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Drugs and The Brain

https://adelanterecovery.com/ | Drugs can have significant short- and long-term effects on the brain. Learn more about how addiction forms and what it does to the brain and nervous system.<br>

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Drugs and The Brain

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  1. • Different categories of drugs (stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, opioids, cannabis, etc.) have different specific effects. Regardless of the mechanism, they all disrupt normal functioning of the brain and central nervous system, posing risks to physical and mental health. Research strongly supports the idea that drug or alcohol addiction is technically a chronic brain disease.¹ • •

  2. • When the chemicals in drugs interrupt normal brain chemistry, the brain begins to rely on the drug to function—this is why it’s so difficult to quit without help from a drug rehabilitation center. Many drugs affect the brain’s “reward center” and production of dopamine (the “feel good” neurotransmitter), leading to a strong, self-perpetuating addiction. A few drugs create a psychological addiction rather than a direct physical one; individuals believe that they need it to feel good, perform well or cope with problems. • •

  3. • The pleasurable “high” (felt in different ways and at different intensities) Changes to energy and alertness (raised or lowered) Sensory changes (heightened, suppressed or altered) • •

  4. • Changes to mood (happy, sad, euphoric, depressed) Changes in aggression and risk-taking (may become violent or impulsive) Impaired motor skill/coordination (slurred speech, stumbling, awkward movements) • •

  5. • Poor memory (both recall and formation of new memories) Impaired judgment and difficulty making decisions In some cases, significant brain damage, including loss of actual tissue (“holes” in the brain) • •

  6. • • Learning difficulties Poor impulse control, which may lead to taking dangerous risks New or worsening mental illness symptoms (depression, anxiety, psychosis) •

  7. • Addiction and mental illness often occur together; the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that roughly 1 in 4 individuals with a serious mental illness also have a substance use disorder.² Commonly co-occurring mental illnesses include (but are not limited to) depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD. When treating these issues simultaneously, addressing underlying mental health is crucial to minimizing relapse risk. • •

  8. Adelante Recovery Center is a trusted provider of addiction treatment services in Southern California. We’ve helped thousands of clients recover from substance use disorders with drug detoxification, customized inpatient residential programs, and compassionate care. To learn more about what we do, visit www.adelanterecovery.com

  9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424849/ https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/common-comorbidities-substance- use-disorders/part-1-connection-between-substance-use-disorders-mental-illness

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