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The Impacts of Drugs on the Brain
Student Name
Department of Psychology, Grand Canyon University
PSY 102: General Psychology
Professor Kevin Salcido
July 13, 2024
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The Impacts of Drugs on the Brain
Drugs strongly affect humans both physically and mentally. Unlike other drugs, caffeine
is not often regarded as especially harmful and is regularly consumed on a daily basis by
millions of individuals. However, caffeine can have both short-term and long-term effects on the
mind and therefore hinder a person’s health. While minor doses can actually positively impact
individuals, habitual use at a large dosage can cause irreparable damage to the brain. Caffeine,
just like any other drug, is addictive and has the potential to significantly impact the brain which
can lead to negative effects on senses, perception, cognitive abilities, and physical abilities over
time.
Drug Description
Caffeine is regarded as a stimulant and has a subcategorization of being a psychoactive
drug. Psychoactive drugs are mind-altering drugs that affect a person’s brain through awareness,
mood, cognition, etc. While not all psychoactive drugs are stimulants, caffeine is - which means
it is intended to improve a person’s senses and mood, often making them more aware of their
surroundings in an enjoyable way (Ogeil & Phillips, 2015). Due to the effects and characteristics
of caffeine, moderate use of it is not often considered harmful and can actually be beneficial to
some degree. With that said, stimulants’ negative effects often first present during withdrawals
or with persistent and/or heavy use, as is with caffeine. The symptoms of withdrawal of
improper/heavy use of something such as caffeine include the opposite of their intended affects –
issues with sleep, focus, alertness, and negative impacts on mood (Ogeil & Phillips, 2015).
Effects on the Brain
Caffeine, while a stimulant, effects the brain through the means of both increasing and
decreasing various neurotransmitters. On a base level, caffeine increases the overall activity
The Impacts of Drugs on the Brain
Student Name
Department of Psychology, Grand Canyon University
PSY 102: General Psychology
Professor Kevin Salcido
July 13, 2024
, 2
The Impacts of Drugs on the Brain
Drugs strongly affect humans both physically and mentally. Unlike other drugs, caffeine
is not often regarded as especially harmful and is regularly consumed on a daily basis by
millions of individuals. However, caffeine can have both short-term and long-term effects on the
mind and therefore hinder a person’s health. While minor doses can actually positively impact
individuals, habitual use at a large dosage can cause irreparable damage to the brain. Caffeine,
just like any other drug, is addictive and has the potential to significantly impact the brain which
can lead to negative effects on senses, perception, cognitive abilities, and physical abilities over
time.
Drug Description
Caffeine is regarded as a stimulant and has a subcategorization of being a psychoactive
drug. Psychoactive drugs are mind-altering drugs that affect a person’s brain through awareness,
mood, cognition, etc. While not all psychoactive drugs are stimulants, caffeine is - which means
it is intended to improve a person’s senses and mood, often making them more aware of their
surroundings in an enjoyable way (Ogeil & Phillips, 2015). Due to the effects and characteristics
of caffeine, moderate use of it is not often considered harmful and can actually be beneficial to
some degree. With that said, stimulants’ negative effects often first present during withdrawals
or with persistent and/or heavy use, as is with caffeine. The symptoms of withdrawal of
improper/heavy use of something such as caffeine include the opposite of their intended affects –
issues with sleep, focus, alertness, and negative impacts on mood (Ogeil & Phillips, 2015).
Effects on the Brain
Caffeine, while a stimulant, effects the brain through the means of both increasing and
decreasing various neurotransmitters. On a base level, caffeine increases the overall activity
