The Drop Off VR – Just another WordPress site

The Drop Off is provided by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) as an experiential learning opportunity for adolescents to learn about the physical and mental effects of drugs, as well as how to proactively fight addiction and accidental overdose by properly disposing of unused medication.

The Drop Off

The Drop Off is a virtual reality simulation in which players catch capsules into similarly colored canisters. By missing a capsule, or using the incorrect canister, the contents of the capsule are deposited into two tanks with various creatures inside. These creatures respond to the contents of the capsules and react based on the amount of the foreign substance that been mixed in to their tank. Points are calculated at the end of the game based on the number of capsules placed in the correct canisters, which are then safely placed in a deposit box.

Capsules

Stimulants include legitimate prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and illicit drugs, designed to increase focus, reduce fatigue, suppress appetite, and treat ADHD.

The science behind it: stimulants serve to increase activity in the body in some form, typically by increasing the activity of the dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters to the brain.

DEPRESSANTS can also be obtained legitimately, diverted from prescribed users, or manufactured and bought illegally, designed to be used as anxiety suppressants and sedatives.

The science behind it: depressants alter the user’s brain chemistry to reduce the amount of activity in the body.

CREATURES

CREATURES in the tank respond to the stimulants and depressants that are emptied into their water supply whenever you miss a capsule and they are pulled into the pipelines running throughout the scene.

The science behind it: when you take depressants and stimulants, they are absorbed into your bloodstream and affect various organs and systems throughout your body, causing both mental and physical side effects.

TANKS

TANKS fill with liquid from the Capsules, directly affecting the Creatures inside. Each tank generates its own side effect on the Creatures based on the amount of stimulant or depressant Capsules have been missed by the player. To keep the Capsules from reaching the tank, players must catch them in the correct Container before they can fall into the pipes and enter the Tanks.

The science behind it: stimulants can directly impact the mind and heighten activity level resulting in a change in how the user feels or making them see things that aren’t there, but they can also alter the user’s ability to regulate blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. Depressants slow activity in the brain and body, but can also lead to overcompensation during withdrawal causing overactivity in the brain and causing seizures.

Endings

ENDING A score is calculated based on the number of capsules captured in the appropriate containers throughout the game. Once the game ends, the capsules are all dumped into the Capsule Drop Off box. The significance behind it: drug take-back boxes are located across the state to promote the proper disposal of unused prescription drugs. Placing unused prescriptions in the take-back boxes can help prevent accidental overdose or addiction by keeping them away from those without a prescription. They also provide an environmentally-safe alternative to flushing them down the toilet or washing them down the drain.

The significance behind it: drug take-back boxes are located across the state to promote the proper disposal of unused prescription drugs. Placing unused prescriptions in the take-back boxes can help prevent accidental overdose or addiction by keeping them away from those without a prescription. They also provide an environmentally-safe alternative to flushing them down the toilet or washing them down the drain.

ALTERNATE ENDING A If a tank becomes too full, it will burst. The liquid inside the tank will flow into the pipelines of the opposite tank and the stimulants and depressants will combine, filling the opposite tank while causing a mixed reaction and shutting down the game

The science behind it: it is possible to overdose and even die by taking unprescribed amounts of stimulants or depressants. Overdosing on stimulants can cause irregular breathing or erratic heartbeats, while overdosing on depressants can depress normal functions such as breathing and heart rate until they eventually stop, both with the potential to result in significant permanent damage or death. Mixing stimulants and depressants can make the likelihood of experiencing significant reactions and overdose even greater.

Play

The Drop Off with a compatible virtual reality (VR) headset. This game was created by Tennessee Tech’s iCube for Tennessee’s Office of the Inspector General for adolescents to learn the effects of taking unprescribed medications. Click the button below to download the game.

For those uncomfortable with using a VR headset, press play to the gameplay below safely experience The Drop Off.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, please contact your local crisis center. The Tennessee REDLINE is the 24/7/365 resource for substance abuse treatment referrals. Anyone can call or text 800-889-9789 for confidential referrals.

Learn More

Learn More by using the drop down menu below.

Educational content is provided by Tennessee’s Office of the Inspector General for informational purposes only.

Prescription drug take-back boxes provide a place where unused prescription drugs can be safely disposed. Removing unused and unneeded prescriptions from your home lessens the risk of accidental addiction, but flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away in the trashcan can negatively impact the environment, especially our waterways. Take-back boxes make sure they are disposed of in a safe, environmentally-friendly manner.

Find your closest take-back location at this Prescription Drug Take-Back Map.

Stimulants include legitimate prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and illicit drugs designed for a variety of purposes including increasing focus, reducing fatigue, suppressing appetite, and treating ADHD. The commonality between all stimulants is that they serve to increase activity in the body in some form, typically by increasing the activity of the dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters in the brain.

The only area of the body impacted directly is the mind, which receives increased levels of the dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitters that ultimately drive all of the other effects stimulants cause.

Dopamine – Dopamine is the “happy signal” in the brain. Our brains dispense it as a reward when we accomplish tasks and it drives many of our everyday behaviors without us consciously realizing it. The flood of dopamine that occurs when using large quantities of prescription/OTC medications or potent illicit stimulants serves to keep on the “happy signal” for an extended period of time, resulting in the euphoric “high” they are known for.
Addiction – We naturally crave dopamine hits as part of our anatomy, but the large amounts of dopamine dispensed during stimulant abuse can quickly numb the user to the everyday levels of dopamine the brain provides, requiring them to turn back to stimulants in order to feel “normal”. The “high” resulting from stimulant use itself is also addictive, and over time the user can build tolerance to regularly used stimulants, requiring them to use larger amounts and more potent stimulants as their addiction worsens.
Cardiovascular effects – The norepinephrine neurotransmitter plays an important role in regulating blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing – all of which increase during stimulant use due to the increase in norepinephrine. At low levels, this serves to keep the user alert and awake while fighting fatigue, but at elevated levels the increase in awareness can cause panic, paranoia, and auditory/visual hallucinations. At dangerous levels the stress on the cardiovascular system can cause heart palpitations or erratic pulse, which can lead to a heart attack. The user can also experience increased body temperature, extreme sweating, vomiting, abdominal cramps, irregular breathing, and respiratory arrest.

Depressants – like stimulants – can be obtained legitimately, diverted from prescribed users, and manufactured and bought illegally. Like stimulants, they also work by altering the user’s brain chemistry, but instead of raising the body’s activity level and heightening awareness, depressants reduce the amount of activity in the body and have legitimate uses as anxiety suppressants and sedatives.

GABA – Most depressants impact the brain by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain, which slows brain activity. Because of this, withdrawal from depressants can cause the brain to overcompensate, leading to seizures and other symptoms caused by overactivity in the brain.
Sedation – The lower amount of brain activity acts as a sedative on both the mental and physical state of the user, which is why depressants are legally prescribed as sleep aids, anti-anxiety medications, and muscle relaxants.
Organ damage – The sedative effect caused by depressants extends to the lungs, heart, and brain. This can cause the breathing rate and pulse of the user to drop, a reduction in blood pressure, and long term damage associated with substance abuse.
Addiction – As with stimulants, depressants can create a sense of dependency in the user. Many users that take large amounts of depressants may notice their effects lessen over time and may take more of them to achieve their desired effect. This can lead to a reduced level of brain activity as users struggle to maintain the level of their dose.
Reduced cognition – Like alcohol, depressants lower brain activity. Many of the impairments associated with heavy alcohol use are also seen in users of depressants, such as impaired judgement, motor function, and reaction time. They can also cause retrograde amnesia, causing the user to forgot part or all of what happened around the time of substance use.

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