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KNOWLEDGE IS THE FIRST STEP. 

ABOUT ME

In Feb. of 2016 in my first year being a county commissioner I attended a National Association of Counties, National Legislative conference in Washington DC.  I attend sessions on many local Gov. topics but by far the most popular (SRO) were the sessions on the Opioid epidemic. In session after session, the only thing that could be called a success was the billions of dollars being spent to increase the distribution of Naloxone, the product that reverses an overdose.  I was completely demoralized. How could they consider a product that simply reverses one overdose for one person on one particular day and time, yet does nothing to address the underlying problem, or prevent kids from going down the road to addiction, a success?  It is an attempt to be this ounce of prevention that I have embarked on this project, to tell the honest truth to kids, as best we know it, about how addiction happens, what is going on in the brain.

Empowering the youth to look towards the life high.

About
BRAIN MATTER

BRAIN MATTER

DOPAMINE AND THE BRAIN

Dopamine is a chemical released by the brain to tell us when an experience is pleasant, okay, or bad. When someone uses opioids and they are not being treated for an injury, a lot of dopamine is released by the brain to trick the brain into thinking that the opioids that the person is taking is making the person feel better. But, in reality, this over usage of opioids can be very harmful to the brain and to the body. 

CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Using opioids can cause the dopamine and glutamate to be overproduced, which causes permanent damage to the brain. Because opioids can permanently change the brain, there is a chance that someone who has been addicted will use opioids again because the brain will never stop wanting them. 

OVERPRODUCTION OF CHEMICALS

Using opioids can cause the dopamine and glutamate to be overproduced, which causes permanent damage to the brain. Because opioids can permanently change the brain, there is a chance that someone who has been addicted will use opioids again because the brain will never stop wanting them. 

WITHIN THE BRAIN

The frontal lobe plays a huge role in addiction. In the frontal lobe, there is an orbital frontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex. The orbital frontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex controls decision making and emotional attachment. Opioids make the cortexes malfunction so when someone uses opioids, they have less control over decision making and they can feel less emotional attachment. The malfunctioning of the frontal cortex is called hypofrontality.  

CRAVINGS OF THE BRAIN

People who are addicted to opioids experience cravings. Cravings occur when the brain thinks it needs something really badly. Sometimes, we say that we are craving candy or ice cream. But addiction cravings are different because they can be very painful and the brain thinks that the only way to stop the pain, is to take opioids again. The more someone uses opioids, the more painful cravings become.

ADOLESCENT BRAIN VS. ADULT BRAIN

The adult brain and adolescent brain are very different. With the adolescent brain being similar to jello, they are flexible and can be easily carved into because the brain is not fully developed yet. While the adult brain can be compared to a rock, hard to change and carve into because it is done growing. Because of this difference between the two, opioids are able to do more damage to the adolescent brain due to its easily manipulative state. 

LIFE HIGHS

The best way to stay clean is to look towards the life highs. These can include playing sports, being creative, or socializing with others. The life highs help to reach out and find the best that life has to offer you and the ability to explore the world and have fun. 

 

Life Highs
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