EFFECTS OF DRUG USE ON THE BRAIN

Drugs, its use and consequent abuse, has been the subject of controversy for much of the

recorded history. Scientists and doctors alike have devoted a substantial amount of resources on

research to better understand and manage the resulting addiction that users develop upon constant

intake of the substance. It has been considered as a major concern, affecting both the user’s health

and his relationship with his family and the society as a whole. The negative effects of drug abuse

have been so prevalent and widespread that it has affected people in varied ages and in all walks

of life (Saah, 2005).

When scientists began to investigate the behaviour of addicts in 1930’s, addiction was

initially considered as a flaw in the morality and self-discipline of the drug addicts. This conviction

influenced the society into considering drug addiction as an ethical failure rather than a medical

condition, hence, addicts were subjected to punishment rather than treatment and prevention.

Fortunately, years of research and investigations have rehabilitated the understanding of drugs and

its corresponding effects on the brain and general health of the user. Presently, drug addiction is

considered as a brain disease that can be effectively treated (Leshner, 1997). This revolutionizing

idea has also led to innovative discoveries on how to effectively deal and respond to drug addiction.

Thus, in order to respond effectively on how to deal with drug addiction, proper understanding of

the situation should be given due importance.

Drug Use and the Brain

Extensive researches have established the link between drug addiction and its effects on

the brain. The human brain, being the most complex organ in the body, sits at the center of all

human activity. It regulates the body’s basic functions, we use it to cook, study, walk, run, talk
with other people, and even just to sleep. It enables understanding, response and shapes thinking,

feelings and behaviour. Different parts of the brain, working together as a team, communicate with

each other to perform specific bodily functions. It is mainly composed of neurons which are

responsible for sending, transmitting and receiving vital information within and outside the body.

This network of neurons run from the brain, down to the spinal cord, and all through the nerves in

the different parts of the body. Hence, it is responsible for everything that we sense (see, hear,

smell, touch and feel). Moreover, the neurotransmitters are chemical messengers of the body that

carry the messages from neurons to neurons, typically serving as the pathway of nerve signals and

ensuring the overall communication of the brain with the other systems of the body (Biggs, Kapicka

and Lundgreen, 1990)

Drugs, on the other hand, are chemicals that interfere with this communication system and

disrupts the normal processing of these information. Certain drugs, such as marijuana and heroin,

have chemical structures that imitate that of a natural neurotransmitter, thus can effectively activate

neurons. But since these chemicals are not naturally produced by the body, the effects of activating

these neurons are not similar to the effects of a natural neurotransmitter, hence they lead to

abnormal and irregular messages being transmitted throughout the nervous system of the body

(National Institute of Drug Abuse, 2014)

Drug Abuse and their Neurological Effects

Dramatic medical advances over the past years have enabled scientists with a clearer

understanding of the consequences of drug use. Though it is sometimes difficult and uncertain to

attribute clinical symptoms directly to drug abuse, common features may emerge and

complications may result from the use of specific drugs. Other factors, such as dosage, method of

intake, kinds and number of drugs being used simultaneously, use with alcohol and other
compounds, among other things , may also affect the risks of infections and complications that a

user may sustain from subsequent drug use.

Enevoldson (2004) revealed neurological symptoms associated with drug abuse.

Syndromes such as femoral/ median neuropathy, botulism and Guillain Barre may result from

direct trauma from the needle, deep intradermal injections, HIV and n- hexane abuse, respectively.

These symptoms affect the peripheral nerves of the body. When the spinal cord is affected,

symptoms like compression, anterior cord syndrome and intrinsic cord lesion may arise. These are

caused by Osteomyelitis/ and extradural abscess, cord infarction (infective endocarditis,

vasospasm, vasculitis) and Haemorrhage (infective endocarditis, arteriovenous malformation,

vasculitis). Lastly and more importantly, drugs may also affect the brain. Symptoms such as

Encephalopathy may be attributed due to direct effects of drug (especially heroin or barbiturate),

or post-anoxic (secondary to respiratory depression, cardiac arrhythmia or airway obstruction- like

choking from vomit). It may also cause meningitis, stroke, Subarachnoid haemorrhage,

Intracerebral haemorrhage, tetanus and seizures depending on a wide- variety of causes.

