Social Diary has collaborated with a medical expert to allow our readers to connect and have their concerns answered over their wellness-mental and physical. This week:
Faizan Suleiman Asks:
What are the effects of drug abuse on our brain ?
The brain is a body organ and has its miraculous functioning to plan, execute and monitor every action of our body ranging from generating a thought to abstract reasoning and complex motor coordination. The efficient mechanism of the nerve cells rushed with numerous neurotransmitters specialized in communication between neurons and keeping a system running and sustaining itself. A drug is a substance that interferes with the natural functioning of neurons and aims at altering the functional capacity by enhancing or suppressing neuronal activity by artificial stimulation. If prescribed by a clinician, there is an estimated amount and quantity pertaining to the condition of a patient who seeks advice, however, there are some other self-prescribed types of drugs which are used repeatedly to induce temporary states of euphoria, tranquility, hyper-alertness or extreme calmness. The reasons for indulging in such habits may have various reasons including the intention of enhancing mental activity, acquiring mental peace, avoidance of pain or stress (referring to unhealthy coping mechanisms), or merely a social imitation or some peer pressure.
The repeated stimulation results in altering the brain functioning on a permanent basis, since the brain’s natural ability to carry out normal functioning is hampered. People are trapped in a vicious cycle of the body’s craving for stimulation and dependence on the drug for normal activities and this stage is called drug dependency / addiction. That is why it becomes difficult to get rid of drugs after you are dependent on them. There are three primary areas that are affected by substance use and abuse which are related to the formation of habits and routines (the Basal Ganglia), an emotional center that enables emotional regulation (the Amygdala), and the one involved in higher cognitive functions like decision-making and impulse control (the Frontal Lobe). Apart from what these brain regions primarily are involved in, they have a long-term negative effect on the brain, leading to impairments in memory, judgement, learning, and other cognitive functions. That is why, after a certain level of abuse, one needs medical and psychological support to reset their system, and a complete rehabilitation plan is required for this purpose.
Getting sober is considerably harder than is thought to, because of the brain alterations brought on by prolonged substance use, however the same may be possible on gaining insight during early days of usage. The drug addiction causes the brain, an important body organ, to stop functioning efficiently, and can prove to be fatal if left untreated.
Addiction frequently co-occurs with mental health conditions such bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. 25% of those who have a major mental illness also have a substance use disorder, according to estimates. Drug use in adolescence can raise a person’s chance of developing later-life drug use problems as well as mental health issues (anxiety, depression, stress-related disorders, and even psychosis). If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, please reach out to a mental health professional nearest to you for help.
