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How Do Drugs Affect The Brain

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Drugs.
The affect drugs have on the brain and what you can do.

Why do people abuse drugs? There are many risk factors to why people abuse drugs. Some people have risk factors in their neighborhood. They might know people that use drugs, sell drugs or abuse drugs. Violence, school delinquency, and pregnancy or a few more risk factors. The drug culture of some areas in our communities are overwhelming to some individuals and they are more likely to use or abuse drugs.

The brain is affected by drugs in different ways. Some drugs make people sleepy while other drugs make people hyperactive. Most people use drugs to help or correct their medical problems. This is the legitimate use for drugs. Others use drugs or alcohol to feel good and forget about their problems. Drug abuse in our society is a huge problem and it needs to addressed by each community. …show more content…
There is a junction between nerve cells. These junctions are called Synapse. There is a very small gap between these cells and information is carried back and forth between the synapse's to direct our thoughts and movements. The information is transmitted by hormones called neurotransmitters. One neurotransmitter is called dopamine. Dopamine is a reward transmitter. Cocaine for example is introduced into the body by snorting, smoking or injecting. Once in the blood stream its carried to the brain, it then activates the dopamine neurotransmission pathways. Cocaine blocks the removal of dopamine from the synapse. This causes continuous stimulation of neurons and makes the person feel a sense of euphoria for a prolonged amount of time. Scientist have scanned the brain of patients using cocaine and have found that brain function is decreased in most areas of the brain. Drug abusers get hooked because they are always chasing that euphoric sensation they get from

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