How does substance abuse affect the brain

July 17, 2015

How does substance abuse affect the brain: The most dynamic and complex organ of the body

The question everybody is asking is “How does substance abuse affect the brain?” This organ must be protected by all means from all kinds of addictions.

The brain is the engine that drives the human body. If the brain is healthy, then it will process all the information given to in in a healthy manner, in the same way if it is struggling with an impurity, the processing of information will also deliver impure result. Therefore we need to understand the brain well if we want to get full optimum from it. We must also care for it well and keep it safe from all substances which are likely to bring damage to it and that is why we want to focus our discussion on how does substance abuse affect the brain. This is a very wide topic and for a couple of times we will be running a series of articles touching on the effects of addiction to the brain. Remember that the brain is the most dynamic and complex organ in our bodies. I believe that you are interested in finding out how to care for this most vital organ of your body. Therefore it will do you good to keep on the link to find out more from the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury. According to these experts, the proper functionality of the brain delivers quality assurance of our very survival. Doctor Akoury says that when our brains (the human brain) functions well, we are constantly adopting or adjusting to our environment (our surroundings) changes well. What many may not know is that this smooth adaptation is the work of our brain. And ironically, it is the brain’s ability to be so adaptive that contributes to the formation of all manner of addictions. From the various studies conducted by researchers across the globe, it has been established that addiction has direct effect to the brain and that it causes changes to the brain in at least four fundamental ways:

Addiction causes changes to the brain’s natural balance (homeostasis).
Addiction alters brain chemistry.
Addiction changes the brain’s communication patterns.
Addiction causes changes to brain structures and their functioning.

With the help of the professionals we have on board from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, we are going to discuss each of these fundamental changes that come with the effects of addiction to the brain progressively.

How does substance abuse affect the brain: Addiction changes the brain’s natural balance homeostasis?

One of the fundamentals in our response to the question of discussion “how does substance abuse affect the brain” is that addiction will always change the brain natural balance which is scientifically known as homeostasis. The truth is that addiction interferes with an important biological process called homeostasis. Scientifically the human body is considered as a biological system. All biological systems attempt to maintain a “normal” balance, known as homeostasis. Doctor Akoury says that the brain actually functions as the administrator of this balance by making various adjustments where is necessary to maintain a balanced, well-functioning, biological system. Each person’s “normal” balance is individually determined. Drugs of abuse and activity addictions lead to changes in this normal balance.

Chronic over-stimulation of the brain (like that which occurs in addiction) interferes with the maintenance of this balance (homeostasis). When the brain has difficulty maintaining homeostatic balance, the wonderfully adaptive brain makes adjustments. It does this by creating a new balanced set-point. The creation of a new balance is called allostasis. This may not be very clear to many, but let me make it simpler by using a daily life illustration. Take for instance if you add more weight by 20 units, you will try fitting into your clothing’s despite the discomfort. But with time this will not be bearable and so you will have to adapt to the new body size by buying new clothes that will fit you well. Once this is done you will be more comfortable and at this point you will get used to the fact that your cloths are now large size and not medium or small sizes as it used to be and in the process your homeostasis balance changes from medium to large. And with this adjustment you become comfortable again. Nonetheless the reverse can also take place in the future where the added 20 units may be lost to keep healthy and when that happens you will be compelled to make further readjustment to your clothing size by buying smaller sizes. Therefore even though at this moment you will be healthy due to the loss, you will still need to make an unpleasant and costly adjustment by buying smaller clothes. This is very similar to the unpleasant adjustment the brain must go through when people try to give up their addiction. Although this is a positive change, we will be uncomfortable while the brain makes readjustments to suits the present circumstances.

How does substance abuse affect the brain: The brains ability to cope?

