NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse
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Question 1

There are lots of different kinds of stimulants. What of the following is NOT a stimulant?

Nopeā€¦ Caffeine, which is found in coffee and many soft drinks, is a mild stimulant.

Correct! Heroin is not a stimulant. In fact, it causes a person to feel sleepy, which is the opposite of stimulants.

Almost! Methamphetamine is a powerful and addictive stimulant. It can cause long-term damage to the brain.

Nope, Cocaine is a powerful stimulant that changes the functioning of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain.

Question 2

Cocaine can damage the heart by causing:

Uh Uh! Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. It's actually a problem with the stomach that is caused by excess acid.

Correct! Cocaine can cause blood vessels to narrow, which causes the heart to beat faster. Fibrillation is when it beats so fast that it loses its natural rhythm.

No! Cocaine actually causes the heart to beat faster.

No. Cocaine reduces the amount of oxygen that gets to the heart by reducing blood flow to the heart. Remember, blood carries oxygen.

Question 3

Scientists are using cloning to learn more about how cocaine acts in the brain. What is a clone?

Yes! By copying a gene, scientists can study how that gene works which may help them in developing treatments for a lot of things, including drug addiction.

Try Again! Although the famous sheep Dolly was an identical clone of another sheep, most baby sheep are not clones.

No. Scientists can use cloning to understand how the brain works, but there is no part of the brain that is a clone.

No, Your probably thinking of a clown.

Question 4

Which of the following is the part of the brain that controls feelings of pleasure?

Yes! By copying a gene, scientists can study how that gene works which may help them in developing treatments for a lot of things, including drug addiction.

No, Dendrites are a part of a neuron that receives messages from another neuron.

No. Scientists can use cloning to understand how the brain works, but there is no part of the brain that is a clone.

Good Going!