Drugs and The Brain

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• Different categories of drugs (stimulants,
  depressants, hallucinogens, opioids, cannabis,
  etc.) have different specific effects.
• Regardless of the mechanism, they all disrupt
  normal functioning of the brain and central
  nervous system, posing risks to physical and
  mental health.
• Research strongly supports the idea that drug or
  alcohol addiction is technically a chronic brain
  disease.¹

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• When the chemicals in drugs interrupt normal
  brain chemistry, the brain begins to rely on the
  drug to functionthis is why its so difficult to
  quit without help from a drug rehabilitation
  center.
• Many drugs affect the brains reward center and
  production of dopamine (the feel good
  neurotransmitter), leading to a strong,
  self-perpetuating addiction.
• A few drugs create a psychological addiction
  rather than a direct physical one individuals
  believe that they need it to feel good, perform
  well or cope with problems.

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• The pleasurable high (felt in different ways
  and at different intensities)
• Changes to energy and alertness (raised or
  lowered)
• Sensory changes (heightened, suppressed or
  altered)

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• Changes to mood (happy, sad, euphoric, depressed)
• Changes in aggression and risk-taking (may become
  violent or impulsive)
• Impaired motor skill/coordination (slurred
  speech, stumbling, awkward movements)

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• Poor memory (both recall and formation of new
  memories)
• Impaired judgment and difficulty making decisions
• In some cases, significant brain damage,
  including loss of actual tissue (holes in the
  brain)

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• Learning difficulties
• Poor impulse control, which may lead to taking
  dangerous risks
• New or worsening mental illness symptoms
  (depression, anxiety, psychosis)

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• Addiction and mental illness often occur
  together the National Institute on Drug Abuse
  estimates that roughly 1 in 4 individuals with a
  serious mental illness also have a substance use
  disorder.²
• Commonly co-occurring mental illnesses include
  (but are not limited to) depression, bipolar
  disorder, anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD.
• When treating these issues simultaneously,
  addressing underlying mental health is crucial to
  minimizing relapse risk.

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• Adelante Recovery Center is a trusted provider of
  addiction treatment services in Southern
  California. Weve helped thousands of clients
  recover from substance use disorders with drug
  detoxification, customized inpatient residential
  programs, and compassionate care.
• To learn more about what we do, visit
  www.adelanterecovery.com

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• https//www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424849/
• https//www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-re
  ports/common-comorbidities-substance-use-disorders
  /part-1-connection-between-substance-use-disorders
  -mental-illness