I hope that the concept is coming out clearly from the above illustration. But nonetheless even with the brain’s wonderful ability to make the readjustments, these changes are still causing significant changes to the brain’s functioning. And in fact it is these changes that account for many behaviors associated with addiction such as:

The powerful and lustful need to obtain drugs or continue with the indulgence of harmful activities despite the harm to self or loved ones
The difficulty of quitting an addictive drug or activity, and
The obsessive, all-consuming nature of addictions such that little else in life matters

This is because addiction caused the brain’s balance to change to accommodate the addiction. Once changed, the brain requires the addictive substance or activity in order to maintain this new homeostatic balance. Finally we all have a duty to keep our health above board and the brain is playing a key role in ensuring that this dream is realized. Therefore anything that makes the brain to function improperly must be the biggest enemy to us. I am talking about substance of abuse. Drugs and alcohol are not helping us in anyway. All we get from them is poor health and social discrimination. I want to offer you a solution if you or anyone you know is struggling with any form of addiction. You can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for a one on one sharing of what you are going through and she will in the most professional way offer you lasting solutions to all your concerns.

How does substance abuse affect the brain: The most dynamic and complex organ of the body

RESTORING NEUROTRANSMITTERS KEY IN WAR ON DRUGS

July 17, 2015

Restoring Neurotransmitters Key In War On Drugs

The history of the largely popularized terms; War on Drugs is a long one. It began in the 1960’s when scientists still conducted research on the medical value of substances such as; marijuana, psychedelics, opium, and Coca. At the time many of these substances were not illegal. However these substances became symbols of political rebellion, youthful dissent, and other social political upheavals. Most of them therefore top on the list marijuana were banned henceforth. Various American Presidents have made history in the dance, War on Drugs. The most popular one is President Nixon, who declared a war on Drugs in the year 1971. He dramatically placed marijuana on Schedule One, the most deterring category of the addictive substances. Since then the battle against drug use has undergone through several twists and turns till to-date. However the most important and yet challenging bit of it is rehabilitation of the victims, or better their say recovery.

Restoring Neurotransmitters, New Approach to War on Drugs

It is highly unlikely doing the same thing every day will yield different results. For a long time detoxification has been used to treat addiction. This is the introduction of cleaning agents in a patient’s blood, to wipe off addictive substances. In many occasions however, the victims have fallen right back into addiction and the process started a whole new. Or aren’t there people who have spent so much time in Rehab facilities with no improvement?

Well time is ripe for a different approach to the war on drugs. There are scientific breakthroughs to that effect. One such was the astonishing revelation of neuroplasticity. This is the brain’s ability to recover from loss of memory or to maintaining normal functioning after incidents of accidents or other activities that might lead to an injury or damage of neurons. Adoption of neuroplasticity in rehabilitative treatment has been a great step in the war on drugs. For more information about it click on http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com. However today we shall discuss a different scientific breakthrough more like neuroplasticity, restoring neurotransmitters.

War On Drugs

Supporting Research on Neurotransmitters and War on Addiction

In a common medical study often alluded to, there were animals placed in a cage for some time and their behavior observed. The animals were provided a bowl of water, and another containing alcohol. The animals had a choice between the two. It was observed they chose different bowls depending on their health at each given time. Most of the time they were denied food, nutrients for that matter, they would drink from the alcohol containing bowl. Other times they were provided proper nutrition and they would drink from the water containing bowl. Continued provision of good food saw them drink the water and avoid the alcohol. Soon they never took in alcohol. At another, yet a commonly cited study, addicts underwent traditional rehabilitation methods of detoxification and were keenly observed for a period ten years, after which only about 5% managed to completely, abstain.

Proper Nutrition Key in War on Drugs

These study observations led scientists to a world of possibilities. Proper nutrition greatly assists in restoring neurotransmitters, which in turn helps in recovery. What then are neurotransmitters? They are chemical messengers’ neurons use in communication. They enable the nerve cells send and or receive electro-chemical signals within the brain and with other parts and organ systems of the body. They are therefore very well capable to regulate all functions of the body including: movements, sleep, wake, emotions, hearing, feelings of touch, response, and mental processes; cognitive thought.

