The Effects of Drugs on Cognition - Essay Example

Several drugs that are abused such as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and cannabis originate from natural sources such as plants. However, continued use of such drugs may lead to alteration of the emotional state, body functions, perception, sleep, and cause behavioral changes (Angarita, Emadi, Hodges & and Morgann 2016). The same drugs activate the brain by stimulating or inhibiting different neurons in their pathway (Horton Jr, Soper & McHale 2015). Each of the four drugs has its mechanism of activating different parts of the brain. Each of the drugs' effect on the neuropharmacology is discussed to show its difference and similarity to the rest.

Marijuana is being accepted in many societies after its legalization whereas other countries continue to ban its use amidst controversial scientific findings on its benefits. The drug is known to impair short-term memory and the capacity to judge the happenings in the surrounding in addition to disturbing sleep patterns (Babson and Bonn-Miller 2014). The user also suffers from distorted perception, which may make it too risky to drive or work in hazardous environments such as factories. School performance for those that have been using the drug is also adversely affected since marijuana impairs focus and concentration (Drugabuse gov 2016). For young adults, the brain systems that are in the maturing process may be impaired leading to issues with the development of the cognitive aspects of life. This puts them at a competitive disadvantage than the nonusers. The latter become more competent and successful in life while the users find it difficult to sustain normal psychosocial development. According to De Luca and Fattore (2015) cannabis is very addictive and using it at a young age may make it difficult to quit addition to influencing the user to use other drugs such as heroin. Its consumption may be through smoking, using it in food, or drinks and has been associated with interfering with the user’s memory. The THC chemicals act on some parts of the brain cell receptors, which are reactive to the TCH-like chemicals located in the human brain. The drug can be overactive some areas of the brain containing a high number of the THC receptors causing the feeling of highness (Mizrahi et al., 2014). The person may have altered senses in which one sees brighter colors in addition to impaired memory. Someone may experience mood changes and have difficult to control body movements. The brain development is affected reducing the ability to think, retain contents, and have difficulty in learning. The users who start using it at a younger age or during their adolescent years may lose their IQ points (Cogswell 2015). Mental illnesses such as temporary hallucinations, paranoia, and disorganized thinking. are common to marijuana users

Heroin is a drug that has been proved very addictive and causes extremely adverse effects. The drug affects the brain since once consumed it is converted to morphine and get bound to the opioid receptors (Drugabuse gov 2016). The person may feel drowsy, experience slow heart rate, breathing rate and may go into a coma. In extended heavy use Heroin use may also lead to permanent brain damage especially when used with other stimulants. Opioids have the ability to depress breathing by altering the neurochemical activities of the brain stem, which controls the automatic functions of the body such as heart rate and breathing (Carlson, Nahhas, Martins & Daniulaityte 2016). The feeling of pleasure is facilitated by the alteration of the Limbic system activity responsible for controlling emotions. In addition, there may be blockage of pain messages, which are commonly transmitted via the spinal cord from other parts of the body (Walter et al., 2015). Long-term effects are more complicated since heroin consumption alters the physical structure and the physiology of the human brain. This leads to imbalances in the hormonal and neuronal systems, which are difficult to reverse. The white matter of the brain is also affected, which interferes with the person's ability to make decisions, regulate own behavior, or regulate responses to stressful situations. The addiction is also severe since the user finds all means to acquire it despite the consequences. Heroin causes hypoxia leading to severe neurological and psychological effects on the brain including permanent damage. When a user uses the drug for a long time, it affects the prefrontal cortex and the medial temporal lobe of the brain. This has the effect of interfering with several functions such as long-term memory, control of social behavior, and complex thought.

Cocaine is a very powerful and addictive drug, which has adverse effects on the users’ brain yet several people have tried it especially in the US (Drugabuse gov2016). The use of this drug has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain of the user just like heroin and cannabis. Exposure to the drug causes severe neuroadaptations in the neurons which are responsible for releasing the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate according to Prisciandaro et al., (2013). Cocaine has the effect on the pathways that respond to stress making it difficult to deal with stress disorders. Chronic exposure to cocaine has several other effects on the user’s brain in different areas. Animal research has shown that cocaine can diminish some functions of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC, which makes it difficult for the person to make sound decisions (Prisciandaro et al., 2013). The user may also find it challenging to adapt to the adverse consequences of cocaine. The effects of this drug occur immediately, and the person may be very talkative, euphoric, and alert or reduced brain activity. The drug has euphoric effects may depend on the way of administrating the drug so that if it is absorbed very fast its effect will also be very intense but for a short duration. Some of the worst neurological effects include seizures, headaches, coma, and strokes, which may have dire consequences for the user (Prisciandaro et al., 2013). Seizures may cause sudden death especially in the case of an overdose. If the user consumes cocaine for an extended period the brain adapts and makes the reward pathway less sensitive to the natural reinforcements. The person may experience negative moods when one fails to take drugs making it tough for him to mingle with people. Ecstasy and cocaine are both psychostimulants, which tend to temporarily heighten awareness and alertness of the user. They increase the neurotransmission through binding to the receptors in the synaptic gap. However, ecstasy causes a greater release of serotonin compared to cocaine.

Ecstasy is a drug that is widely used despite its adverse effects on the user. Ecstasy primarily causes time distortions as well as sensory perceptions. The drug is illegal but is particularly popular especially considering more than eleven million individuals have used the drug according to the 2011 research reports (Drugabuse gov2016). Studies on animals strongly suggest that MDMA may be damaging to some neurons in the brain. For instance, extended use of the drug has been seen to cause cognitive deficits (Smirnov et al., 2013). Some issues have been noted in the memory changes of the user, especially on a high dosage. The activity of the neurotransmitters is highly increased which in turn may lead to problems with emotions cognition, and motor functioning (Mueller et al., 2016). A person may also experience anxiety, depression, and may not remember specific things. In mild to severe cases, convulsions may be experienced because of the hampered blood flow to the brain. In addition to the severe damage to the brain, the person may die due to causes such as haemorrhage and kidney failure among others.

The four drugs have many similar neuropharmacological effects such as difficulties in making decisions and memory loss (Maguire 2016). Most of the adverse effects experienced by the users occur in their brains, which control several body functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood flow. The drugs are also addictive as it is difficult for the user to move on with life without having his dose. The cocaine, opiates, and marijuana tend to increase the reward pathway through the growth of dopamine transmission. Cocaine and ecstasy are psychostimulants, which have a temporary effect on alertness and awareness by increasing them. They tend to increase neurotransmission by binding to the receptors located in the synapse removing many of the neurotransmitters from the synaptic gap. Using these two drugs has the effect of changing the activity of the dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenalin in the brain (Morgan et al., 2013). However, ecstasy has a greater effect on the release of serotonin than cocaine. Heroin, marijuana, and ecstasy cause fluctuations in the moods since they alter the normal motor and cognitive functioning of the individual.

The tolerance of the drugs is extremely high causing hallucinations on the user. However, cannabis' effects are short-term unlike heroin and ecstasy whose results take longer. It also results in panic and anxiety, which makes it different from heroin and ecstasy. On the other hand, heroin crowds the mental functioning in addition to severe withdrawal symptoms. The four drugs remain a threat to the young generation and although some want them legalized it may not be a good idea.