The Reward Roller Coaster: A Journey Inside the Brain and Addiction

By: Contreras, James

The Reward Roller Coaster takes readers on an unforgettable journey inside the teenage brain-where neurons send messages, dopamine crews fuel motivation, and security keeps everything safe. Told through the eyes of Doppi, a hardworking dopamine engineer in "Brain World," this illustrated story uses adventure and metaphor to explain the science of addiction in a way everyone can easily understand.

At first, Brain World runs smoothly. The Reward Roller Coaster speeds up when Jim (the human who owns the brain) laughs, learns, or accomplishes something meaningful. But when The Drug bursts into the Reward Center and forces open the dopamine vaults, everything changes. The roller coaster rockets out of control, dopamine floods the system, and Brain World scrambles to restore balance. Readers witness how drugs hijack the reward system, why tolerance and dependence develop, how withdrawal affects the brain, and how healing happens through time and healthy habits.

Instead of fear-based messaging, this story presents clear science through characters and metaphor, helping readers better understand drug addiction and it's effects on the brain. It builds empathy, awareness, and practical understanding of how powerful and delicate the reward system truly is.

The book also includes a glossary of key terms, a chapter-by-chapter science guide, and a discussion guide for meaningful conversations in classrooms, counseling settings, or at home.

Perfect for health classes, prevention programs, parents, and teens, The Reward Roller Coaster makes complex neuroscience accessible, memorable, and emotionally meaningful.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0G8R4XR84
• ISBN13: 9798277381717
• Release Date: December 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 44 Pages
• Weight: 0.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"