opioid receptors in the brain and a large amount of Dopamine is released

• Then follows a huge short burst of euphoria and then several hours of contentment

Why does the brain have Opioid receptors?

The brain has Opioid receptors because our body produces opioid-like substances called endorphins

What do endorphins help us do?

Help control motivation, emotions, eating (food intake), and how we respond to pain

Why do scientists make synthetic Opioids? Name a few

Scientists make synthetic opioids to help pain

• Like heroine, oxycodone, codeine, and fentanyl 

What is the most common symptom of an overdose

Breathing can stop

What is the best treatment for an Opioid overdose?

Naloxone. If it is given quickly, then it can reverse the overdose

How does Naloxone work?

Naloxone works by attaching itself to opioid receptors without creating any harmful side effects themselves. As it attaches to opioid receptors, it stops the actual opioids from attaching

How does Naloxone help people who are motivated to quit?

Naloxone helps people who are motivated to quit by reducing cravings

What are treatments that help to reduce addiction?

Methadone and buprenorphine, attach to opioid receptors and create only a mild high

• Buprenorphine is safer

What is Nicotine?

The addictive drug found in Tobacco

How does Nicotine create an adrenaline rush?

In the brain, Nicotine attaches to proteins called Nicotinic Acetylcholine receptors

Why are scientists are trying to find harmless nicotine treatments for ADHD and Alzheimer's?

In the brain Nicotine causes a pleasurable buzz and attention and memory rapidly improves after, which could make it a useful treatment

What are treatments for Nicotine?

Pharmacotherapy: Small Nicotine from gum and patches

Buprenorphine: Gives a dopamine dose similar to Nicotine

Varenicline: A Nicotine mimic that attaches to  nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

What is the addictive substance in Alcohol?

Ethanol

How does Ethanol affect brain systems?

• It affects GABA receptors: This calms anxiety, weakens muscles, and slows reaction time

• It blocks NMDA-type glutamate receptors: changes mood and impairs memory

• If activates pain-relief circuits: Explains ethanol pleasurable effects

• It pulls water from the body causing dehydration

What are symptoms of Alcohol Drinking Disorder?

People with alcohol drinking disorders may have tremors, memory loss and slurred speech

What are treatments for Alcohol Drinking Disorder?

• Behavioral therapy, counselling, group therapy

• Medications: Disulfiram, naltrexone, and Acamprosate

What is Marijuana?

Marijuanna comes from the cannabis plant

The Cannabis plant contains what addictive compound? What are its characteristic functions?

The plant contains: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which changes perception, causes hallucinations and alters space and time perceptions

The brain naturally makes its own tetrahydrocannabinol-like chemical called?

Anandamide

Long term use of Marijuana is linked to what?

Schizophrenia

What is another compound in Marijuana that doesn't produce a high? Name its characteristic functions.

There is another compound in Marijuana called Canabidiol:

• This compound can help reduce pain, can help control epileptic seizures, and it can help treat mental illness

What are Psychostimulants?

Chemicals that excite the brain and temporarily improve mental and/or physical performance

Name two Psychostimulants:

Caffeine and Nicotine

Illegal lab made Psychostimulants include:

Methamphetamine and cocaine

How do Psychostimulants work?

Psychostimulants work by flooding the brain’s reward system with dopamine

• Most act quickly and wear off quickly creating a high that lasts for a short time followed by a crash. This crash then prompts the use of more

Why is Meth really addictive?

Meth is more addictive because it enters blood stream quickly and effects last longer

How do Psychostimulants damage the brain over time?

Over time Psychostimulants damage the brain's dopamine system

Small doses of Psychostimulants can help with what?

They can help with treatments for ADHD because they improve executive function without creating tolerance

What are the current most effective treatment for Psychostimulants?

The current most best treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy

What are Designer Drugs?

Synthetic substances with psychoactive effects

Why can Designer Drugs be bought legally?

These can be bought legally because manufacturers change their chemical composition to evade laws

What are Club Drugs?

Synthetic psychoactive substance

Name a couple examples of Club Drugs:

• MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly)

• Rohypnol (“roofies”)

• GHB (gamma hydroxy-butyrate)

• Ketamine