Addiction and substance abuse can affect the body in many different ways. One of the elements of the body that is impacted the most is the brain. Many people overlook the mental and psychological effects drugs can have. But, the effects of drugs on the brain can be permanent and severe in intense cases of addiction.
The brain is one of the most complex organs in the entire human body. It is necessary for every single action we consciously do in our lives. Driving your car, speaking, eating a meal, drawing, singing, and all other activities are possible because of the brain.
So, it comes as no surprise that using drugs that affect how the brain works can be detrimental in the long run. It’s important to truly recognize how important the brain is to your body and your well-being. Drugs can end up literally changing how your brain functions and works with the rest of your body.
How the Brain Works
Before looking at how drugs affect the brain, it’s important to know how the brain works on a day-to-day basis. The brain is made up of billions of tiny cells called neurons. These neurons connect and are organized into networks and circuits. Each of these neurons switches and controls the flow of information from the body. When a neuron gets enough signals from other neurons it fires a signal to all other neurons on the circuit.
These circuits work together to transfer information and perform certain functions. These neurons send signals to other parts of the body and brain consistently. While it may sound simple there are so many different elements to the brain and how it communicates with the rest of the body.
Neurons release neurotransmitters to send messages from one section to the other. Keep this in mind as we take a look at how drugs affect the brain. Over time, these mechanisms in the brain can completely change if drug and alcohol use continues.
Effects of Drugs on the Brain
Drugs tend to disrupt the way neurons send, receive, and process the signals from the neurotransmitters. Substances like heroin can activate certain neurons due to the chemical structure of the drug (which mimics the natural neurotransmitters). The drug is able to attach and activate particular neurons. While drugs may imitate the brain’s chemicals, they fail to activate the neurons in the same way a natural neurotransmitter would.
This usually leads to strange and inconsistent messages through the network of neurons. More intense drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine can release unnaturally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters. They can also prevent regular recycling of brain chemicals. This further creates complications in the brain’s communication with the neurons.
A Look at How Drugs Create Pleasure in the Brain
Many drugs tend to create a certain euphoria or ‘high’. This is one of the primary reasons that many people use drugs (in a recreational sense). While this euphoria isn’t completely understood at the moment, it involves surges of chemical signaling compounds.
These chemical compounds include the natural endorphins and other neurotransmitters in the basal ganglia (the reward circuit). Drugs cause much bigger bursts of neurotransmitters as opposed to the small, healthy amounts associated with eating, singing, or talking.
Another aspect that many people associate drug use with is the neurotransmitter dopamine (which is produced by almost all drugs). While many believe that dopamine is the reason for this euphoric high, it’s actually more to blame for our repeated use of drugs. This release of dopamine actually reinforces the need to keep using a certain drug.
Dopamine and Its Effects
Feelings of pleasure that you experience from acts like sex and eating usually reinforce certain behaviors. Over time, our mind automatically tries to repeat these pleasurable activities and will increase the odds of repeating them. When you experience something pleasurable, a surge of dopamine signals that that action should be remembered. This creates a neural connection that can make it easier to repeat that activity.
Sometimes you may not even be aware of the connection that has been formed. This connection is what can lead to forming certain habits (in this case, drug use). Drugs can create a strong euphoria and also causes a large surge of dopamine. This reinforces the connection between the pleasure, the consumption of the drug, and other pieces of the experience. This strong surge of dopamine will make your brain favor using drugs over other healthier activities.
Certain elements and cues of a person’s environment can become associated with drug use. Whenever a person is exposed to these cues or triggers, they may experience uncontrollable cravings to use the drug. This can occur even if the drug is nowhere in the environment. This specific reflex can last for many years (even if the person hasn’t been using drugs for that long.
An example of this would be someone who’s been clean of drugs, revisiting an old using spot or old neighborhood. They may still experience these intense cravings even after years of being completely clean.
What Makes Drugs more Addictive than Natural Rewards?
It comes as no surprise that drug use is disruptively addictive in many cases, but why is that? The difference between natural rewards like sex or eating is the rate at which drugs produce neurotransmitters. When a person misuses drugs the brain produces fewer neurotransmitters in the reward circuit. This severely reduces the rewarding effects of natural, safer activities.
This is why, over time, a person may begin to feel unmotivated, depressed, and lifeless after misusing drugs for long periods of time. The person is not able to experience the pleasure they once did with other natural activities. It requires a person to take more of a drug to experience a normal level of reward. This creates a vicious circle of constant drug use to feel any kind of pleasure or reward.
Over time, a person will begin to build a tolerance to their drug habits. This means that they must take more and more of a drug to feel its effects. This tolerance can be potentially dangerous when dealing with drugs like cocaine, alcohol, and heroin. Overdose, injury, and death are all prone when tolerance is involved.
Getting Drug Addiction Treatment
The effects of drugs on the brain can cause a multitude of issues down the line and it’s important to get treatment before it’s too late. Drug addiction can ruin many aspects of your life, not just the hobbies you used to enjoy. Financial, relationship, social, work, and school troubles are all prone when misusing drugs.
Luckily, Coastal is here to provide you with comprehensive drug addiction treatment. We understand that it’s more than just how drugs affect the brain but what it can do to your entire life. Health complications like diseases and overdosing are all likely as a person continues misusing drugs.
The longer you wait, the more space you are opening up for worse problems down the line. This is why you need professional help like Coastal Detox. There is no shame in asking for help and you are not alone in your struggles. Let us help you towards a brighter and happier life for you and your loved ones.
Recognizing Drug Abuse
One of the most important steps is recognizing drug use in a loved one or friend. This way, you can seek to get proper help and aid them in their recovery process. There is no set of signs that can be applied to every single drug but there are a few common red flags that many drugs share. Each case is different but being unaware or uninformed about drug symptoms can cost a life. Common signs of drug addiction include some of the following:
- Troubles at work and school
- A loss of interest in things they used to enjoy
- Borrowing or stealing money for their drug use
- Withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug
- A change in who they hang out with (their friends)
- Troubles doing normal tasks (like cooking or working)
- The person hides their drug use from loved ones (feels guilty)
- Abnormal sleeping and eating patterns throughout the day
- Continuous drug use (even if there is no need to take it anymore)
- Going to more than one doctor to get prescriptions for the same drug or problem.
- Physical appearance changes like bloodshot eyes, bad breath, tremors or shakes, weight loss, bloody nose, etc.
If you notice any of these symptoms it may be time to get help. Coastal detox offers a number of treatment options like detoxification, CBT, DBT, and other therapy options with you in mind.
Get Help Today
If you notice that a loved one or friend is struggling with drug addiction, Coastal Detox is here to help. Now that you understand how drugs affect the brain, it is more important than ever to act. Do not wait for the health effects and addiction to worsen. Contact us today to learn more about our treatment options and addiction resources.
