Brain 101
The brain is an electrical and chemical machine,
weighing 3 pounds but containing about 100 billion cells, most called neurons. A neuron is
basically an on/off switch just like the one we use to control the lights in our home. It is
either in a resting state (off) or it is shooting an electrical impulse down a wire (on).
It has a cell body, a long little wire (called an axon), and at one end produces a
chemical called a "neuro- transmitter" and at the other end a receptor that
accepts this chemical from another neuron. These neurotransmitters communicate information
from nerve cell to nerve cell in the body and the brain. Messages are constantly being
sent back and forth with amazing speed. This chemical goes across a gap (synapse) between
neurons to trigger another neuron to either send another message or perform a function
within the nerve cell.(These neurotransmitters are given names like epinephrine,
norepinephrine, serotonin or dopamine.)
Click on the abused substance to learn how it affects your brain:
Marijuana
Cocaine
Amphetamines
Benzodiazepine, barbiturates, methaqualone
Inhalants
Opiates
Alcohol
Hallucinogens
| Street Names |
Christmas tree. Colombian, doobee, gold,
good shit, herb, joint, Maui wowee, pot, dope, grassred-haired lady, sen (sinsemilla -
potent variety), sezz (sinsemilla), stick, stone, tea |
| Active Ingredient |
Tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC) |
| Effect on the Brain |
THC travels through the blood stream and
quickly attaches itself to the nerve cell’s receptors. Some areas of the brain have a
lot of THC receptors, while others have very few. One area of the brain with a lot of THC
receptors is the hippocampus which processes memory. Alters sense of time and
reduction in the ability to do things that require concentration, swift
reactions, and coordination. THC also influences a region of the brain called
the limbic system, which controls emotions. Also affects receptors responsible for
sensory perception (hearing, taste and smell) Other side effects
include rapid heartbeat, dilated blood vessels (especially in the white part of the eyes),
a feeling of panic. Increased number of respiratory infections |
| What to look for..... |
Red eyes, dry mouth, reduced concentration and
coordination, euphoria, rolling papers, pipes, dried plant material, odor of burnt hemp |
| Length of Stay in the Body System |
1-7 days (occasional use)
1-4 weeks (chronic use)
Passive inhalation of marijuana smoke (secondhand
smoke) is frequently claimed as a reason for a positive urine test. Yes, passive
inhalation of marijuana smoke can be detected but studies show it is highly unlikely that
a nonsmoking individual could unknowingly inhale sufficient smoke by passive inhalation to
result in a high enough drug concentration in urine for detection at the cutoff of
currently used urinalysis methods. |
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| Street Names |
blow, dust, eight ball, girl, lady,
nose powder, pimp, sniff, snort, snow, toot "crack", coke, base |
| Active Ingredient |
|
| Effect on the Brain |
Cocaine prevents the reabsorption of
the neurotransmitter dopamine. This causes a buildup of dopamine which results in strong
feelings of pleasure and even euphoria (more talkative, anxious, and experience feelings
of exhilaration). When cocaine is no longer taken dopamine levels return to their normal
concentration but less receptors are available resulting in a drug "craving"
which is a way of telling the addict to take more cocaine to get the levels of dopamine
back up. Cocaine also affects the area of the brain involved in aspects of memory and
learning. Other side effects include rapid heart rate and narrowing of blood vessels
(especially in the heart, causing heart failure)), elevated blood pressure |
| What to look for..... |
Brief periods of euphoria,
restlessness, excitment, feeling of well-being followed by depression, glass vials, glass
pipes, white crystalline powder, razorblades, syringes, needle marks |
| Length of Stay in the Body System |
48-72 hours |
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| Street Names |
Black beauty, candy, double cross,
jelly bean, speed, upper, white cross, Bam,
speed, dexoes, crystal |
| Active Ingredient |
methamphetamine |
| Effect on the Brain |
Amphetamines cause
neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine to be released into the synapse between
nerve cells causing feelings of pleasure and euphoria, brain swelling, brain hemorrhage,
paranoia, hallucinations, and changes in the dopamine-producing neurons that may lead to
