Saying No to Alcohol, Nicotine, and Drugs
Learning Objective
I can explain the benefits of refusing alcohol, nicotine, and drugs.
Key Concepts
When someone repeatedly uses an addictive substance, their brain may develop a tolerance, requiring more of the substance to achieve the same effect.
Addictive substances exploit the brain's reward pathway by altering the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens.
Factors such as trauma, mental health conditions, and substance use before age 18 can increase a person's susceptibility to substance use disorder.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 5 practice questions to reinforce learning.
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1. What is the term used to describe when someone needs more of a substance to get the same effect?
2. Describe how addictive substances affect the brain's reward pathway.
3. Explain why using addictive substances before the age of 18 is considered a strong risk factor for developing a substance use disorder.
...and 2 more questions
Educational Video
What causes addiction, and why is it so hard to treat? - Judy Grisel
TED-Ed