The role of neurotransmitters therefore is underscored very important. Deficiencies are not good for our health, certainly not for those in rehabilitation. Addiction is a major neurotransmitter imbalance. It is an advanced symptom of neurotransmitter deficiency. The symptoms include the following: alcoholism, caffeine, sugar, sex, gambling, carbohydrate, nicotine, tobacco and marijuana addictions. Types of neurotransmitters include: serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, acetylcholine, and glutamate. Too little or too much of any or all of these is not good for recovery. Improper diets, environmental toxins, chronic stress, candida overgrowth, and genetic inheritance are top among causes of disparity.

War On Drugs

Neurotransmitter Restoration Prime in War on Drugs

Restoring neurotransmitters therefore is as important a recovery exercise in the war on drugs as are the other therapeutic methods. The following are simple ways of restoring neurotransmitters:

Identify nutritional deficiencies. Neurotransmitters are majorly created through amino acid assimilation. There is need therefore to take in more protein containing foods with less of complex carbohydrates. Caution however has to be taken against foods containing fat and cholesterols as they are health hazards in other ways. Click on awaremednetwork.com for any further information on nutrition.
Learn stress management skills. For the record take a walk in the sun, enjoy a beautiful view of the landscape, the horizon, take in deep breathes, listen to music, and accept the present.
Exercising is another great way of restoring Enough exercise in itself leads to the production of endorphins, which as earlier stated are neurotransmitters. Exercising also aids in proper digestion of foods and creation and assimilations of in this case, amino acids.
Maintain a balanced hormonal level in the body. Neurotransmitters work hand in hand with body hormones, glands and enzyme secretions. You may have to discuss this with your physicians. They might recommend a number of DO’s and DONTs that you will observe in order to restore your transmitters.
And yes, actively start controlling use of addictive substances. Other than the known hard drugs, you should be able to reduce use of sugars, caffeine, and chocolate among others. Also reduce environmental toxins around your home or place of work.

Once again click on http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com for more information on these and the August Integrative Addiction Medicine Conference, by the way, you should sign up for that. You will also get to know a whole list of experts lined up for the event. One of those is Dr. Dalal Akoury of Integrative Addiction Institute and the founder of International Organization of Integrative Cancer Physicians.

RESTORING NEUROTRANSMITTERS KEY IN WAR AGAINST DRUGS

Understanding how addiction is hijacking the brain

July 16, 2015

Understanding how addiction is hijacking the brain: Overcoming addiction and staying drug free

Understanding how addiction is hijacking the brain is very necessary to avoid being in serious health complications

Before any contaminant is associated with the brain, the brain is very free and effective in its functions as one of the most sensitive organs of the body. The functions of the brain are very precise and any infringement to them impacts negatively to the whole body and that is why we must guard it by all means. Take for instance the problem of drug addiction that involves cravings for something intensely, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences. When one is addicted to any substance, this process normally causes serious changes in the brain by subverting the way it registers pleasure and then it graduates by corrupting other normal drives like learning and motivation. This is what we must not allow by all means and that is why we want to engage the experts’ opinion in understanding how addiction is hijacking the brain functions. Doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are going to be very helpful in shading some light about all these concerns. But before we get into that let us first start by introducing what really causes addiction.

Understanding how addiction is hijacking the brain: What causes addiction?

It will interest you to note that this word addiction actually originated from a Latin word meaning enslaved by or bound to. You may not understand what it feels like to be addicted to a substance until you are addicted to it or if you are caring for someone who is struggling with the problem of addiction. Doctor Akoury says that addiction impacts powerfully and influences the brain functions in three distinctive ways that is to say; by craving for the object of addiction, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite dangerous and harmful consequences.

