EFFECTS OF DRUGS ON THE BRAIN
...many side effects when taken, it can affect the memory and judgment and can also create depression, mood swing and anger. The next drug I will talk about are tranquilizers. These are also classified as a downer other names for tranquilizers are Valium, Librium and Quaaludes. Tranquilizer is a slightly less effective form of a barbiturate. In cases it has all the same effects than that of a barbiturate. The only difference is that tranquilizers are prescribed for stress disorders and muscle tension. These next types of drugs I will discuss are classified as Opiates. These drugs include Opium, Morphine, Heroin, Codeine and Methadone. Opium is the main ingredient of most opiates. Opium has long been served as a painkiller in the medical practice. Opium is produced and made out of the poppy seed. It was discovered that the brain has receptors for opiates. The receptors were located in the parts of the brain that controlled breathing, pain and emotions. It is known that the brain produces it own opiate called “endorphins” this is a chemical that relieves pain in the body. Opiates stimulate a "pleasure system" in the brain. This system involves neurons in the midbrain that use the neurotransmitter called "dopamine." These midbrain dopamine neurons project to another structure called the nucleus accumbens, which then projects to the cerebral cortex. This system is responsible for the pleasurable effects of any opiate and for the addictive power of the drug. Other neurotransmitter systems, such as those related to endorphins, are also likely to be involved with withdrawal from and tolerance to opiates. The next four drugs all have opium in their makeup, Morphine, Heroin, Codeine and Methadone. All these drugs are used to relieve pain in the human body and give the body a sense of pleasure. Heroin being the most addictive of these drugs, the brain cells can become highly dependent on this drug and can make users need it to function in everyday life. The effects that heroin has on the user often make them sick to the point of vomiting, also get very itchy and restless, it also slows the breathing down to where the user can slip into a coma and possibly die. Heroin starts out with a rush of pleasure and leaves the user in a fog after the effects have worn off. Many addicts are now turning to another highly addictive drug to help heroin addicts with their addiction, methadone. Methadone is a painkiller used to help addicts kick their addiction. This drug has the same effect of heroin but lacks the heroin. Addicts need to take smaller and smaller amounts of the drug allowing them to get their life back. The next classification of drugs I will discuss is stimulants. The drugs that are classified as stimulants are Amphetamines, Cocaine, MDMA (Ecstasy), Caffeine and Nicotine. Amphetamine is another powerful stimulant drug that acts on the central nervous system; it increases the heart rate and blood pressure while reducing fatigue. Amphetamines were originally used to suppress appetite and treat depression in is now used to mainly treat narcolepsy and ADHD. Cocaine is also known as an upper, it is classified as a stimulant due to the fact that it stimulates the bodies’ nervous system. Because it increases the activity in the nervous system, cocaine produces increased alertness, high energy and euphoria. These effects are followed by agitation, anxiety and decreased appetite. Cocaine also causes higher blood pressure, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing and sweating. With a large amount of cocaine people can also experience shallow breathing, unpredictable or violent behavior, twitching, hallucinations, chest pain, blurred vision, vomiting and even heart attacks. All forms of cocaine have the same effects. The next stimulant I will discuss is MDMA or more commonly known as Ecstasy. Ecstasy is a man–made drug. It is a combination of chemicals made in drug labs that is similar to amphetamines. Side effects of Ecstasy can also make you clench your jaw and grind your teeth. It can also make you feel anxiety or have a full–blown panic attacks. All of this can be kind of hard to see because it also can cause blurred vision and vomiting. Ecstasy also makes you sweat more and increases your blood pressure and heart rate. It can also leave you depressed, cranky, unable to concentrate, for...