LeAnne's talking notes and slide ques.

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

2.  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)

3.  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.

4.  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.

5.  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.

6.  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.

7.  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.

8.  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.

9.  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.

10.  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.