How Drug Abuse Affects the Brain and What Can We Do About It?

Event Description:

Over the past several decades, drug abuse has consistently been in the national spotlight. Increased usage and overdose from opioids and stimulants have initiated renewed calls for drug abuse treatment and prevention efforts. Many drugs of abuse target a very specific circuit in our brain that processes reward and motivates us to seek rewards. Drugs shift those circuits from seeking out natural rewards, like food or social contact, to pursuing the drug itself leading to behavior patterns characteristic of drug addiction. This idea has prompted scientists and clinicians to approach drug addiction as a brain disease rather than a flaw in the individual. In this forum, Dr. Eckard will discuss how the brain changes in response to drug abuse generally. Then, Dr. MacMillan will present efforts that SUNY Empire is pursuing in training individuals to address drug addiction through the Addiction Studies program at SUNY ESC. Understanding drug addiction as a biological process and reducing stigma associated with addiction will ultimately lead to more successful avenues for treatment.