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Impact of drugs on the brain
Zoei N. Castillon
College Name, Grand Canyon University
PSY-102-TR300B
Michael Hoza
June 2nd 2024
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Impact of drugs on the brain
The brain is already a complex thing on its own, the brain is so powerful and complicated
that we are still learning about it today. Obviously, the brain can be affected in many ways, there
are many diseases that can affect our brains or trauma to the head. But what about substances, we
know drugs can also affect our brains, so how does a drug like cocaine affect our brains. Cocaine
and Meth are two very common drugs used to this day, and they have affected a lot of people.
Cocaine and Meth can affect people’s brain in a lot of negative ways and can overall just impact
someone’s life.
Cocaine is a classified as a type of drug called stimulants also known as “uppers”, which
is consumed by either through the nose or by rubbing it on your gums (NIDA,2021). Cocaine is
made from the leaves of coca plants that are native in South America. People take stimulants,
specifically cocaine, to feel more positive or to have extreme energy and happiness. Some people
also consume cocaine to have a heightened awareness, although those are presumed to be the
positive side effects, these are only short term and there are many more negative short term side
effects and long term. Other short term side effects are hypersensitivity to sight, sound and touch
irritability, and paranoia. Other side effects may consist of constricted blood vessels, dilated
pupils, nausea, raised body temperature, restlessness, fast or irregular heartbeat, tremors and
muscle twitches, and raised body temperature and blood pressure. Long term effects can be loss
of smell, frequent runny nose, problems with swallowing, cough, asthma, severe bowel decay
from reduced blood flow and skin or soft tissue infections. With drawl side effects could be
depression, fatigue, slowed down thinking, unpleasant dreams or insomnia, and increased
appetite.
Impact of drugs on the brain
Zoei N. Castillon
College Name, Grand Canyon University
PSY-102-TR300B
Michael Hoza
June 2nd 2024
, 2
Impact of drugs on the brain
The brain is already a complex thing on its own, the brain is so powerful and complicated
that we are still learning about it today. Obviously, the brain can be affected in many ways, there
are many diseases that can affect our brains or trauma to the head. But what about substances, we
know drugs can also affect our brains, so how does a drug like cocaine affect our brains. Cocaine
and Meth are two very common drugs used to this day, and they have affected a lot of people.
Cocaine and Meth can affect people’s brain in a lot of negative ways and can overall just impact
someone’s life.
Cocaine is a classified as a type of drug called stimulants also known as “uppers”, which
is consumed by either through the nose or by rubbing it on your gums (NIDA,2021). Cocaine is
made from the leaves of coca plants that are native in South America. People take stimulants,
specifically cocaine, to feel more positive or to have extreme energy and happiness. Some people
also consume cocaine to have a heightened awareness, although those are presumed to be the
positive side effects, these are only short term and there are many more negative short term side
effects and long term. Other short term side effects are hypersensitivity to sight, sound and touch
irritability, and paranoia. Other side effects may consist of constricted blood vessels, dilated
pupils, nausea, raised body temperature, restlessness, fast or irregular heartbeat, tremors and
muscle twitches, and raised body temperature and blood pressure. Long term effects can be loss
of smell, frequent runny nose, problems with swallowing, cough, asthma, severe bowel decay
from reduced blood flow and skin or soft tissue infections. With drawl side effects could be
depression, fatigue, slowed down thinking, unpleasant dreams or insomnia, and increased
appetite.