For a very long time now, experts believed that only alcohol and powerful drugs could cause addiction. Nonetheless new neuroimaging technologies and more recent research have shown that certain pleasurable activities besides the known drugs both hard and soft, such as gambling, shopping, and sex, can also co-opt the brain. So whenever you are talking about addiction, you must not narrow your augment on drugs alone. From our previous article we mention something about a standard U.S. diagnostic manual (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition or DSM-IV) that describes multiple addictions with each tied to a specific substance or activity, experts across the globe are building consensus that these may represent multiple expressions of a common underlying brain process. To that effect it would be very important that we all seek for medical attention immediately we suspect something in our health. You can actually schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury today for a more in-depth analysis of your situation with a view of finding lasting solutions that will leave health and comfortable.

Understanding how addiction is hijacking the brain: The Future of Integrative Addiction

The effects of addiction to the brain is very sensitive and unless we pool together to find lasting solutions, we may be time bad. This rush against time is what doctor Dalal Akoury is trying to deal with from all avenues. Like we had indicated above that doctor Akoury founded a health facility to primarily help the direct victims of drug addiction. This facility is doing a phenomenon job to the community and even to the professionals caring for the addicts. Like for instance AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, which is one of the leading pioneers in natural and holistic addiction treatment, will be conducting the first ever Educational, Functional and Integrative Addiction conference for doctors, counselors, nurses and addiction therapists. The conference is actually scheduled for August 23-25 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This new frontier in Addiction Medicine will be conducted by the most influential group of leading visionaries specializing in the latest advances in natural and integrative addiction medicine, under the theme “The Future of Integrative Addiction”.

It is important to appreciate that this Integrative Addiction Conference 2015 mission is to provide prevention education, awareness, options and support to patients and physicians dealing with addiction. It is also tailored at empowering physicians to be involved in determining their personal “best answer for addiction” and promoting physician/patient awareness of a natural, yet profoundly effective, addiction treatment options that result in you “thriving while surviving” during treatment and recovery. Integrative Addiction Conference 2015 will cover topics such as addiction as a holistic body ecosystem derangement, the interaction between stress, survivorship, pain and addiction, the role of hormonal imbalance in the disease of addiction, the genetic and epigenetic influences on the disease of addiction, psycho neuroendocrine immune restoration essential to reverse addiction as well as new and future therapies in the horizon for addiction treatment including stem therapy for psycho neuroendocrine immune restoration. This is one educative occasion you cannot afford to miss and for more information about the conference you can login to www.integrativeaddiction2015.com or email sharon@integrativeaddiction2015.com. You can also call the event organizer directly Sharon Phillips on telephone number 954 540 1896 and you will be attended to with dignity.

In the meantime let me take this earliest opportunity to officially invite you to this conference as the lead speaker of the three day conference. And just to pre-empt of what to expect as the keynote speaker, Dalal Akoury, MD will be discussing The Hijacked Mind: How does it get there and how does is leave? Sean Devlin, DO, HMD, will be focusing on “How to Recognize Addiction: Emergency care room and Addiction. Preliminary diagnostics and coping with life-saving measures when patients have overdose on substances of abuse/alcohol and drugs. I can tell you for sure that this will be the turning point for all of us in the addiction industry so that we can even deliver better to our client. We must defeat this common enemy called addiction. So let me see you at the conference.

Understanding how addiction is hijacking the brain: Overcoming addiction and staying drug free

Neuroplasticity In The Mesolimbic Dopamine System And Cocaine Addiction

July 16, 2015

Neuroplasticity In The Mesolimbic Dopamine System And Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is the most addictive of all forms substance abuse. It is characterized by a high compulsion and relapse. Despite several years of clinical research, scientists are yet to find an effective medication. However some studies indicate the activity of neurons in the mesolimbic dopamine system, which comprises cells in the Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) that develop into the medial and detour prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and accumbent, motivates cocaine reward thereby contributing to high compulsion.

Based on these research activities often called neuropharmacological studies, the addiction of cocaine is caused by neuroadaptations induced by the drug. This is so reportedly because of the learning, reward-related and memory processes of the mesolimbic dopamine systems’ circuitry where dopamine projections are developed.

