Brain Disorders: Effects Of Drugs On The Human Brain

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Effects of Drugs on the Human Brain



According to the “National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), drugs interact with the brain and body to alter moods, emotions, and behaviors by changing brain chemistry and a person’s perceptions, and by impacting how individuals interact with the world around them.”


Source: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/central-nervous-system/
Drug Addiction is a Complicated Disorder.
Drugs affect brain functions in various ways and long-term use of drugs can result in gradual damage or destruction of brain cells. It also inhibits the ability to avoid cravings for the drugs. One of the main areas of the brain that is affected by drugs is the reward pathway in the prefrontal cortex.


How do Drugs Affect …show more content…

Psychological/Mental
Can cause severe depression.
Causes anxiety and edginess.
Emotional
Can cause euphoria and a desire to take the drug again.
Increased sensitivity and negative moods.
Behavioral
People take more risks and might lead to more aggression.
People have difficulty making decisions, planning and following thru on responsibilities.
Cocaine’s effects on the Brain
Cocaine travels through, the bloodstream whether you inject, smoke or snort it. It has effects on the Reward Pathway: the prefrontal cortex, VTA and the nucleus accumbens.
Prefrontal Cortex: It contributes to planning,
complex behaviors and personal development.

VTA: it is involved in the drug and natural reward system of the brain.


Nucleus accumbens: it primary operation is based on two neurotransmitters:Dopamine which promotes desire and serotonin which regulates satiety and inhibition.
A brain on cocaine A normal healthy brain

Functional MRI: The brain’s response to cocaine cues
Arrows point to the anterior cingulate area, which is activated (yellow) in cocaine-addicted patients (left) but not in healthy volunteers (right) (Wexler et al., …show more content…

Eat a healthy diet.
Avoid the temptation of taking drugs.
Don't hang around with people who do drugs.

If you need help, call the Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction hotline run by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), available 24 hours a day.
800-662-HELP (4357)
Sources:
https://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+brain&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=5kqLdwRATRglZM%253A%252CX8D2GN8LIW 9WvM%252C_&usg= hSFRryQ7v3SgrozbmxufnSEWSbk%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjK6cqO9cvbAhXhx1kKHRFfBF0Q9QEINzAG#i mgrc=5kqLdwRATRg

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2851068/

https://www.google.de/search?q=prefrontal+cortex,&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjvvoqa9svbAhURvlkKHbmmCcAQ_ AUICigB

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/central-nervous-system/

https://www.google.de/search?q=pictures+of+drugs&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiw1-Lj-MvbAhWxzlkKHRovCXoQ_ AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=637

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=rpceW4HzOcHr5gLWu5LwBg&q=images+of+teenagers+and+drugs&oq=images+

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