The Effects of Drugs on the Brain

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By Roger Pahuriray

There are a lot of people who are asking this same question about drugs: what happens next when a drug enters the body and makes its way to our brain? There have been recent studies about how the brain works, and the complex relationship between electrical and chemical activity, but we still have a long way to go.

How Drugs Change Personality and Behavior

Addictive drugs have the ability to activate the pleasure circuit of the brain known as the mesolimbic dopamine cortex. According to some health experts, drug addiction is a biological process which alters the way our brain's pleasure circuit functions. It is important to examine the effects of drugs on the brain's neurotransmission to understand how it works.

All drugs have the capability to change the way our brain works. This is done by affecting chemical neurotransmission. Heroin and LSD for instance, can mimic a natural neurotransmitter's effects. PCP, on the other hand, can block the receptors, thus, preventing neuronal messages from getting through. Cocaine interferes with molecules which are responsible for transporting neurotransmitters back to the neurons that initially released them. With prolonged drug use, the brain changes in long-lasting and fundamental ways. These changes are a major part of addiction.

According to statistics, parents who abuse substances are more likely to be physically violent in the home and neglect their children emotionally. What's more, violence inside the home usually manifests as physical abuse. Plus, children of drug addicts are likely to suffer from anxiety or become depressed. They are also more likely to suffer from eating disorders and make more attempts to commit suicide.

Studies on Drugs and Addiction

Drug abuse is one of the widely studied subjects in the medical field today. More and more studies are being conducted on how drugs have an effect on one's personality and behavior. With these studies, the effects of common prohibited drugs such as LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, and heroin are beginning to be uncovered. There are a number of people who once lived in sober living homes who have participated in research about the effects of drug addiction in their overall lives.

As a result of scientific studies, we are now gradually being enlightened on how addiction is a disease which affects both a person's brain and behavior. There were many biological and environmental factors identified by researchers about drug addiction. Today, they are beginning to look for some genetic variations that can contribute in development and further progression of the disease. These researches will then be beneficial in discovering effective prevention and treatment for the said disease. And sober living homes as well as rehabilitation programs will be able to fine tune their approach to ensure more successful treatment.

What is Drug Addiction?

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The term addiction is identified as a relapsing brain disease, usually characterized by a compulsive drug seeking use, despite awareness of harmful effects. Addiction is considered a brain disease because drugs used and abused can change the brain's structure, and how the brain functions.

There are several reasons why people take drugs. Some of which are as follows:

• People use drugs to make them feel good. Drugs that are most abused can produce an intense feeling of pleasure. The initial sensation of bliss and euphoria will then be followed by other effects which differ from one drug type to another.
• People use drugs to feel a boost in self-esteem. There are some people who suffer from social anxiety and stress-related disorders. Because of these behavioral disorders, they tend to begin abusing drugs to lessen feelings of being distressed.
• They use drugs out of curiosity and peer pressure. Because almost everybody in their circle of friends uses drugs, they might as well use it too. This is the common mentality of most adolescents today. They enjoy engaging in daring behavior that can make them look "cool."

Effects of New Designer Drugs

People use new designer drugs because they supposedly produce better and faster highs. Studies indicate that they have the same effects as ecstasy. But while some new designer drugs are possibly semi-legal in a sense, they do have the same destructive effects on the brain as illegal drugs and cause even greater personality and behavior changes. Face-eating incidents have been attributed to the use of bath salts, though experts refute these claims. With prolonged drug use, the brain changes in long-lasting and fundamental ways. These changes are a major part in the addiction per se.

The use of drugs has a profound impact on the brain. And since the brain is the command center that controls everything we do, drug use also has a huge, debilitating impact on our personality and behavior. It is important to treat drug addiction as early as possible. Otherwise, prolonged drug use can cause long-lasting or even permanent damage to the brain, and consequently, alter behavior.

Author's Bio

Roger Pahuriray is an SEO Specialist who's had extensive experience in the Outreach Program. This time he brings his extensive SEO expertise to Casa Nuevo Vida Sober Living Homes where he tackles addiction and sobriety issues. The articles he posts will surely be informative and comprehensive especially for individuals who are in dire need of these resources. As an SEO Specialist for PinAgency.com, he works full-time catering to an impressive pool of clients like CasaNuevoVida.Com, SweetSweat.com among many others.

By Roger Pahuriray