Neuroadaptation Cause of Cocaine Compulsion

Neuroadaptations are understood to cause very high sensitivity to cocaine. They are also believed to cause hypersensitivity to cocaine-associated electrochemical signals such as irrational decision making and irregular cultured behaviors characterized by high insensitivity to dire consequences of addiction. A major characteristics of cocaine addiction is its’s compulsive drug use despite adverse consequences and high rates of relapse during periods of abstinence. A current popular hypothesis is that compulsive cocaine use and cocaine relapse is due to drug-induced neuroadaptations in reward-related learning and memory processes, which cause hypersensitivity to cocaine-associated cues, impulsive decision making and abnormal habit-like learned behaviours that are insensitive to adverse consequences. Here, we review results from studies on the effect of cocaine exposure on selected signalling cascades, growth factors and physiological processes previously implicated in neuroplasticity underlying normal learning and memory. These include the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling pathway, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glutamate transmission, and synaptic plasticity (primarily in the form of long-term potentiation and depression, LTP and LTD). We also discuss the degree to which these cocaine-induced neuroplasticity changes in the mesolimbic dopamine system mediate cocaine psychomotor sensitization and cocaine-seeking behaviours, as assessed in animal models of drug addiction. Finally, we speculate on how these factors may interact to initiate and sustain cocaine psychomotor sensitization and cocaine seeking.

mesolimbic dopamine system

The premise that cocaine has a neuroadaptation effect to the chemical composition of certain parts of the brain has motivated various studies on the part of cellular actions and signaling forces that altogether causes neuro-synaptic plasticity. Effects of long-term exposure to cocaine on signaling forces, growth elements, psychosocial and physiological processes of reward transmission initially linked to neuroplasticity as a cause of mental recovery are a substantial number. They include extracellular-controlled kinase, distortion of normal neuron pathways and other neurotrophic factors, neuro-synaptic plasticity, and glutamate factors.

Neuroplasticity in Mesolimbic Dopamine System

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adjust to new environments or needs by developing new nerve cells throughout the body. It is the brain’s way of recovery. Neuroplasticity allows the cells to compensate for any injuries or diseases in the nerve system. It also allows the neurons reorganize themselves to perform new functions of the brain depending on changes in their working environment, also involves recovery from drug addiction such as that of cocaine.

Cocaine-induced neurochemical changes in glutamate transmissions and synaptic plasticity in the mesolimbic dopamine system facilitates cocaine psychomotor high sensitivity, compulsion, self-injection, and reinstatement, being interesting aspects of study in shedding light into cocaine addiction menace has been reviewed time and again.

Experimental Evidence of Neuroplasticity on Long-Term Exposure to Cocaine

A key consideration in the above reviews has been what experimental evidence are needed to derive a conclusion of the particular effects of long-term exposure to cocaine on neuroplasticity and how those effects facilitate the learned behavioral symptoms associated with that.

Given this objective, researchers made a strict condition that if so cocaine-induced neuroplasticity causes certain attributer learned behavior then a reversal of the physiological processes that led to that state should, therefore, guarantee a reduced exhibition of such behavior.

After further intense studies on the same, the condition is continuously being met. This has led to yet another attempt to evaluate the role of cocaine-induced neurochemical alterations in glutamate transmissions, synaptic plasticity in VTA, accumbens and amyglada in as earlier mentioned psychomotor hypersensitivity and compulsive behavioral characteristic of the drug.

Many of those studies found out repeated cocaine administration amplified the rate of activity of ERK in the development areas of the mesolimbic dopamine system, which includes the accumbens, amygdala and the prefrontal cortex of the brain.

ERK Phosphorylation in Mesolimbic Dopamine System

Triggers of increased ERK phosphorylation includes D1 dopamine receptors, (PKA) the dependent protein kinase and methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA). On the other hand it was observed triggers of reduced ERK phosphorylation include CREB the transcription factor, mitogen-and stress-activated protein kinase-1 (MSK-1), and immediate early genes Fos and Zif268.

