Substance abuse and the brain

Substance abuse is a terrifying reality that is played out in the daily lives of those who are addicted to drugs. Characters from diverse backgrounds are consumed by their addictions until they become almost unrecognizable. We are all familiar with the devastating effect that drugs and alcohol have and it is due to the drugs’s effects on the brain. Drugs and alcohol flood he brain with dopamine which is a neurotransmitter that is present in the regions of the brain regulating movement, motivation, emotion and feelings of pleasure. This makes the person using drugs or alcohol to experience intense pleasure when the drug is used but once the effect wears off, the user is left with cravings. The desire for the substance will continue to increase and the person will need to consume more amounts of the drug to achieve the same state of pleasure. This will rapidly turn into a vicious cycle where the user will be taking higher amount of the drug but will not be able to achieve the original high. Over a period of time, these drugs and alcohol abuse cases lead to alteration of critical brain activity and the brain is tricked into prioritizing the substance over all else. The personality of the individual rapidly changes under the influence of the substance. Often the persons who suffer from a substance abuse problem morph into a completely different person. The ways alcohol and drugs can change behavior and personality is as follows;

• Secrecy
• Fatigue
• Laziness
• Paranoia
• Selfishness
• Dishonesty
• Restlessness
• Manipulation
• Forgetfulness
• Impulsiveness
• Shifting blame
• Becoming abusive
• High risk behavior
• Low tolerance to stress
• Frequent mood swings

Negative changes in the personality have devastating effects on the person’s overall well- being. The drug abuser in order to continue his addiction, may become secretive and avoid family time altogether. There will be frequent mood swings and anger which leads to issues in the home and causes relationships to deteriorate. Physical health of the individual is also impacted, as they chase the high of the drug over nourishing their bodies. They forget to eat regularly and get insufficient sleep. The individual will also tend to have a poor school or work performance. Two of the most common changes in those with a substance abuse problem are inability to focus and loss of interest. Additionally drugs and alcohol will make the individual act in a risky manner and this includes petty crime. If you or a loved one is in the clutches of addiction, you can get help. Search for detoxification, addiction treatment programs, Inpatient drug treatment, Inpatient drug treatment in Texas, or Texas drug treatment center.