Copy - Health Higher Education Thesis

Tecnico superior de productos Farmaceuticos, biotecnológicos y afines

Rocio Lopez Lajo

how do drugs affect the brain

"Addiction is not a disease of willpower . It is a disease of instinct. It lives in the part of the brain that tells you to breathe".

DR David Zoeller

Introduction

The brain

Different tipes of drugs

Effect of drugs on the brain

Index

Long term effect of specific drugs

Conclusion

bibliography

Introduction

We all know drugs are bad for our health, what many don`t know is what exactly is the effect and what leads to that. For this it is important to have a base of anatomy and chemistry knowledge. Drugs is a very broad term that includes hard drugs as well as medicines, however in this case we are going to focus on hard drugs and alcohol.

Conclusion

From the reseach I did during this presentation it really stood out to me the importance of the route the drug is administered, as this will affect the speed at which the drug will start to have an effect. All the information I have given today can also be applied on medications we have all taken at some point in our life.

The effect of the drug mainly depends on how the drug alters the synapses in the neurons found in the brain.

Effect of drugs on the brain

In order for the drug to enter the brain it needs to go through blood brain barrier which is used to separate blood from the nervous system to prevent dangerous substances that can be found in the blood to enter the nervous system.

Drugs can increase or decrease the number of neurotransmitters being released and absorbed. Morphine for example raises the levels of serotonin but also affect endorphin receptors reducing pain perception. Meth causes a long release of dopamine. LSD blocks the release of serotonin.

Continuous use can rewire the neural networks that give us the ability to think, learn and remember things.

Justification

DIFFERENT TYPES OF of drugs

HALLUCINOGENS

DEPRESSANTS

STIMULANTS

Long term effects of specific drugs

Opioids

Alcohol

Cocaine

THE BRAIN

The brain

The way the brain works is by sending electrical and chemical signals through the spine to the rest of the body

The brain is an organ that is 60% fat, the remaining 40% being water, carbohydrates and salts.

Bibliography

JourneyPure. (n.d.). How does addiction affect the brain? Retrieved November 15, 2024, from https://journeypure.com/ask-our-doctors/uncategorized/how-does-addiction-affect-the-brain/

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (n.d.). Types of drugs. Retrieved November 15, 2024, from https://www.health.gov.au/topics/drugs/about-drugs/types-of-drugs

BBC Ideas. (2020, December 10). How addiction changes your brain – BBC Ideas [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qK0hxuXOC8 .

These have the opposite effect to the depressants as they speed up the messages between the brain and the body,causing your heart to beat faster. This automatically increases the blood pressure, causes agitation and the body temperature increases which can lead to heat exhaustion.

Opioid

Gastrointestinal system issues cause a slowed down GI activity or reduced motility resulting in nauseas, vomiting and bloating. If this goes on it can lead to bowel obstruction and perforation. Brain and central nervous system effects. One of the effects is respiratory depression which can then lead to hypoxia which can cause comas, permanent damage or in extreme cases death. Kidney disease: This is specially the case with individuals who take morphine or heroin, one of the long-term effects is the increased risks of progressive renal failure. .

Change your sense of reality by causing hallucinations. This is because your senses (hear, see, taste, smell, touch) are distorted making you for example see things that aren’t there. Small doses cause a feeling of numbness, confusion and dizziness In bigger doses and if these are taken repeatedly over a long period of time, they can cause memory loss, anxiety, paranoia, aggression. Some examples: cannabis, LSD, ketamine.

CEREBRUM

The Cerebrum is the largest part of the brain as it covers both the cerebral cortex and white matter at the centre. The cerebrum controls the body coordination, regulates temperature, enables speech, judgment, emotions and problem solving. Ad part of the cerebrum we have the cerebral cortex which is the Gray matter that covers the cerebrum. The right part of the cerebral cortex controls the left side of the body and the left side the right side of the body.

Depressants slow down the function of the central nervous system by slowing down the transfer of messages between the brain and the rest of the body, affecting the ability to concentrate as well as slowing down the reactions to the environment. Even though small doses don´t have a negative effect since they only make you feel relaxed. Llarger doses of these drugs can cause nauseas, unconsciousness and even death. Some examples include Valium, ketamine and cannabis

The brain

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Opioid

Gastrointestinal system issues cause a slowed down GI activity or reduced motility resulting in nauseas, vomiting and bloating. If this goes on it can lead to bowel obstruction and perforation. Brain and central nervous system effects: One of the effects is respiratory depression which can then lead to hypoxia. Hypoxia is a condition in which not enough oxygen reaches the brain this can cause comas, permanent damage or in extreme cases death. Kidney disease: This is specially the case with individuals who take morphine or heroin, one of the long-term effects is the increased risks of progressive renal failure.

Cocaine

Brain changes: Impairs in cognitive function resulting in problems with self-control, decision making and motor task performance. Heart and cardiovascular problems: Inflammation of the heart muscle, reduced ability for the heart to contract and increased risk of stroke are just a few of the many long-term effects. Gastrointestinal system issues: Such as the formation of ulcers caused by the reduced blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract. If the cocaine is snorted the individual is likely to develop loss of smell, perforated septum and frequent nose bleeds. Whereas is if the cocaine is smoked the individual could develop asthma, respiratory distress. If the individual where to already have any of these infections, they would get worse. .

BRAINSTEM

• Midbrain complex structure with neuron clusters. Hearing and movement are just two of the many actions controlled by this part of the brain.
• FACT: This part contains an area which is affected with Parkinson’s disease as it is rich in dopamine neurons.

• Pons. – Connection between midbrain and medulla. Regulates heart rhythm, blood flow and oxygen levels.
• Medulla – Where the brain meets the spinal cord. Regulates heart rhythm, breathing as well as reflexive activities like swallowing and coughing this is why the Medulla is essential for survival.

Alcohol

Liver: Alcohol-induced liver disease such as alcoholic hepatitis, liver cancer, cirrhosis all of which can lead to liver failure and death. Pancreatic damage: The inflammation and swelling of pancreatic tissue causing disruptions in the endocrine functions leading to digestive problems. Heart problems: Such as pathological changes in the heart rhythm, peripheral arterial disease which causes deposition in the blood vessels narrowing them reducing the flow blood to the heart

The brain

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• Labore et dolore magna aliqua.