Drugs have a lot of effects on the brain. They affect three primary areas of the brain. One of them is the brain stem, which is in charge of all of the functions that our body needs to survive, such as, breathing, moving blood, and digesting food. It also links the brain with the spinal cord, which runs down the back, and moves muscles and limbs, as well as lets the brain know what is happening to the body. Another part of the brain that drugs affect is, the limbic system, which links together a bunch of brain structures, such as, someone feeling pleasure when they eat a food that they like to eat. Another part of the brain that drugs affect is, the cerebral cortex, which is the mushroom-shaped outer part of the brain. In humans, it is so big …show more content…
Also, some areas process information from our senses, allowing people to see, feel, hear, and taste. Drugs are chemicals, and when someone puts them into their body, they tap into the brain's communication system, and tamper with the way nerve cells usually send, receive, and process information. Different drugs work differently, and there are at least two ways that drugs work in the brain. One of them is imitating the brain's natural chemical messengers, and another way is by, overstimulating the "reward circuit" of the brain. Also, drugs that are like marijuana and heroin, have chemical structures that imitate that of a neurotransmitter that naturally occurs in peoples' bodies. These drugs could "fool" peoples' receptors, lock onto them, and activate the nerve cells. But, they do not work the same way as a natural neurotransmitter, and the neurons end up sending abnormal messages through the brain, which could cause problems for peoples' brains, and their …show more content…
This leads the brain to get messages that are exaggerated, and it causes problems with communication channels. It is like the difference between someone shouting into a microphone, and someone whispering into someone's ear. A lot of drugs of abuse, such as marijuana, nicotine, cocaine, and others, affect the brain's "reward" circuit, which is a part of the limbic system. The reward circuit would normally respond to feelings of pleasure by releasing the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that creates feelings of pleasure. If drugs take control of this system, it causes large amounts of dopamine to flood the system, and that is what causes the "high, or intense excitement, which is sometimes called euphoria. It is linked with drug abuse. People learn to use drugs in the same way that people learn to eat, because peoples' brains are wired to repeat activities, by connecting those activities to feeling good. The brain adjusts to surges of dopamine, after repeated drug use. Neurons might begin to reduce the number of dopamine receptors, or simply make less dopamine. Then, less dopamine signals the
Addictive drugs cause dopamine neurons to release dopamine, the pleasure hormone. The narcotics disable the neurons that would usually keep the dopamine neurons in check; becoming over stimulated. Endorphins are produced and released within the brain, creating a high and reinforcing the individual’s positive associations with the activity. Hence “the rush” (Molintas, 2006)
Methamphetamine stimulates different parts of the brain, as shown in figure 2 of a PET scan. In Figure 2 it reveals that a methamphetamine addict has various parts of their brain more stimulated than the control, and other section of their brain were not stimulated. Imaging studies have shown changes in the activity of the dopamine system that are associated with reduced motor skills and impaired verbal learning (NIH,2). Methamphetamine affects the parts of the brain that control judgment, reward and memory. In addition, methamphetamine has an effect on the reward system of the brain, which makes the user feel pleasure, which is normally felt through things such as eating, sex, and drinking. Furthermore, Methamphetamine affects the limbic
Drugs are chemicals that affect the brain by tapping into its communication system and interfering with the way neurons 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 similarity in structure “fools” receptors and allows the drugs to attach onto and activate the neurons. Although these drugs mimic the brain’s own chemicals, they don’t activate neurons in the same way as a natural neurotransmitter, and they lead to abnormal messages being transmitted through the network.
Drugs are chemicals that affect the brain by entering in its communication system and hamper with the way neurons deliver, obtain, and process data. Changes in the brain support the transition from informal drug use to addiction and according to this argument, frequent and repeated exposure to substance abuse encourages the continuous sensitization of neuronal activation inside of specific brain reward circuitry (Singer, Bryan F., and Terry E. Robinson.). When someone abuses an addictive substance, the limbic system discharges chemicals that cause the person to feel exceptional which emboldens repeated substance abuse. Dopamine is an essential chemical in the human brain that dispatches indicators to the limbic system. When introduced into the limbic system, drugs either mimic dopamine or cause an overproduction of it in the brain (Addiction and the Brain). Drug abuse surges neuroreceptors with dopamine which causes the “high” correlated with using drugs. When continuously abusing addictive substances the human brain is incapable to naturally produce ordinary levels of dopamine. A person who abuses addictive substances can not feel exceptional without drugs due to the drugs altering the brain.
