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Friday, April 22, 2011

Effects of Drugs on Functioning of Brain

Drug addiction is the permanent dependance on the drug, which is marked by characteristics such as, overpowering desire to use and increase the drug intake. Addiction or substance abuse is a complex brain disease and there are two components to addiction one is physical and other is psychological factor.

There are many biological alterations in the brain of an addicted person when compared to non addicted person. The effects of the drugs on the brain depends on the type of the drug used.
Addictive substances change the responses in the brain. Drug addiction also effects brain circuits that govern learning and memory. Drugs also impairs the brain's communication system and disrupt the nerve cells which normally send, receive, and process information. Drugs such as marijuana and heroin have the similar structure to neurotransmitters and they activate the nerve cells to send abnormal messages. Cocaine is another drug that induces nerve cells to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters. Drugs also causes surges in dopamine neurotransmitters and other pleasure brain messengers.

Consumption of drugs results in the impairment of inhibitory functions of the brain, leading to aggressive, sexual, criminal, or other activities that can have devastating consequences. There are some ways through which the drug addicts can control their drug intake by using classical conditioning techniques.


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