Extracellular signal-controlled kinase activity and the subsequent ERK-mediated reduced gene transcription are crucial for increased cocaine-induced psych as a result of exposure to the drug. On the other hand increased cocaine-induced ERK activity in the mesolimbic dopamine system does not facilitate the development of psych after a considerable time of withdrawal. Injection of either SL327 or VTA therefore before cocaine administration lessens sensitized the drug-induced movement during experimental tests for expression of psychomotor sensitization if done some time after withdrawal.

mesolimbic dopamine system

Cocaine Psychomotor Sensitization

More recent reports indicated psychomotor cocaine sensitization after several weeks of withdrawal from the drug increased ERK2 activity. This was linked to increased acumen α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), and the receptor’s (AMPAR’s) surface appearance. However, no increases in ERK2 activity nor AMPAR surface expressions were observed in the specimens that did not exhibit psychomotor cocaine sensitization even after repeated non-dependent cocaine exposure and after some time of withdrawal.

Acumen’s ERK rate of activity possibly serves two specific roles in facilitating rewarding effects of the psychostimulant in a CPP procedure. During CPP training, the accumben’s rate of activity mediates consolidation of the learned behavior between the drug’s unconditioned rewarding effects and the drug’s related context during the CPP testing, ERK movement mediates serious expression of cocaine’s other habituated responses.

Systemic SL327 inoculations before cocaine CPP training prevented cocaine-induced accumbens, ERK phosphorylation and the subsequent expression of cocaine CPP. PD98059 accumben injections are given either before or after CPP training sessions blocked subsequent amphetamine CPP expression.

The relevance of the above fascinating correlational findings of cocaine’s compulsive characteristic, its’ psychomotor sensitization, and the ERK phosphorylation in the mesolimbic dopamine system is, however, a subject for further scientific, clinical research. Please sign up for this year’s August Integrative Addiction Medicine Conference to learn more about the same. Click the following link to get your chance to participate in the event: http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com.

Neuroplasticity In The Mesolimbic Dopamine System And Cocaine Addiction

Descriptions of specific abused substances medical consequences

July 10, 2015

Descriptions of specific abused substances medical consequences: Each drug has a unique way of attack to health

When drugs looks like wheat flour or sugar like this, then the Descriptions of specific abused substances medical consequences becomes necessary.

Somebody once made a joke that the varieties of drugs in the market are so easy to access and he wished that those drugs were job opportunities he would have made a lot of money out of the many accessible job opportunities. He made this joke because in his search for employment, he was more than three times mistaken to be looking for drugs to buy. The drug barons were ready to sell for him only to be disappointed at their ghost client. Listening to this man you wonder how drugs are easily accessible for those who use them and because of that, the social fabric of the society is decaying at an alarming rate. Owing to that introduction, we want to explore further on the descriptions of specific abused substances medical consequence. Some of the most commonly abused substances may include nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, prescription medications, inhalants; cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA (Ecstasy or “Molly”), LSD, heroin, steroids and drug combinations are some of the specific substances that we want to interrogate how they impact on individuals’ health.
The descriptions of specific abused substances medical consequences are not explanations that you can do in your layman understanding. It is complex and technical hence the need of having professional brains to bring out the clear information. That is why we spoke to doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center to give the insight about the specific abused substances medical consequences. It will interest you to note that doctor Akoury passionately made a decision to create this medical center primarily to transform each individual’s life through increasing awareness about health and wellness and by empowering individuals to find their own inner healing power. Dr. Akoury’s practice focuses on personalized medicine through healthy lifestyle choices that deal with primary prevention and underlying causes instead of patching up symptoms. You can now reach out for her assistance for any drug addiction related concerns today.

Descriptions of specific abused substances medical consequences: What are some effects of specific abused substances?

Nicotine – this is an addictive stimulant found in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. Tobacco smoke increases a user’s risk of cancer, emphysema, bronchial disorders, and cardiovascular disease. The mortality rate associated with tobacco addiction is staggering. The available statistics indicate that tobacco use alone killed approximately 100 million people during the 20th century, this is worrying and if the current smoking trends continue, the cumulative death toll for this century has been projected to reach 1 billion faced out of the surface of the earth.

