This resource is an animated video from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) which explains addiction in simple terms. Quitting drugs is hard because addiction is a brain disease. Your brain is like a control tower that sends out signals to direct your actions and choices. Addiction changes the signals in your brain and makes it hard to feel OK without the drug. Watch the video for a visualization of these concepts and for information on how to get yourself or a loved one help.
Apply risk reduction behaviors to protect self and others from use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Describe practices to avoid to reduce health risks to self and others.
Predict the risk of injury or illness if engaging in unhealthy behaviors.
Discuss how risky choices influence the likelihood of unhealthy behaviors, including tobacco use increasing the risk of using other drugs and peer pressure to consume alcohol.
