The brain is one of the complex organs in the human body. Everything that a person does depends on the mind, such as eating, driving, reading, drawing, walking and every other daily activity. Also, it regulates how the body functions and response to the surrounding hence shaping how people behave (Volkow & Baler, 2015). Unfortunately, people tend to seek other substances to stimulate the normal functioning consequently experiencing “pleasure” forgetting that it alters the way the brain function negatively.
According to the Natural Institute on Drug Abuse, most of the drugs that people use or abuse interfere on how the brain process, send and receive signals through its neurotransmitters (2018). Substances like heroin and marijuana have chemical structures that resemble those of the natural neurotransmitter hence also activating the way the neuron functions. Although they resemble the chemical formula of the brain, they activate the neurons differently from the natural neurotransmitter thus altering the way the brain sends messages (Volkow & Baler, 2015). Other substances like cocaine and amphetamine cause the release of a significant amount of natural neurotransmitter which is abnormal hence creating chemical imbalances in the brain. It results to disruption on the way the neuron network operates.
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According to the Natural Institute on Drug Abuse, the commonly affected parts of the brains by drugs are the extended amygdala, the basal ganglia and the prefrontal cortex (2018). The prefrontal cortex is the part that matures in mind and hence very venerable for the teenagers. It is responsible for solving problems, planning, self-control and generally decision making. Consequently, drug abuse alters such functionality of the brain. The extended amygdala plays a vital role in maintaining the feelings like unease, irritability and anxiety. Substance abuse leads to withdrawal of such feelings hence motivating the person to use the drug again and again. The basal ganglia are responsible for pleasure and motivation during activities such as sex, socializing and eating. The substances over-activate this part diminishing its sensitivity and hence reducing the feeling of pleasure.
References
Drugs and the Brain. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain
Volkow, N. D., & Baler, R. (2015). Beliefs modulate the effects of drugs on the human brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 112 (8), 2301-2302.
