Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders: How Stimulants Affect the Brain and Behavior

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is available as an open-access article. A stimulant use disorder changes a person's brain in two major ways. One is neurotoxic (by affecting brain processes such as memory, learning, and other cognitive functions). The other way is by triggering the addiction process, such as by acting on the brain's reward system or through the development of craving. This information is critical for clinicians to understand because it explains the course of symptoms and recovery and underscores how difficult it is to quit using/misusing substances without interventions. A host of harmful effects can occur from acute and chronic cocaine or methamphetamine use, with some evidence from human studies suggesting that long-term stimulant exposure can cause persistent damage to the brain. The neurobiology of stimulant use disorders underscores the biologic aspects of substance use disorders as a chronic, relapsing medical illness. Understanding the changes in the brain that occur as someone becomes addicted to stimulants, experiences withdrawal, or stops using stimulants can also help guide clinicians in their approaches to treatment as well as help them understand behaviors and moods that a patient may experience throughout recovery. This course on the effects of stimulants on the brain is designed for clinical social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their expertise with the effects of stimulants on the brain. The course material includes a literature review of research. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading peer reviewed research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: SAMHSA Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding the effects of stimulants on the brain. Specifically, a professional will: Describe the neurobiology of stimulant use disorders. Recognize the role of technology in discovering how stimulants affect the brain. Identify general effects of stimulants. Citation: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2021). Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders. Treatment Improvement Protocol. https://store.samhsa.gov/product/tip-33-treatment-stimulant-use-disorders/pep21-02-01-004