After her son Ben died at age 20 from a heroin overdose, Aimee Dunkle established the nonprofit that provides community members with overdose recognition and response training and naloxone, a potentially life-saving overdose antidote. (Photo Courtesy of Aimee Dunkle) Age: 55 Role: Executive director and founder of the Solace Foundation of Orange County Bio: A Rancho Santa Margarita resident, Dunkle moved to Orange County from London with her husband and son Ben, who was 21/2 at the time. After her son died at age 20 from a heroin overdose, Dunkle established the nonprofit that provides community members with overdose recognition and response training and naloxone, a potentially lifesaving ov

Substance use disorders result from changes in the brain that can occur with repeated use of alcohol or drugs. The most severe expression of the disorder, addiction, is associated with changes in the function of brain circuits involved in pleasure (the reward system), learning, stress, decision making, and self-control. Every substance has slightly different effects on the brain, but all addictive drugs, including alcohol, opioids, and cocaine, produce a pleasurable surge of the neurotransmitter dopamine in a region of the brain called the basal ganglia; neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit messages between nerve cells. This area is responsible for controlling reward and our ability