Presentation on theme: "Drugs and The Brain"— Presentation transcript
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Different categories of drugs
(stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens,
opioids, cannabis, etc.) have different
specific effects.
•
Regardless of the mechanism, they all
disrupt normal functioning of the brain
and central nervous system, posing risks
to physical and mental health.
•
Research strongly supports the idea that
drug or alcohol addiction is technically a
chronic brain disease.
•
When the chemicals in drugs interrupt
normal brain chemistry, the brain begins
to rely on the drug to function
—
this is
why it’s so difficult to quit without help
from a
drug rehabilitation center
.
•
Many drugs affect the brain’s “reward
center” and production of dopamine (the
“feel good” neurotransmitter), leading to
a strong, self
-
perpetuating addiction.
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A few drugs create a psychological
addiction rather than a direct physical
one; individuals believe that they need it
to feel good, perform well or cope with
problems.
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The pleasurable “high” (felt in
different ways and at different
intensities)
•
Changes to energy and alertness
(raised or lowered)
•
Sensory changes (heightened,
suppressed or altered)
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Changes to mood (happy, sad,
euphoric, depressed)
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Changes in aggression and risk
-
taking
(may become violent or impulsive)
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Impaired motor skill/coordination
(slurred speech, stumbling, awkward
movements)
•
Poor memory (both recall and
formation of new memories)
•
Impaired judgment and difficulty
making decisions
•
In some cases, significant brain
damage, including loss of actual
tissue (“holes” in the brain)
•
Learning difficulties
•
Poor impulse control, which may
lead to taking dangerous risks
•
New or worsening mental illness
symptoms (depression, anxiety,
psychosis)
•
Addiction and mental illness often occur
together; the National Institute on Drug
Abuse estimates that roughly 1 in 4
individuals with a serious mental illness
also have a substance use disorder.
•
Commonly co
-
occurring mental illnesses
include (but are not limited to)
depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety,
ADHD, and PTSD.
•
When treating these issues
simultaneously, addressing underlying
mental health is crucial to minimizing
relapse risk.
Adelante
Recovery Center is a trusted provider
of addiction treatment services in Southern
California. We’ve helped thousands of clients
recover from substance use disorders with
drug detoxification, customized inpatient
residential programs, and compassionate care.
To learn more about what we do, visit
www.adelanterecovery.com
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424849/
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research
-
reports/common
-
comorbidities
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substance
-
use
-
disorders/part
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1
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connection
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between
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substance
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use
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disorders
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mental
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illness
