This Is What Happens to Your Brain on Opioids | Short Film Showcase

Summary

Susan's story explores the cycle of opioid addiction, beginning with a bike accident that leads to physical pain and the release of natural endorphins to manage it. When prescribed opioid painkillers, Susan experiences relief, but over time, she develops tolerance and addiction. The opioids trigger dopamine release, providing temporary pleasure but ultimately leading to withdrawal, depression, and anxiety once the medication runs out. Despite the challenge of addiction, hope remains as treatments, including therapy and medication, help retrain the brain and restore Susan’s ability to find joy in life again.

Takeaways

• 😀 Susan injures her arm while biking, triggering pain signals sent through her spinal cord to the brain.
• 😀 Neurons in the body have opioid receptors that help manage pain by slowing down the pain signals.
• 😀 Endorphins, natural painkillers released by the body, activate opioid receptors to reduce pain and prevent panic.
• 😀 Despite treatment, Susan's arm continues to hurt after three months, and the pain causes depression and anxiety.
• 😀 A doctor prescribes opioid painkillers, which are chemically similar to endorphins and help stop pain signals.
• 😀 Opioid receptors not only block pain but also affect dopamine release, creating feelings of pleasure and euphoria.
• 😀 The brain's VTA area produces dopamine, which is responsible for rewarding feelings of pleasure when something good happens.
• 😀 With continued opioid use, Susan develops tolerance, needing higher doses to achieve the same effect.
• 😀 As Susan's opioid supply runs out, withdrawal symptoms arise, including increased pain, depression, anxiety, and sickness.
• 😀 Chronic opioid use can lead to addiction, especially for those with genetic and environmental risk factors, making it harder to quit.
• 😀 Despite the challenges, there is hope for recovery with medication and therapy that can help retrain the brain and restore a sense of pleasure.

Q & A

What happens when Susan falls and breaks her arm?

When Susan falls and breaks her arm, special cells called neurons send pain signals through her spinal cord to her brain, which interprets the signal as pain, helping Susan understand that she needs medical attention.

How does Susan's body help her manage the pain after her injury?

Susan's body releases natural painkillers called endorphins, which act like keys that activate opioid receptors on her neurons, slowing down the pain signals and preventing panic by reducing the sensation of pain.

What is the role of opioid receptors in the body?

Opioid receptors are proteins on neurons that help slow down the neurons' ability to send pain signals. These receptors are activated by both natural endorphins and opioid drugs, which reduce pain and promote feelings of calm and relief.

What is the function of dopamine in Susan's brain?

Dopamine is a chemical produced by neurons in a region of Susan's brain called the ventral tegmental area (VTA). It is released when something good happens, giving Susan a feeling of pleasure and encouraging her brain to seek out rewarding experiences.

How do opioids affect dopamine levels in the brain?

Opioids activate opioid receptors in the brain, which disrupt the normal functioning of inhibitory neurons that regulate dopamine. This leads to a surge of dopamine, temporarily eliminating feelings of depression and anxiety, and causing a sense of euphoria.

What is tolerance, and how does it develop in Susan's case?

Tolerance occurs when Susan's brain becomes accustomed to the presence of opioids. Over time, her inhibitory neurons work harder to keep dopamine levels in check, and she needs to increase her dose of painkillers to achieve the same effect, which can lead to dependence.

What happens when Susan runs out of opioids?

When Susan runs out of opioids, her brain's inhibitory neurons overcompensate, blocking the release of dopamine almost completely. This causes both physical pain and a return of depression and anxiety, along with withdrawal symptoms.

What are withdrawal symptoms, and how do they affect Susan?

Withdrawal symptoms are the physical and emotional distress experienced when the body is deprived of opioids. For Susan, this manifests as severe discomfort, including depression, anxiety, and physical sickness, far worse than flu-like symptoms.

Why is addiction harder for some people, like Susan?

Addiction can be harder for people like Susan due to genetic factors and her environment. These factors put her at higher risk for addiction, making it difficult for her to stop using opioids despite the negative consequences.

Can Susan recover from her opioid addiction?

Yes, recovery is possible for Susan. While it may be challenging and involve setbacks, treatments such as medication and therapy can help retrain her brain, allowing her to find pleasure in life again and overcome her addiction.