Drugs impact teens because, the brain is still developing so, they don't always make the best decisions. The prefrontal cortex, which controls decision making is not mature until the 20's. Because the prefrontal cortex is not yet developed, the limbic system is mainly what
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
As we talked about earlier in the semester, when people abuse drugs they affect different bodily functions. The brain is one of the major organs that drugs tend to alter. We know already that the brain controls the body. It is also the place where we develop and use logic and reasoning. In addiction, we see that they lose their sense of moral and reasoning. There main focus is to supply their habit. The body becomes focus on the id, it is the pleasure principle. So,
The brain consist of several large regions each responsible for some activities vital for living .The brain is made up of millions of nerve cells. A neuron contains three important parts; a central cell body that directs all activities of the neurons. Short fibers that receive messages from the neurons and relay them to the cell body. And an Axon a long single fiber that transmits message’s. Most neurons contain three parts but are very diverse. The transfer of a message from the axon of one nerve cell to the dendrites of another is known as neurotransmission. These messages don’t do not occur through direct contact. The effects of drug abuse on the brain range from bad to very bad. If you do something pleasurable and good the brain tends to
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.
To fully understand the affects that psychoactive drugs can have on an individual’s brain, one has to first define the term, dissect the history and use, know what factors cause addiction, and what leads to drug dependency. What is a psychoactive drug? A psychoactive drug, psycho-pharmaceutical, or psychotropic is a chemical substance that changes brain function and results in alterations in perception, mood, or consciousness (drug, n.d). Typically the term drug alone can be seen or associated with a positive or negative view. For example, when an individual is under the weather suffering from cold-like symptoms, they may take cough syrup to aid them into recovery sooner. Whereas an individual who is perfectly healthy may take this same
A drug is a chemical substance that acts on the brain and nervous system, and changes a individual's mood, emotion or state of consciousness (Health Service Executive 2013).
there are three main parts that drugs affect in the brain. these three sections are called the brain stem, the limbic system, and the cerebral cortex. some effects drugs can have on the human brain is the Imitating the brain’s natural chemical messengers and overstimulating the “reward circuit” of the brain. some other effects is that neurons may die and a very large amounts of dopamine to flood the system. drugs also cause problems with communication channels.
Drugs are chemicals that change the way a person 's body or mind works. Drugs are not good for health as they have many side effects and damage our brain, heart and other important organs. Drug is a depressant that slows down the functions of the central nervous system and makes us less aware of the events around us. It exaggerates communication, and destroys our physical and emotional pains. Drug use is illegal and is rarely prescribed by doctors. Some of the illegal drugs are marijuana, nicotine, cocaine, and heroin. Drugs are consumed in different ways, by inhaling, taking by mouth, injecting, applying on skin, and smoking. When a person is addicted to drug,
A medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body Drugs are substances that change a person 's physical or mental state. The vast majority of drugs are used to treat medical conditions, both physical and mental. Some, however, are used outside the medical setting for their effects on the mind.’’ These are referred to as recreational drugs, and many of them are illegal in all fifty states’’(Quain). There are several different kinds of drugs. When a doctor prescribe you a medication and you use it as followed it is still considered a drug because it altar’s your body normal body cells, it can impair how you think see and handle situation’s while under the influence this is why medicine bottles or labled that while taking this medication it can alter how you handle situtions and you shouldn’t drive a car until you know how the drug will affect your body. Drugs can affect person 's mental state, whether prescribed for a medical condition or taken for recreational purposes such as alcohol. There are some drugs affect the way a person thinks and feels—which may also affect the way they behave. Many people misuse used legal drugs, apart from drugs taken on prescription, are alcohol and tobacco. The most commonly used illegal drug is cannabis (marijuana). People use marijuana for the purpose of getting high .
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.”