Effects of Drugs on the Brain - Essay Example

Effects of drugs on the brain Effects of Drugs on the Brain Introduction Neuropharmacology involves research on drugs and other substances that work together with neurons contained by the brain to influence mood, thinking, behavior, and sensation. However, not all of the influences come as a result of the drugs that may be induced in the body. The drugs are known to change the functioning of the chemical transmitters in the brain. The molecular neuroscience is of great importance as it avails information on the neuropharmaceuticals ability to modify the processes in the brains. The aim is to establish changes in mood, attention, and enhancement of memory. Nevertheless enhancement is not confined to neuroscience but there is distinct about the enhancement of the mental, behavior and also cognitive functions. It all takes place as a result of the brain being the centre of a person. Cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and cannabis all affect the human brain whereby some of their effects are unique while others vary from one drug to the other as the document discusses. Discussion Cocaine The addiction to cocaine as a drug involves two characteristics that are of great importance. One of the characteristics is the chronic compulsive and the second is the drug use that is not controllable. It also entails the withdrawal of the syndrome when a person stops to use the drug. There have been the developments of animal models to aid in motivation towards drug dependence. They enable the exploration of mechanisms in neurobiology, in dependence of drugs (Bickerstaff, 2009). Cocaine stimulates the central nervous system thus increasing the neurotransmitter dopamine levels in brain circuits. The resultant effect is the regulation of movement and pleasure. The effect tends to be similar to those of cannabis, heroin and ecstasy. The neurons normally release the dopamine. The aspect brings about another similarity of cocaine to other drugs in that it causes some effects to the neurons in the human brain. However, as opposed to other drugs cocaine tends to shut off signal between the neurons (Connolly, 2001). Cocaine tends to prevent the recycling process of dopamine hence causing large amounts of dopamine to build up between neurons. The aspect amplifies the dopamine’s signal and eventually disrupts normal communication of the brain. The flooding of dopamine increases the cocaine’s characteristic. As other types of drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy and heroine, repeated cocaine use results to long-term changes in the reward systems of the brain and other brain systems. These effects lead to addiction. It is another similarity of cocaine’s effects to the human brain with the other drugs. Repeated use leads to cocaine’s tolerance. Similar to the drug abusers of the other drugs they do not get the pleasure similar to the one on the first use. The users tend to increase the quantities of the drug they use so that they derive the pleasure (Green, 2002). Marijuana Marijuana is another drug similar to cocaine, heroin and ecstasy in a number of ways but also reveals several differences from other drugs on the way they affect the human brain. After a person smokes cannabis its chemicals go fast in the entire body. THC is a very strong chemical, as opposed to other psychoactive drugs. Once this chemical enters in someone’s bloodstream reaches the brain within very few seconds. As the other types of drugs marijuana also affects the neurons in the human brain (Booth, 2005). The chemicals in the cannabis such as THC can block or mimic actions of neurotransmitters hence interfering with the brains normal functionality. The effect is common to all of the drug abusers of those other drugs. Similar to cocaine, cannabis has a tendency of causing the neurotransmitters to fill the synapse or gap between the neurons. The aspect causes various body and brain functions to be turned on and off. As opposed to the other types of drugs cannabis affects metabolism and blood flow in the human brain. Research done indicates cannabis smokers especially the inexperienced smokers have a decreased global cerebral blood flow (Grotenhermen, 2002). Cannabis smoking also brings about the learning and memory problems. It has a tendency of distorting perception a common phenomenon to all the other types of drugs. It also brings about a difficulty in problem solving and thinking, increased heart rate as well as loss of coordination. Despite affecting an individual’s perception cannabis smoking does not cause permanent damage to the human brain, as opposed to some of the other drugs (Booth, 2005). Heroin A discovery made by brain researchers for a period of 40 years concerning the drug addiction and the human brain found that the human brain contains receptor sites that are designed for the derived drugs from the opium. Morphine is a chemical derived from the opium contains many functions including the medical functions. In numerous occasions, it serves as a pain reliever. Morphine and endorphins have the same structure to other chemicals that occur naturally. Endorphins have the ability to make human beings and also other species to have a good feeling. The source of Endorphins is the brain (Fernandez & Libby 2011). Heroin also contains the endorphins as a result of the presence of morphine in the drug. On the occasion that heroin gets injected in the body and moves to the brain, the receptor sites receive it because they got made for the endorphins. Addiction comes as a result of the pleasure that is received by the person when he or she takes the drug. However, the pleasure from heroin gets manifested in a different way as compared to other drugs. The user experiences an immediate rush for a time frame of two minutes maximum. The high later on last for up to six hours (Schneider, 2008). The scientists argued that there must be other available functions of the receptor sites. They later found out that, in all the opiates, the active ingredients possessed a chemical structure that resembled the endorphins. Endorphins are groups of chemicals found in the brain. As opposed to other drugs Endorphins found in heroin locate themselves in the space between nerve cells; as a result the neurons are prevented from firing. An analgesic effect hence results. On the case that it gets used in lower amounts the neurons get excited (Moraes & North 2000). After the endorphins perform their function, the person gets high and attains relief from stress and pain. He or she feels good or euphoric. It is a condition referred to as analgesia. The level of endorphin increases when the person exercises, is stressed or performs manual work. Despite the fact that endorphins get triggered by stress, they make a person feel good. The morphine molecule just like the evil twin locks in the receptor sites of endorphin at the end of the nerves of the brain. They later begin the succession of occasions that cause analgesia or euphoria. The morphine molecules are more powerful than the endorphins that are found in the body (Fernandez & Libby 2011). Ecstasy Ecstasy has a direct influence on the brain of a human being. It increases the activities of three neurotransmitters that include the dopamine and the serotonin. Its effects resemble those of cannabis. Similar to other amphetamines, Ecstasy causes the neurons to release the neurotransmitters. The result is the increased activities of the neurotransmitters. When compared to other stimulants, Ecstasy releases greater amounts of serotonin and less dopamine. The neurotransmitter Serotonin performs a main function in the control of sleep, appetite, pain and mood. On the occasion, that serotonin is realized on large amounts the result is elevating the mood of the user (Collin & Godfrey, 2009). The high amount of serotonin that may be released may cause the brain of the person to become depleted of the neurotransmitter that is of great importance. It results to the negative behavior of the user in a period of seven days after the use of the drug. The research that has been conducted has proved that MDMA damages the neurons that contain serotonin. The effects of the damage are sometimes long lasting. The users of the drug have experiences of confusion, selective impairment and depression that may last for a long time. The impairments get associated with a decrease in the amount of serotonin (Johnson, 2014). The effects of taking Ecstasy resemble the effects of using marijuana and other drugs. The behavioral changes of a person who uses Ecstasy and one who uses other drugs such as cannabis are similar. It, therefore, possesses a difficult task in distinguishing the users of Ecstasy and other drugs. The effects of using Ecstasy also get influenced from other factors like the age of the user, the dose, intensity of use and the frequency (Collin & Godfrey, 2009). Conclusion From the discussion, it is clear that all the drugs have an impact on the human brain. Most of the effects of these drugs on the human brain tend to be similar. However, some effects are varying from one drug to the other. It is, however, of great importance to understand that all the drugs impart negative effects and none impart positive effects to the human brain. The aspect, therefore, poses a challenge to all drug abusers in that there is no health value added as a result of the use of these drugs. References Top of Form Bickerstaff, L. (2009). Cocaine: Coke and the war on drugs. New York: Rosen Pub. 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