Do you feel relaxed after having a drink? Does smoking marijuana calm your nerves? Well, if you have ever wondered why it happens, read on. The drugs we normally use affect our body and mind in some amazing but unnatural ways. The chemicals in substances like alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and even prescription drugs affect us both psychologically and physically. Substance abuse not only leads to drug rehab centers, it also rewires our brains and leads to addiction. Here, we’re going to take a look at some of those effects in detail.
1. Alcohol
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The most widely available and consumed poison of choice is actually THE MOST DANGEROUS drug available, as shown in the studies conducted by several countries. Around 3 million people die each year as a result of alcohol addiction and abuse. Its effects on the mind and body include:
1. Increased dopamine levels in the brain which make you happier and less stressed. As a result, many become alcohol addicts.
2. Within minutes of its consumption, alcohol slows down heart rate and breathing which has a negative effect on the brain.
3. 90% Heavy drinkers develop fatty liver disease resulting in weight gain, fatigue and organ failure.
4. Frequent alcohol consumption kills neurons in the brain resulting in the degradation of our brain’s ability to process information. Hence drinking and driving is a lethal combination.
2. Marijuana
Marijuana is slowly becoming legalized across. In America, the use of marijuana for medical purposes is not new. However, it’s imperative to know how marijuana affects our body and mind.
1. Smoking weed leads to having red eyes. This happens as a result of the expansion of blood vessels.
2. Marijuana can effectively rewire the part of the brain which controls and moderates our appetite, hence, The Munchies.
3. The euphoric feeling after smoking weed is the result of the excess release of dopamine in the brain which causes hallucinations.
4. Smoking Marijuana increases the heart rate up to 20-50 beats per minute. This may last for 20 minutes to several hours.
5. Anyone who is prone to anxiety and panic attacks, smoking marijuana can increase the effects even further.
3. Cocaine
Often referred to as the “Celebrity Drug”, cocaine is responsible for 250,000 deaths per year in America alone. Not only do cocaine addicts have the hardest time handling withdrawal in drug rehab centers, but they also tend to develop vulnerabilities to other serious diseases like Hepatitis C and liver failure. Cocaine affects the brain within seconds of its use in the following ways:
1. Within seconds of using cocaine, serotonin levels increase in our brain. Serotonin affects every part of our body including our emotions, motor skills, eating habits and even moods.
2. Cocaine usage increases the blood pressure and heart rate, leading to heart-related diseases.
3. Snorting cocaine damages the septum of the nose and creates holes that cause difficulty in breathing.
4. Injecting cocaine can damage the veins and if the needle is shared or reused, it increases the chances of contracting blood-related disease including blood cancer and even HIV/AIDS.
5. Decreases appetite and damages the body’s ability to store essential fat which leads to weight loss.
6. Makes the user feel alerted and energetic but also anxious, paranoid and irritable.
7. Cocaine addiction leads to heart failure because cocaine constricts the arteries.
4. Opioids
If you feel that you are becoming addicted to a certain prescribed drug, then this one is for you. Widely used prescription drugs such as Percocet, Vicodin, OxyContin, fentanyl, and the illegal drug heroin all fall into this category. All opioids affect us in the following ways, differing only in severity depending on the amount taken by the user:
1. Slow breathing – an overdose can even stop the breathing entirely and cause brain damage, coma, and even death.
2. Withdrawing these drugs is not easy. Once the user stops administering these drugs, most of them develop severe withdrawal symptoms and end up becoming an addict.
3. More dangerously, Opioids reduce the amount of GABA and increase Serotonin levels in the brain. GABA is the chemical our brain produces which helps in burning fat, controlling blood pressure, promotes lean muscle growth and stabilizes blood pressure.
4. Opioids cause gastrointestinal issues and constipation.
5. Dangerous effects can last up to 12 hours.
5. Ecstasy (Molly, MDMA)
Party goers especially love this drug. It’s available both as a pill and in a crystallized powder form which is called Molly. It contains a chemical called MDMA which has the following effects on the body and mind:
1. The brain releases very high levels of serotonin and dopamine which makes the user feel extremely happy.
2. MDMA also causes the brain to release cortisol which is known as the stress hormone. This creates difficulties for the user in sleeping.
3. Causes excessive sweating which leads to dehydration.
4. Increased sensory perception.
5. Causes depression, fatigue, and irritability the next day after its usage, due to lower serotonin levels.
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All the drugs mentioned here overload our brains by creating excess dopamine, which can cause users to become an addict of the drug they choose to take. No matter what poison we put into our body to gain some temporary solace, the majority will end up in drug rehabilitation centers where the process of withdrawal and recovery may take months or years. Still, it’s better than ending up 6 feet under the ground.
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