Equally alarming to the effects of the drug itself, are the additives in street drugs that do

not fully dissolve in the body and may result to auxiliary damage to the blood vessels. Intravenous

drug use and needles being shared during sessions risks for a potentially toxic blood-borne

infections such as HIV and hepatitis (Fox, Oliver and Ellis, 2013). Statistics showed that in the

United Kingdom in 2005, 28%of the reported intravenous drug users were directly sharing their

needles and syringes, accounting for 5.6% of HIV diagnoses (Health Protection Agency, 2006).

Moreover, figures have shown that 21% of intravenous drug users are positive for hepatitis B while

50% are positive for hepatitis C (British Association for Psychopharmacology, 2012).

Drug Addiction: A Closer Look

 In addition to these direct and indirect effects of drug abuse, the resulting addiction makes

it more difficult for doctors to treat and prevent further use of the substance. Gould (2010)

discussed a two- stage process that involves addiction, which also implicates the user’s thinking

and judgment. The first stage involves the individual’s initial phases of drug use. The occasional

use, from once a day, becomes more chronic and uncontrolled, increasing to taking more shots in

one day. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter naturally present in sections of the brain that regulate

motivation, emotion, movement, and feelings of pleasure, is responsible for rewarding natural

human behaviours. Using drugs, however, overstimulates dopamine leading to increased

production (2 to 10 times), targeting and altering the reward system of the brain. Subsequently, the

resulting pleasurable feelings and euphoric effects, such as eating, hallucinating, or having sex, are

almost immediate (especially when drugs are smoked or injected) and can last longer than natural

rewards. These effects reinforce the feeling of drug use and promote the user to take more drugs

repeatedly--- resulting to addiction (Feltenstein and See, 2008).

The second stage involves difficulties to withdraw especially in the course of early

abstinence, resolute susceptibility to relapse, and vulnerability to make poor decisions and other

cognitive processes. Though the modification of the reward system is still important in this stage,

it is no longer sufficient to sustain the complex and more long- term changes. The persistent

discomfort experienced by the user due to withdrawal symptoms motivates continued use,

restricting him to stop. In other words, the second stage threatens the over- all judgment of the

individual taking drugs. Generally, the first stage fosters rewards and motivations to drug seeking

and continued use, while the second stage disrupts judgments and other cognitive processes that

are vital for effective abstinence and withdrawal.

Brain Effects due to Drug Use: Its Implications

These recognized colossal and deleterious effects of drug abuse to the user, changing his

habits and the personality as a whole, has had its corresponding impact to the family and the

community as a whole. Beyond the harmful effects to the user itself lies the subsequent, more

devastating effects for others who are directly or indirectly affected by this serious health problem.

Addicts who are pregnant or nursing mothers can pass the withdrawal syndrome to their innocent

infants. Crimes, law- breaking and other accidents are mostly attributed to the use of illegal

substances, and can risk the lives of other unsuspecting people around them. The urgency to come

up with a sustainable and effective development plan to effectively address drug- related problems

has been one of the main concerns of many countries. A large fragment of the health care finance

is spent on the prevention of addiction and rehabilitation of drug addicts. Police systems are geared

towards eradication and proper education about the use of illegal substances, especially to minors.

Yet, there has been no recognized scheme on how to successfully deal with the drug addiction

plague, but efforts have been strengthened and maximized to effectively deal with this problem.

As mentioned, drug addiction is a brain disease that can be prevented, treated and cured.

Hence, the question does not only lie on how to rehabilitate drug users, but more importantly and

thus should be given more emphasis, is how to prevent people from using drugs. It is a double-

edged sword that when properly used and administered can have tremendous benefits in medicine.

But when neglected and abused can have equally devastating effects. Drug education must start

within the smallest unit of the society, the family. When individuals are properly guided and

directed, the probability of substance abuse will be limited to its minimum. Society must come

together to initiate programs that will revolutionize prevention and disseminate proper

information. After all, it is indeed true that prevention is still better than cure.
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