N-Squad Episode One: Vocabulary Terms

All of the words below are ones that students will encounter while playing N-Squad Episode one. Their definitions are contained in the hot-linked words in the game.

Depressant – A type of drug that slows down activity in the brain. Examples include alcohol, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety drugs.

Stimulant – A drug that causes increased feelings of energy and alertness. Cocaine, methamphetamine (speed), and caffeine are some examples of this type of drug.

Beer – An alcoholic beverage containing about 5% alcohol and made from fermented barley and hops.

Wine – An alcoholic beverage containing about 12% alcohol and made from fermented fruit juices or honey.

Liquor – An alcoholic beverage containing 40% or more alcohol. It is made through a combination of fermentation and distillation of fruits, vegetables, or grains. Examples include whiskey, tequila, rum, and vodka.

Alcoholism – also known as alcohol dependence and alcohol addiction. It is a brain disease characterized by compulsive seeking and use of alcohol.

Behavioral Therapy – Therapy designed to change or modify a person's behavior. Behavioral therapy helps alcoholics cope with their disease and motivates them to remain sober.

Forensic Scientists – People who apply scientific processes and thinking to matters involving the law. Forensic scientists usually specialize in a particular area, such as firearms, toxicology, pathology, or DNA analysis.

Nutrient – A substance in food that the body uses for energy, growth, or repair. There are six types: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water.

Toxins – Poisonous substances.

Enzyme – A protein that speeds up a chemical reaction. Amylase, the enzyme in saliva, speeds up the digestion of one type of carbohydrate.

Carbohydrate – A substance that cells use for energy. Examples are starches and sugars.

Peristalsis – Muscle contractions that push food through the esophagus and the other tubular organs of the digestive system.

Protein – A substance that cells need for growth and repair. Some types of proteins are enzymes.

Diameter – The distance across the center.

Bile – A greenish liquid made by the liver. It breaks up large fat particles into smaller ones. Prior to use, bile is stored in a sac-like structure (gallbladder) attached to the liver.

Fat – Also known as lipid, it is used for energy and for building cell membranes. Oil is a type of fat.

Inflammation – A response by a tissue to infection or injury. Symptoms of inflammation include swelling, redness, increased temperature, and pain.

Cirrhosis – Also known as liver scarring, cirrhosis is a major cause of death in the United States. It is the fourth-leading cause of death in people ages 45 to 54. Damage from cirrhosis is permanent.

Alcoholic Hepatitis – Inflammation of the liver caused by long-term, excessive alcohol abuse. This condition is treatable but not always reversible. Up to 70% of people with alcoholic hepatitis eventually develop cirrhosis of the liver.

Viral Hepatitis – A disease caused by a type of germ that can cause inflammation of the liver. There are five types of hepatitis viruses – A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis A and E viruses live in the intestines and are spread through feces. Hepatitis B, C and D viruses live in blood and other body fluids. Viral hepatitis is treatable but not always reversible.

Back