Alcohol – the consumption of alcohol can damage the brain and most body organs. Areas of the brain that are especially vulnerable to alcohol-related damage are the cerebral cortex which is largely responsible for our higher brain functions, including problem solving and decision making, the hippocampus which targets memory and learning and the cerebellum entrusted with the coordination of movement.

Marijuana – this is one of the most commonly abused illegal substances. This drug impairs short-term memory and learning, the ability to focus attention, and coordination. It also increases heart rate, can harm the lungs, and can increase the risk of psychosis in those with an underlying vulnerability.

Prescription medications – there are very many prescription medications including opioid pain relievers such as OxyContin^® and Vicodin^®, anti-anxiety sedatives such as Valium^® and Xanax^®, and ADHD stimulants such as Adderall^® and Ritalin^®, are commonly misused to self-treat for medical problems or abused for purposes of getting high or (especially with stimulants) improving performance. However, misuse or abuse of these drugs that is to say, taking them other than exactly as instructed by a doctor and for the purposes prescribed can lead to addiction and in some cases death. Opioid pain relievers, for instance, are frequently abused by being crushed and injected or snorted, greatly raising the risk of addiction and overdose. Unfortunately, there is a common misperception that because medications are prescribed by physicians, they are safe even when used illegally or by another person than they were prescribed for.

Inhalants – ideally inhalant are volatile substances found in many household products, such as oven cleaners, gasoline, spray paints, and other aerosols that induce mind-altering effects; they are frequently the first drugs tried by children or young teens. Inhalants are extremely toxic and can damage the heart, kidneys, lungs, and brain. Even a healthy person can suffer heart failure and death within minutes of a single session of prolonged sniffing of an inhalant.

Cocaine – this is a short-acting stimulant, which can lead users to take the drug many times in a single session often known as a binge. Cocaine use can lead to severe medical consequences related to the heart and the respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems.

Amphetamines – this drug including methamphetamine, are powerful stimulants that can produce feelings of euphoria and alertness. Methamphetamine’s effects are particularly long-lasting and harmful to the brain. Amphetamines can cause high body temperature and can lead to serious heart problems and seizures.

MDMA (Ecstasy or “Molly”) – this drug produces both stimulant and mind-altering effects. It can increase body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and heart-wall stress. MDMA may also be toxic to nerve cells.

LSD – this is one of the most potent hallucinogenic, or perception-altering, drugs. Its effects are unpredictable, and abusers may see vivid colors and images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. Users also may have traumatic experiences and emotions that can last for many hours

Heroin – there is no doubt that heroin is a powerful opioid drug that produces euphoria and feelings of relaxation. It slows respiration, and its use is linked to an increased risk of serious infectious diseases, especially when taken intravenously. People who become addicted to opioid pain relievers sometimes switch to heroin instead, because it produces similar effects and may be cheaper or easier to obtain.

Steroids – these drugs can also be prescribed for certain medical conditions, they are normally abused to increase muscle mass and to improve athletic performance or physical appearance. Serious consequences of abuse can include severe acne, heart disease, liver problems, stroke, infectious diseases, depression, and suicide.

Descriptions of specific abused substances medical consequences: Drug combinations

A particularly dangerous and common practice is the combining of two or more drugs. The practice ranges from the co-administration of legal drugs, like alcohol and nicotine, to the dangerous mixing of prescription drugs, to the deadly combination of heroin or cocaine with fentanyl (an opioid pain medication). Whatever the context, it is critical to realize that because of drug–drug interactions, such practices often pose significantly higher risks than the already harmful individual drugs. Finally now that you are aware of the specific abused substances and how they are affecting your health, if this article is addressing any of your conditions, then you may want to schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury for a one on one professional discussion.

Tag Archives: Brain