Parkinson’s disease. Other effects include: high blood pressure, irregular heart
rate, chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. . |
| What to look for..... |
Alertness, talkativeness, wakefulness,
loss of appetite, mood elevation, pills and capsules, loss of sleep , irritability or
anxiety, weight loss, hyperactivity |
| Length of Stay in the Body System |
24-48 hours |
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| BENZODIAZEPINE, BARBITURATES, METHAQUALONE |
| Street Names |
downer,
lib (Librium), mother's little helper, tranq, V (Valium), Yellows, Barbs, Reds, Tooies,
Red Birds, Phennies, Yellow Jackets, Quay, Quad, Lude, Mandrex |
| Active Ingredient |
depends on the depressant |
| Effect on the Brain |
The effects of
depressants are in many ways similar to the effects of alcohol. Small amounts can produce
calmness and relaxed muscles, but larger doses can cause slurred speech, staggering gait,
and altered perception. Very large doses can cause respiratory depression, coma, and
death. The combination of depressants and alcohol can multiply the effects of the drugs,
increasing the risks. People who suddenly stop taking large doses can experience
withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, tremors, delirium, convulsions, and
possible death. |
| What to look for..... |
intoxication, drowsiness,
uncoordinated movements, capsules and pills, confused behavior, longer periods of sleep,
slurred speech |
| Length of Stay in the Body System |
Benzodiazepines such as Librium, valium and traxzene (1-14 days)
Barbiturates such as seconol (1-3 days) and phenobarbitl (1-3 wks)
Methaqualone (1-3 days) |
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| Street Names |
huff, poor
man's pot, sniff, \whiteout Laughing gas, Whippets, Rush
Bolt, Locker Room, Sniffing, Glue Sniffing, Huffing |
| Active Ingredient |
Volatile Solvents, Nitrous Oxide,
Amyl Nitrite, Butyl Nitrite |
| Effect on the Brain |
Inhalant vapors contain chemicals
that breakdown the brain’s myelin, the protective cover that surrounds many of the
nerve cells (like rubber insulation protects electrical wires). And if myelin breaks down,
nerve cells may not be able to transmit messages.
This might happen in the frontal
cortex, the part of the brain that solves complex problems and plans ahead. Or if
inhalants get into the brain's cerebellum, which controls movement and coordination, they
can make someone move clumsily. When it affects the hippocampus, memory is lost and the
user loses the ability to learn new things, may not recognize familiar things, or may have
a hard time keeping track of simple conversations.
Probably the most serious affect of
inhalants is that they make the heart extra sensitive to a chemical (noradrenalin) that
carry messages from the nervous system to the heart. If the heart becomes too sensitive to
noradrenalin, a normal jolt may cause the heart to temporarily lose its rhythm and stop
pumping blood through the body causing sudden death. |
| What to look for...... |
headache,
nausea, dizziness, lack of coordination and control, odor of substance on clothing and
breath, intoxication, poor muscular control and drowsiness |
| Length of Stay in the Body System |
|
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| Street
Names |
heroin (smack, dope, black tar, China
whitehorse, junk, H. stuff)
morphine (M , monkey, white stuff, Miss Emma)
codeine (school boy)
demoral, dilaudid (D's) |
| Active
Ingredient |
depends on the abused substance |
| Effect on the
Brain |
Within the limbic system, brainstem and spinal
cord, there are places on certain nerve cells that recognize opiates. When stimulated by
opiates, these sites -- called opiate receptors -- trigger responses in the brain and
body. The limbic system controls emotions. Opiates change the limbic system to
produce increased feelings of pleasure, relaxation and contentment. The brainstem controls
things your body does automatically, like breathing or coughing. Opiates can act on the
brainstem to stop coughing or slow breathing. The spinal cord transmits pain signals from
the body. By acting here, opiates block pain messages and allow people to bear even
serious injuries. Initially there is a feeling of euphoria followed by drowsiness, nausea,
and vomiting. Users experience constricted pupils, watery eyes, and itching. Overdose
produces slow and shallow breathing, clammy skin, convulsions, coma, and death. Dependence
is likely. The use of contaminated syringes may lead to AIDS, endocarditis, and hepatitis.
|
| What to look
for....... |
Euphoria, drowsiness, insensitivity to pain,
nausea, vomiting, watery eyes, runny nose, needle marks on arms, needles, syringes,
spoons, pinpoint pupils, cold moist skin |
| Length
of Stay in the Body System |
24-48 hours |
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| Street
Names |
beer, wine, liquor |
| Active
Ingredient |
ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
remove the water from ethyl alcohol and you get ether. |
| Effect on the
Brain |
Alcohol is a central nervous system
depressant, slowing down the body’s functions similar to those of a general
anesthetic.. Remove the water from ethyl alcohol and you get ether. When alcohol reaches
the brain, it affects millions of nerve cells and changes communication patterns. Alcohol
affects vision, distorts hearing, muddles speech, impairs judgment, dulls senses, disturbs
motor skills, and reduces coordination. Deep inside the brain alcohol affects areas that
control aggression, hunger, thirst, pleasure, pain and body temperature. This occurs
because alcohol inhibits blood from transporting oxygen to blood cells. When brain cells
are deprived of oxygen, they become impaired or die. Because the brain matures more slowly
than other organs of the body, young adults may be even more susceptible to certain
permanent, irreversible effects of alcohol. The hypothalamus portion of the brain
controls automatic reflexes: breathing, heartbeat and other bodily operations over which
an individual has no conscious control. When alcohol is present in the blood stream it
directly effects the hypothalamus, possibly damaging it particularly during adolescent
years. Alcohol has a profound effect on the frontal lobe- the part of the brain that
allows us to analyze and program our behavior. The depressant nature of alcohol directly
lowers the energy center in the brain . |
| What to look
for..... |
Intoxication, slurred speech, unsteady walk,
relaxation, relaxed inhibitions, impaired coordination slowed reflexes, smell of alcohol
on clothes and breath, hangover, glazed eyes |
| Length
of Stay in the Body System |
depends on the amount ingested |
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| Street
Names |
LSD (acid)
MDMA (ecstasy)
PCP (phencyclidine), often called angel dust. |
| Active
Ingredient |
|
| Effect on the
Brain |
MDMA (Ecstasy) cause neurons to release a
neurotransmitter called serotonin. Serotonin is important to many types of nerve cells,
including cells that receive sensory information and cells that control sleeping and
emotions. The released serotonin can over activate serotonin receptors. In animals, MDMA
and MDA have been shown to damage and destroy nerve fibers of neurons that contain
serotonin. This can be a big problem, because serotonin neurons have a role in so many
things, such as mood, sleep, and control of heart rate. Damaged serotonin neurons can
regrow their fibers, but the fibers don't grow back normally. The fibers may regrow into
brain areas where they don't normally grow, but not into other brain areas where they
should be located. The new growth patterns may cause changes in mood, learning, or memory. PCP
prevents the actions normally caused when a neurotransmitter, called glutamate, attaches
to its receptor in the brain. It also disrupts the actions of other neurotransmitters.
This drug's effects are very unpredictable. For example, it may make some people
hallucinate and become aggressive, while others may become drowsy and passive. It is also
addictive.
LSD causes its effects mainly by activating one type of receptor for serotonin. Because
serotonin has a role in many important functions, LSD use can have many effects. These may
include sleeplessness, trembling, and raised heart rate, and blood pressure. LSD users may
feel several emotions at once (including extreme terror), and their senses may seem to get
crossed -- giving the feeling of hearing colors and seeing sounds. Even a tiny speck of
LSD can trigger these effects. And LSD has an unusual "echo." Many users have
flashbacks -- sudden repetitions of their LSD experiences -- days or months after they
stop using the drug. |
| What to look
for...... |
Altered mood and perceptions, focus on detail,
anxiety, panic, nausea, capsules, tablets, blotter squares |
| Length
of Stay in the Body System |
PCP Occasional use: 1-8 days; Chronic use: up
to 30 days
LSD 24-48 hrs
Ecstasy 24-72 hrs |
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For more information, check out these Web sites:
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens
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