Substance Abuse and Addiction Science Flashcards
Grade 8 · Health · Flashcards
Key vocabulary and concepts about addiction biology, risk factors, and prevention.
Flashcards
- Addiction
- A chronic brain disorder involving compulsive substance use despite negative consequences; caused by changes to brain chemistry.
- Dopamine
- A neurotransmitter linked to reward and pleasure; addictive substances cause abnormally large dopamine releases.
- Tolerance
- When the brain adapts to a substance so that increasing amounts are needed to achieve the original effect.
- Dependence (physical)
- The body's physical reliance on a substance; stopping use causes withdrawal symptoms.
- Withdrawal
- Physical and psychological symptoms (e.g., nausea, anxiety, irritability) experienced when stopping a substance after dependence develops.
- Prefrontal cortex
- Brain region controlling decision-making and impulse control; not fully developed until age 25, leaving teens more vulnerable to addiction.
- Risk factors
- Factors that increase addiction likelihood: family history, stress, trauma, peer pressure, mental health issues, and early substance exposure.
- Protective factors
- Factors that reduce addiction risk: strong family support, school connection, positive peer groups, and refusal skills.
- Refusal skills
- Techniques for confidently saying no to substance use in social situations; a key prevention tool for teens.
- Substance abuse
- Using a substance in a harmful pattern — too much, too often, or in dangerous situations — even without full addiction.
- Nicotine
- Highly addictive stimulant in tobacco products; rapidly triggers dopamine release and creates strong physical dependence.
- Relapse
- Returning to substance use after a period of stopping; common in recovery and viewed as part of the process, not a permanent failure.
- Neurotransmitter
- A chemical that carries signals between nerve cells in the brain; drugs often mimic or disrupt these signals.
- Chronic disease model of addiction
- The scientific view that addiction is a long-term brain disease requiring treatment, not a character flaw or lack of willpower.
Get a personalized course on Substance Abuse and Addiction Science built around your child.