Effects Of Cocaine On The Brain 's Reward System

One can feel the effects of cocaine almost immediately after use, with these effects lasting only a few minutes or hours. The duration of cocaine 's effects depends upon how it is administered. The faster the drug is absorbed, the more intense the high, but also the shorter the duration. The high from snorting is relatively slow to arrive but it may last 15 to 30 minutes. In contrast, the effects from smoking are more immediate but may last only 5 to 10 minutes. “In the brain, cocaine interferes with the chemical messengers -- neurotransmitters -- that nerves use to communicate with each other. Cocaine blocks norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed. The resulting

The long term effects of cocaine are very extreme. Once having tried cocaine, an individual may have difficulty controlling the urge to use the drug and the perspective might change leaving the consumption of the drug as primordial. Cocaine’s stimulant and addictive effects are due primarily as a result of its ability to stop the reabsorption of dopamine by nerve

This research paper will evaluate the biological aspects of addictive substance or behavior and how it affects the brain and organs. Biological aspects include dopamine levels that are replaced in the brain due to the reward system being overtaken and the absorption rate of the drug once it is ingested will be discussed. The biological aspects are extensive and permanent if the individual does not get the help they need. Furthermore the clinical issues of addictive substance or behavior will be discussed along with medical treatments and ethical issues. This includes treatments such as counseling

For short-term use, cocaine can provide extreme happiness, enhanced sensitivity to sound and touch or mental alertness. People takes cocaine as it can provide energy on their work but a long-term use of cocaine may lead to malnourishment, irritability, restlessness, paranoia and auditory hallucination (NIDA, 2016; Roncero, C., et al., 2013). Also, cocaine abuse may have other complications such as nosebleed because of snorting, difficulties in swallowing and easily infected by HIV or hepatitis C through needle injection and the misjudgment on having unsafe sex (NIDA, 2016). On the other hand, long-term use of cocaine may lead to addiction and a stronger dosage will be taken when they have any withdrawal symptoms. For instance, symptoms of depression, fatigue and increased appetite. Nowadays, still no medicines were approved for treating the addiction on cocaine and thus the treatment of cocaine addiction is

Cocaine’s mode of action has been shown to involve the dopamine receptors. This paper will discuss how cocaine affects dopamine receptors, the mode of addiction, how cocaine affects the frontal brain metabolic activities, as well as the role of excitatory amino acids in cocaine’s mechanism. I will also discuss how cocaine affects another system through its mechanism on the brain—the renin angiotensin system.

Cocaine’s primary effect on the brain is to produce “psychoactive and addictive effects primarily by acting on the brain’s limbic system, a set of interconnected regions that regulate pleasure and motivation. Initial, short- term effect- a buildup of the neurochemical, dopamine which gives rise to euphoria and a desire to take the drug again”(Nestler, 2005, p.4). This is normally seen in some individuals that draw in the drug like through inhaling. It gives them an instant increase in blood, and brain levels. It causes the individual to become addicted to this substance. Cocaine is thought to produce pleasure/reward like any addicted drug

Addiction of cocaine has proven to be a lifetime addiction and there is always a possibility for relapse even after years of curtailment. These drugs have the ability to alter the physical makeup of the brain.

Addiction is defined as a chronic brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. In my opinion, compulsive drug use is a hallmark of addiction, yet a mechanistic understanding of this process has been elusive. Drug use is initiated primarily to obtain the excitatory actions of addictive drugs on brain reward systems. The reward pathway evolved to promote activities that are essential to the survival of the human race as well as other mammals (Bailey 2004). When stimulated by drugs of abuse, addiction often occurs especially in those who are genetically or otherwise “neurochemically” vulnerable

Cocaine is an addictive stimulant, and it is known to be the strongest natural stimulant in today’s

In order to fully understand addiction, one must examine the pathways and circuits in the brain as well as the genetic attributions that form this type of behavior. It is important to note that addiction has various forms such as with substances (alcohol, tobacco, drugs) and behavioral addictions (food, sex, shopping). With the forms listed and the many other types of addiction that are out there, they all contribute to alterations in brain structure and function. This article focuses on a particular addiction- cocaine addiction- and how it impacts gene expression and neuronal function. Like other substances of abuse, cocaine users have behaviors that cause them to compulsively take the drug with a loss of control in amount. Even with

Drug seeking behaviors comes from medical patients who abuse prescription drugs. They tend to visit physician and exert escalated pressure to obtain prescription drugs. Other drugs such as cocaine may disrupt the brain function through three way alike snorting, smoking, and injecting cocaine is how it inter the blood stream and all area of the brain. However, its euphoric effects are mediated in certain areas. For instance, prescription drugs are oral alike marijuana, Acetaminophen, Adderall, Xanax, Codeine, Oxycodone, Ibuprofen 800 these prescription reaches or become associated with the reward pathway. Meanwhile that is why each prescribed drug is provided with a certain dosages, possible drug interactions, side effects, and contraindications

Discovering an effective pharmacotherapy for cocaine use disorder remains a top research priority nationally since there are currently no FDA approved medication for the treatment of cocaine dependence. While several classes of medications have shown some efficacy in some phase two clinical trials, none has been proven to show consistency and lasting efficacy. Recent progress in the understanding of the effect of cocaine on the

It is important to understand the physiology of narcotics on the brain and body, to attain a better picture of why drugs temporarily relieve emotional pain. Drugs have incredible consequences on the mind and body. Victoria said in her interview that cocaine made her feel extremely euphoric. Cocaine is a stimulant drug that gives energy, euphoria, and compulsiveness. Victoria even agreed that her heart rate increased quickly when she first used cocaine. The effects of drugs on the body can be detrimental to the body. Cocaine is categorized as a stimulant that increases the amount of dopamine that is in the brain. Dopamine is a hormone that is the brain’s reward and pleasure center. “Cocaine prevents the dopamine from being recycled, causing excessive amounts to build up in the brain. This amplifies the dopamine signal and ultimately disrupts normal brain communication.” (DrugFacts) A high is produced from this giving cocaine and extremely addictive quality. As Victoria said that after her first time using cocaine, when she came down from the high she could not think of anything else but wanting more. Cocaine’s high last between 15 to 45 minutes causing a constant obsessive mind to get more. The amount of dopamine in the brain causes the brain to change its chemistry. A tolerance can develop from the cocaine’s high which causes a need to use more, more often, or continue to find drugs to give a high. Addiction uses the term “chasing the high” after the first use which gives

The affect of all drugs of abuse, which are characterized by heroine, cocaine, LSD, opiates, and others, is on what is known as the reward circuit of the brain (1).

In common with all other classes of substance use disorders, cocaine dependence has been shown to be strongly associated with depression by community and clinical surveys. Cocaine is considered a stimulant that can be inhaled as a powder, injected intravenously, or smoked. The euphoria caused by cocaine is short acting, starting with a ten to twenty second rush, followed by a fifteen to twenty minutes of less intense euphoria. A person that is high on cocaine feels energetic, invincible, and on top of the world. Cocaine works by blocking the reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine. This leaves more neurotransmitters present at the synapse, which means the receptors are continuously being activated. This is believed to be the reason for the feeling of euphoria. At the same time the presynaptic supplies of dopamine and norepinephrine are being depleted. This is what causes the crash that happens after the drug wears off (451). I believe that the patient’s cocaine dependence is definitely related to the depression disorder along with the other precipitating