Drugs Affect on Brain

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Abstract Drugs some use them to escape pain, others use them for pleasure, and some use them to just fit in. Either way drugs are a harmful substance that may seriously affect the body. Drugs mess with the brain in ways that we couldn’t even imagine. From destroying brain cells that help with critical thinking to destroying cells that give us the ability to feel pleasure. Drugs take the place of our natural body functions of the body. They fool receptors of the body and make it to where our bodies produce less of what we need. Over a period of time this may produce very severe consequences on the body. With all the risks involved with drugs it’s a wonder why some people use them.

Introduction The human brain is the …show more content…

Taking drugs over a period of time Just as we turn down the volume on a radio that is too loud, the brain adjusts to the overwhelming surges in dopamine and other receptors by producing less dopamine or by reducing the number of receptors that can receive signals. As a result, dopamine's impact on the reward circuit of a drug abuser's brain can become abnormally low, and the ability to experience any pleasure is reduced. This is why the abuser eventually feels flat, lifeless, and depressed, and is unable to enjoy things that previously brought them pleasure. Now they need to take drugs just to try and bring their dopamine function back up to normal. As well they must take larger amounts of the drug than they first did to create the dopamine high an effect known as tolerance. Consequences of drugs Many people use drugs in order to escape physical and emotional discomfort. Maybe you started drinking to numb feelings of depression, smoking pot to deal with stress at home or school, relying on cocaine to boost your energy and confidence, using sleeping pills to cope with panic attacks, or taking prescription painkillers to relieve chronic back pain. (“Drug Abuse and Addiction”, 2010)
In addition to the effects various drugs of abuse may have on the brain many drugs produce global body changes such

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