Session Two:  Day Three  Today we discussed the "pleasure circuit" in the brain and how chemicals are released into our body that makes us feel "happy" when we do something we enjoy - like riding our favorite ride at the Fair!  God designed our brain to naturally do this!  We then talked about how drugs use this pleasure circuit to act in the brain.  The dangerous part is that these chemicals can change how our brain naturally functions and can even cause our body to become addicted - feeling a need for this chemical.

An important point we tried to understand today was:  no one knows exactly what their personal chemical makeup is and therefore can not know exactly what drugs (chemicals) could cause changes in the brain that would lead to addiction.  Another important issue:  scientific studies have shown that persons with parents or grandparents that are alcoholic have a greater risk of becoming alcoholic themselves.  Just for fun - ask your daughter about the "switch" in her brain and if she knows what and when it might be "flipped"!

Session 2:  Day Two  We looked at how messages are sent by the brain through the nerve cells to all parts of the body.  These messages are sent by chemicals from one neuron to another and this happens amazingly fast.  Just do any "quickness" type of activity like raising your hand on a given cue and see how fast you can accomplish this.  Did you know that thousands of chemical messages had to be sent for that to occur, and you didn't even have to think about them!!  Tell me that we don't have a God with amazing creativity and order!

We then discussed how the various areas of the brain control certain functions.  Ask your daughter if Mrs. Faulkner scared her today!!  I demonstrated for them how the hormone adrenaline is secreted and activated in the brain to prepare us for "fight or flight".   If our brains are so complex and wonderfully made, we want to make sure the girls know that taking drugs can damage it.

Session 2: Day One  Began by exploring the drug education/testing policy at Trinity.  The girls have been given a copy of Trinity's drug testing policy which can be found on the Edline website under Upper School Handbook.  

I hope you will join us on our daily adventure!  I also hope you will find the information on the sidebar useful.  Watch for the Question of the Day!  Every day I try to share with you some of the questions the students are asking.  Glad you're here!