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AffectsofDrugsontheBrainandCNS.pptxAffects of Drugs on the Brain and CNS
By Tanisha Valenzuela, GCU Student, PCN 527
Effects of Addiction
Physical Dependence – drug deprivation leads to physical symptoms such as pain, tremors, and/or convulsions
Psychological Dependence –influenced by the reward system of the brain can cause anxiety, pressure, stress, fatigue,
Social Concerns- isolation, financial problems, relationship become dysfunctional, trust can be shattered
Health Effects
Drug use has some short term and long term lasting effects. The effects depend on the specific drug they are using, the amount, the person’s current health condition etc. Some short term effects result in appetite changes, wakefulness, heart rates, elevated body temp., blood pressure, stroke, overdosing, and death. Addiction has some long term health effects such as heart/ lung disease, cancer, mental illness, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, just to name a few.
Physical Dependence- Those who abuse other opioid drugs, who developed strong physical symptoms following withdrawal: a runny nose, chills and fever, inability to sleep, and hypersensitivity to pain. For barbiturate abusers in a comparable situation, symptoms include anxiety, inability to sleep, and sometimes lethal convulsions.
According to Levinthal, (2016) “psychological dependence uses the explanation of drug abuse based not on the attempt of abusers tryhing to avoid the unpleasant withdrawl symptoms but on their desire to obtain pleasurable effects from the drug1’.
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Effects on the Brain
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states “ that the brain stem, limbic system, and cerebral cortex are all affected by drug abuse.
Brain stem controls life-sustaining functions such as sleeping, breathing, and heart rate.
Limbic system helps to control emotions, and the ability to gain happiness
Cerebral Cortex “thinking center” this manages problem solving, planning, and decision making abilities. Also help those to process information provided by their senses.
Certain activities activate a “pleasure circuit of nerve cells. One nerve cell uses dopamine which sits on top of the brain stem in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). This pleasure circuit is known as mesolimbic dopamine system. All drugs activate this pleasure circuit which addiction alters the pleasure center.
Psychoactive drugs they affect the chemical neurotransmission by either enhancing it or suppressing it.
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Effects on the Central Nervous System
Stimulants-accelerate the activity in the brain
Examples of stimulant drugs include cocaine, amphetamines, nicotine, caffeine, pseudoephedrine (found in Sudafed, cold and flu medications)
Depressants (relaxants)- they slow the activity of the Central Nervous System
Often results in the feeling of less pain, more relaxed, sleepy, or drowsy.
Examples include alcohol, tranquillisers, Benzodiazephines (Vallium or Temazepam), Opioids (Heroin, Morphine), Volatile substances such as paint, glue, or petrol
Hallucinogens- Altering the persons perception or consciousness. Disrupting the nerve cells and serotonin. Examples include LSD, mushrooms,
Effects on the Body
Effects that the drugs play on the body depends on the several factors
type of substance whether is medicinal or recreational
source of the substance (synthetic or plant)
Substance legal or illegal
Drug use impacts the brain chemicals and circuitry which leads to drug dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
Drug cravings
Dependence
Long term is use and dependency on drugs leads to some of these issues such as problem at work, school and interpersonal relationships, damage to blood vessel in the heart and brain, depression, delirium
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Process of Neurotransmission
Drugs affect the communication at the synapse
Agonists- excite or mimic the neurotransmitters
Antagonists- block or inhibit neurotransmitters signal
Drugs and their affects during this phase of neurotransmission
Opiates mimic the effects of endorphins
Depressants act on GABA receptors
Stimulants mimic the effects of epinephrine
In Cocaine users blocks the removal of dopamine
Neurotransmission ( synaptic transmission) is communication between neurons as accomplished by the movement of chemicals or electrical signals across a synapse. When artificial opiates reach the brain, the brain will stop producing its own opiates. Opiate drugs produce a temporary high by amplifying normal sensations of arousal or pleasure.
Antagonists block the Ach release from sending neuron because it may cause paralysis.
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References
NIDA. (2017, March 23). Health Consequences of Drug Misuse. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/health-consequences-drug-misuse on 2017, December 13
Levinthal, C. (2016). Drugs, behavior, and modern society (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Publishing ISBN-13: 97801340030407
