Many neurological effects not only impact the user’s body, but also the way he or she thinks, interacts, and responds. Drugs take control over the brain’s “reward system” and release large amounts of dopamine which flood the system. The euphoria or “high” that drug users feel when taking drugs is caused by the sudden fluctuation of dopamine. “Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure” (“Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction”). Drugs affect the way the brain performs and sometimes causes change the brain’s performance. These changes lead to more drug use which leads to addiction of the drug. Substance abuse can also have other side effects on the brain such as seizures, strokes, and widespread brain damage, which can affect the memory, attention, and decision-making skills of the user (“Neurological Effects”). Some drugs can also impair the coordination and judgment of an individual. The brain damage caused by substance abuse may result in behavioral problems such as paranoia, aggressiveness, hallucinations, addiction, impaired judgment, impulsiveness, and loss of self-control (“Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction”). Such major changes in the brain results in the individual behaving like a completely different person and may be unrecognizable by loved
Many neurological effects not only impact the user’s body, but also the way he or she thinks, interacts, and responds. Drugs take control over the brain’s “reward system” and release large amounts of dopamine which flood the system. The euphoria or “high” that drug users feel when taking drugs is caused by the sudden fluctuation of dopamine. “Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure” (“Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction”). Drugs affect the way the brain performs and sometimes causes change the brain’s performance. These changes lead to more drug use which leads to addiction of the drug. Substance abuse can also have other side effects on the brain such as seizures, strokes, and widespread brain damage, which can affect the memory, attention, and decision-making skills of the user (“Neurological Effects”). Some drugs can also impair the coordination and judgment of an individual. The brain damage caused by substance abuse may result in behavioral problems such as paranoia, aggressiveness, hallucinations, addiction, impaired judgment, impulsiveness, and loss of self-control (“Effects of Drug Abuse and Addiction”). Such major changes in the brain results in the individual behaving like a completely different person and may be unrecognizable by loved