LAQ

What Have I Learned?

• Some factors that contribute to addiction are genetic factors, environmental factors, how a person was raised, and culture
• Some drugs can activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter in the body
• Different drugs interact with the reward system in different ways; cocaine blocks dopamine transmitters & prevents the removal of of excess dopamine from synapses; methamphetamine floods the terminals of neurons & displaces dopamine into synapses instead; heroin blocks dopamine inhibitors causing synapses to flood with dopamine without restraint
• Although drugs mimic the brain’s own chemicals, they don’t activate neurons in the same way as a natural neurotransmitter, and they lead to abnormal messages being sent through the network

 

What Action Will I Take?

• App
  • By making an app, I would be able to help people cope with their drug addiction.  I can help them keep track of the certain activities they have done throughout the day which would keep them occupied and ensure a happier, healthier lifestyle.

 

What Questions Do I Have?

• Is it possible for some people to get addicted to drugs & for others to feel no effect?
• What is the best source of assistance drug addicts have found to be effective?
• In what cases will doctors prescribe medical marijuana?

Project Update II

What have you achieved at this point in your Genius Hour Journey?

At this point in my Genius Hour Journey, I have achieved many things to make my project more knowledgeable. I have dived deeper into the topic to include things such as the factors that contribute to addiction, taking the input personal situations of others and how they feel on drugs (included in my project), as well as how we can use technology to help with addiction. On my last blog post, I had asked “Does it take different amounts of time from each drug to recover, just like each drug has a different effect on the brain?”. After much research, I have discovered that the lasting effects of a drug depend on factors such as the type of drug test conducted, the dose, tolerance you have, potency of the drug, your metabolism, and any existing medical conditions you may have.

Here is a general guide I have taken from

http://www.drugs.ie/drugs_info/about_drugs/how_long_do_drugs_stay_in_your_system/

• Alcohol: 3-5 days in urine, 10-12 hours in blood
• Amphetamines: 1-3 days in urine and around 12 hours in blood
• Barbiturates: 2-4 days in urine and 1-2 days in blood
• Benzodiazepines: 3-6 weeks in urine and 2-3 days in blood
• Cannabis: 7-30 days in urine and up to 2 weeks in blood
• Cocaine: 3-4 days in urine and 1-2 days in blood
• Codeine: 1 day in urine and up to 12 hours in blood
• Heroin: 3-4 days in urine and up to 12 hours in blood
• LSD: 1-3 days in urine and up to 2-3 hours in blood
• MDMA (ecstasy): 3-4 days in urine and 1-2 days in blood
• Methamphetamine (crystal meth): 3-6 days in urine and 24 – 72 hours in blood
• Methadone: 3-4 days in urine and 24-36 hours in blood
• Morphine: 2-3 days in urine and 6-8 hours in blood

 

What further questions do you have about your topic?

Some further questions I have about my topic are:

• Why are drugs more addictive than natural rewards
• Does drug abuse lead to mental disorders?
• What are the negative effects of secondhand smoke?

 

Project Update

What is your idea? (be sure to include relevant images):

My idea is to study how addiction gets triggered in the brain when it comes to drugs.

What is the BEST resource of information you have found thus far?:  Why? What have you learned from this resource? (website, blog, YouTube, TED Talk, podcast, etc. and please share the link or embed the video in your blog):

The BEST resource of information I have found so far is a National Geographic video called, The Science of Addiction: Here’s Your Brain On Drugs. This is the best resource because it contains so much information on the brain, and the different parts of the brain that are affected when you consume a drug. So far, some of the things I’ve learned include:

-not all drugs have the same effect on the brain, they each affect your brain differently

• cocaine blocks dopamine transmitters & prevents the removal of of excess dopamine from synapses; methamphetamine floods the terminals of neurons & displaces dopamine into synapses instead; heroin blocks dopamine inhibitors causing synapses to flood with dopamine without restraint

-Our brains evolve a reward system based on a neurotransmitter, dopamine-encourage behaviors that deal with eating, or interacting with others

-Pleasure is stimulated by other neurotransmitters in Hedonic Hotspots; when dopamine’s cravings’ circuitry overwhelms these hotspots, addiction occurs—your reward system is hijacked

-Dopamine; travels through dopaminergic pathways and drugs increase this pathway of dopamine

-The dopamine flows throughout the brain’s craving circuit, including the Dorsal Striatum, or brain nerve cells called neurons that begin to form habits like buying drugs or cigarettes

-Dopamine also goes to the prefrontal cortex with the help of glutamate; rich visualizations that cue cravings like drugs

-Amygdala…the dopamine causes neurons to be stimulated by learned emotional responses like pleasure-coated memories; the big rush of dopamine can make you want more drugs to create addiction

What NEW question do you have about your topic? (that you did not have at the beginning):

A new question that I have about my topic is: Does it take different amounts of time from each drug to recover, just like each drug has a different effect on the brain?

Addiction: Genius Hour Project steps

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

My topic: How is addiction triggered?

Know:  I know that addiction can be triggered when something such as a drug is used repetitively. Addiction can start even when you first start a drug because you are more likely to try that drug again. Additionally, dealing with addiction is a battle, and once you are addicted to something, it’s hard to stop and professional help may be needed.

Want to know: Is there a chemical that gets triggered in the brain that somehow tells your brain to keep taking that drug? Is that same chemical triggered with food addiction? What is used to help deal with addiction, and if it is a drug, can you get addicted to that drug as well?

How I will find out more about my topic:

-research online and find a trustworthy database

-go to the library to find books on addiction

-talk to my dad (doctor) and get his view

-get in touch with other doctors

-watch videos

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton