The Effects of Drug Addiction on the Brain

The Effects of Drug Addiction on the Brain

DB 2.1: Impact of Drugs on Brain Cravings

In the context of the relation between the drug and the brain and the consequent changes that drug use brings on the craving, it is possible to identify important information regarding the nature of addiction. Medline Plus (2019) notes that drugs change the brain’s normal functioning by increasing or copying the effects of neurotransmitters, hence impacting the integrity of the neural pathways related to reward, motivation, and memory. This alteration not only causes a powerful feeling of happiness but also provides the brain with a strong memory of the habit, thus making the brain link certain environs or feelings to using the drug.

Furthermore, Mayo Clinic (2022) defines addiction as a primary disease of the brain that causes changes in the physical structure of the brain. These structural and functional alterations lead to compulsive behaviors that are characteristic of addiction, proving the extent to which drugs alter the brain. It is against this backdrop that the model makes it easier to understand addiction treatment not as a mere behavioral problem or moral decadence but as a neurological problem.

References

Mayo Clinic. (2022, October 4). Drug addiction (substance use disorder) – symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-20365112

Medline Plus. (2019). Drug use and addiction. Medlineplus.gov; National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/druguseandaddiction.html

DB 2.2: Learnings from Sara’s Quest

“Wet brain” or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a severe manifestation of thiamine deficiency, typically associated with prolonged alcohol misuse. This condition mainly impacts the limbs, basal ganglia, thalamus, and hypothalamus, causing severe neuropathological and neuropsychological deficits (Akhouri et al., 2023). These changes are illustrated in ways that impact memory, confusion, and coordination (Wijnia, 2022). Memory loss is severely affected by the syndrome: new memories cannot be generated, existing memories cannot be retrieved, daily living must be adjusted, and permanent care plans must be developed. However, using methamphetamine results in distinct forms of brain damage.

According to the SciShow video, meth use leads to changes in brain structure, particularly in areas responsible for memory and emotion, due to neurotoxicity to dopamine and serotonin neurons (SciShow, 2012). Unlike wet brain, some methamphetamine-induced changes can be partially reversible with prolonged abstinence and treatment. The potential for recovery highlights the importance of early intervention and sustained rehabilitation efforts to mitigate the lasting effects of methamphetamine on the brain.

References

Akhouri, S., Kuhn, J., & Newton, E. J. (2023, June 26). Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430729/

SciShow. (2012, November 19). Why our brains want to be addicted | The Chemistry of Addiction [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukFjH9odsXw

Wijnia, J. W. (2022). A clinician’s view of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(22), 6755. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11226755

DB 2.3: Effects of “Wet Brain”

“Wet brain” or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a severe manifestation of thiamine deficiency, typically associated with prolonged alcohol misuse. This condition primarily affects the brain regions like the thalamus and hypothalamus, leading to significant neurological and cognitive impairments (Akhouri et al., 2023). The Wet Brain video highlights these changes, showing how they manifest in memory loss, confusion, and coordination issues (MethInsideOut, 2009).

Comparatively, methamphetamine use causes different forms of brain damage. According to the “Brain Damage from Methamphetamine” video, meth use leads to changes in brain structure, particularly in areas responsible for memory and emotion, due to neurotoxicity to dopamine and serotonin neurons (MethInsideOut, 2009). Unlike wet brain, some methamphetamine-induced changes can be partially reversible with prolonged abstinence and treatment.

References

Akhouri, S., Kuhn, J., & Newton, E. J. (2023, June 26). Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430729/

MethInsideOut. (2009, May 29). Meth inside out: Brain & behavior – pleasure [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGEJ_GQVOqg

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DB 2.1
After viewing the course materials for this unit, what have you learned about the way drugs affect the brain in regard to cravings or a person’s desire to use?
NOTE: You must make at least 1 substantial posting answering the topic above in addition to 2 substantial replies. In order to qualify for a grade over a 85 for this discussion topic, you should have at least 1 contribution by Wed. at midnight for this specific topic. You must participate in this discussion board forum (making postings/replies on all of the discussion boards for this unit) at least 3 days per unit. You also must use APA style in your postings and replies so please use in-text references and provide a reference to give proper credit to the authors.

The Effects of Drug Addiction on the Brain

DB 2.2
How did you do in regard to answering the questions on Sara’s Quest? Please share several facts you learned about drugs and the brain that you didn’t know before with the class.
NOTE: You must make at least 1 substantial posting answering the topic above in addition to 2 substantial replies. In order to qualify for a grade over a 85 for this discussion topic, you should have at least 1 contribution by Wed. at midnight for this specific topic. You must participate in this discussion board forum (making postings/replies on all of the discussion boards for this unit) at least 3 days per unit. You also must use APA style in your postings and replies so please use in-text references and provide a reference to give proper credit to the authors.
DB 2.3
After viewing the Wet Brain video and website material, what parts of the brain are being effected in this process? Do you have general reactions to unfortunate disorder?
Additionally, how does the damage from methamphetamine “compare and contrast” to “wet brain?”
NOTE: You must make at least 1 substantial posting answering the topic above in addition to 2 substantial replies. In order to qualify for a grade over a 85 for this discussion topic, you should have at least 1 contribution by Wed. at midnight for this specific topic. You must participate in this discussion board forum (making postings/replies on all of the discussion boards for this unit) at least 3 days per unit. You also must use APA style in your postings and replies so please use in-text references and provide a reference to give proper credit to the authors.