How Drugs Affect The Brain

Addiction causes changes in the chemical makeup of the brain itself. Once the chemicals from the substance are introduced past the blood brain barrier the chemical reactions are changed. The neurons and neurotransmitters function a differently. Survival instincts that are the responsibility of the deeper recesses of the brain are changed. Cancer cells are changed by chemicals or radiation so too are

f. .stimulants can cause enhanced brain activity increase and llertness in energy elevated blood pressure increase heart rate increase respiration and sleep deprivation…. Ultimately these three drugs possess the same long term affect when abused; high potential for physical dependence and addiction.

Other drugs, such as amphetamine or cocaine, can cause the neurons to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters or prevent the normal recycling of these brain chemicals. This disruption produces a greatly amplified message, ultimately disrupting communication channels.

Drugs are chemicals they work in the brain by tapping into the brain's communication system and interfering with the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, can activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter. This fools receptors and allows the drugs to lock onto and activate the nerve cells. Although these drugs mimic brain chemicals, they don't activate nerve cells in the same way as a natural neurotransmitter, and they lead to abnormal messages being transmitted through the network.

Drugs can impair a person's judgement. People are much more likely to make risky decisions while they are under the influence of drugs. For example, a person may have unprotected sex while under the influence of drugs. This can increase the risk of STDs.

These chemicals can interfere with the process of brain cells communicating with each other. According to Dr. Marissa Merandez (2006), “Psychoactive drugs alter communications between brain cells. Individual brain cells (neurons) communicate with one another through a series of biological messengers called neurotransmitters.” The altered communications of these neurotransmitters is determined by the chemical in use. Psychoactive chemicals can tinker with these communications in many ways. “[Psychoactive chemicals] interfere with normal brain function by blocking it [neurotransmitter communication], or by altering the way neurotransmitters are stored, released, and removed...” (Marissa Merandez, 2006). Interfering with neurotransmitter communications and the distribution of neurotransmitters is what gives a psychoactive chemical its intended effects. The general groupings of these substances fall into either depressants, stimulants, opioids, and hallucinogens. Depressants diminish the activity of the central nervous system. Also, possible long term effects could result in changed brain function and structure, reduced mental capacity, and decreased brain volume. Stimulants increase the activity of the central nervous system, but risk abnormalities in specific regions of the brain, loss of some mental capacity,

It is widely known that drugs are bad. All drugs, whether it be something as simple as marijuana, or as deadly as methamphetamine, they are all equally dangerous. Each drug has the same dangerous effect on you as the the others. They destroy your brain. An example would be cocaine, what cocaine does is it ends up binding to the dopamine transporters, and so it prevents the removal of the dopamine from our synapses. Then as a result dopamine begins to build up in the synapse, which causes continuing stimulation of the receiving neurons, and is possibly responsible for euphoria described by cocaine

Different parts of the brain are accountable for managing certain roles and every time Amy uses her oxycodone impulsively she is affecting these major parts of her brain that are very critical for everyday life. The part of the brain that is affected when using drugs are the brain stem, the cerebral cortex, and the limbic system; each requiring a (n) significant role.

Drugs have been around for a very long time. They are used for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include relaxation, socialization, curiosity, stress relief, or a form of escapism. However, most people don’t know the threats and danger that it can cause to the body. In this paper, we are going to examine the changes that happen inside the brain due to the effects of different drugs. We will look closely at how drugs such as hallucinogens, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, and cannabis affect an individual psychologically. I will explain the origin of the drugs, how a person feels while on the drug, how the drugs

Many psychiatric and psychoactive drugs that are available on the market, pharmaceutically or illegally, closely resemble neurotransmitters and are actually able to mimic it to the extent that it fools the receptors. Basically, these drugs hijack the neurotransmitters. Once these drugs are ingested, it enters into the brain, gets into the synapse and binds itself to the receptor. This then causes the inappropriate release of neurotransmitters and alter the breakdown and recycling of neurotransmitters or can be used to destroy particular neurotransmitters completely (Sapolsky, 2005, p. 14).

The Brain is a delicate part of human body and unnecessary drug use may cause damage to the brain. in the article “Smart and Smarter drugs” Merek kohen claims “in trying to upgrade it, you risk upsetting its intricate balance (13)” The author talks about how brains have original setting and a change in their setting will cause the brain to act differently.The drugs chemically interfere with brain’s setting. A change in the brain system can cause a permanent brain damage.When the study drug use becomes an addiction it changes the brain setting. Brain does not necessarily respond to the change that is how the brain lobs get damaged.In addition to that Dr. Arnesh says that "Smart drugs

We all remember the commercials saying that drugs will “scramble” your brain, but how exactly do drugs affect it? Well, when our brain becomes affected by drugs, we form pleasurable memories and associations with them, the places we were at, and the people we were with. This is one of the reasons why seeing a picture of someone else use, or going back to a place you used frequently, can trigger a desire to use. This is especially true in cocaine users. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that’s altered by drug abuse. And when the optimal amount is altered by drug abuse, the brain attempts to compensate for this change. This can cause impairment in cognitive function. Also, there was a study of binge drinkers and regular non-binge drinkers during

The use of drugs have a huge effect on the brain. Drugs have an ever bigger effect on the lives of the people who partake in them. The use of drugs can hinder the way the brain is meant to function. Cocaine for instence can block the communication of the brain. Neurotransmission involves a variety of chemical substances called neurotransmitters. One neurotransmitter is called a dopamine and this is how the brain communicates. Over time a persons ability to not take the drug becomes compromised. The brain begins to crave that certain drug over a while and it becomes harder and harder for that person to quit using it. When a person shoots, snorts, or even smokes drugs it gets all parts of the brain via bloodstream. Treatment is long and hard

Drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and cannabis, are of natural or synthetic origin, which can alter the emotional state, perception, body functioning and behaviour of an individual. Drugs are known to work in the brain by activating certain brain circuits via different mechanisms, and stimulate or inhibit different neurons in the pathway. However, due to the effects of each drug being different, a drug will affect either different pathways and neurons in the brain to that of another, or through a different process, i.e. direct or indirect activity. This essay will discuss the different mechanisms of action that cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and

Have you ever dealt with the effects of drug addict? A drug is a person who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, which has a psychological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. The effects of drug use can vary depending on the person. According to “Causes and types of narcotic addiction: A Psychosocial View” in the Psychiatric Quarterly it says, “The causes of drugs stem from the manner of which you were introduced to it whether it be by abnormal curiosity, chance encounters with addicts and narcotic peddlers, or prolonged illness” (Ausubel). The effects of drugs can be have different effects on everyone differently depending if its for pleasure or for relieving pain Most of the effects of drugs occur in the brain, where it increases the level of dopamine at a specific site possibly giving the addict the pleasure they were feigning for (Robbins). As a child I didn’t know much about drugs except for what your parents and teachers at school tell you which is, “Just Say No.”