ISSUES
: Drugs
Chapter 1: Drug issues
11
Drugs and the brain
Martin Barnes of DrugScope and neuroscientist Professor David Nutt explain the results of
research into the effects of recreational drugs on the brain.
Acid (LSD) and magic
mushrooms
Short term:
Acid and magic
mushrooms are hallucinogenic,
making people see, hear and
experience the world in a different,
‘trippy’ way. Colours may become
intensified and sounds distorted.
Users may also become panicky and
suffer from paranoia. The effects of
acid can last 12 hours or more which, if
it’s a bad trip, can be very frightening.
Long term:
Some LSD users
experience flashbacks. “Sometimes
people may experience psychosis or
paranoia, believing or seeing things
that aren’t really there,” says Barnes.
Cannabis (marijuana, weed,
dope, skunk)
Short term:
People smoke cannabis
to relax and get high, but it can make
it difficult to remember things, even
if they’ve only just happened. It can
cause anxiety attacks or feelings of
paranoia. “If you use a lot of cannabis
regularly, you’re putting yourself at risk
of some temporary problems, such as
confusion or delusions,” says Barnes.
Long term:
“It’s possible that
cannabis might trigger long-term
mental health problems, including
psychosis,
schizophrenia
and
depression,” says Barnes. “Evidence
suggests that cannabis users who
come from a family with a history
of mental health problems may be
particularly susceptible to these
symptoms.”
Cocaine and crack cocaine
Short term:
Cocaine is a stimulant
that makes you feel high, confident
and full of energy. But this can turn
into feelings of anxiety, panic and
paranoia. Users of cocaine can end
up feeling tired and depressed.
Long term:
Giving up cocaine and
crack can be mentally distressing
and physically difficult for dependent
users. Long-term use can worsen
existing mental health problems
and lead to depression, anxiety and
paranoia.
Ecstasy (E)
Short term:
Ecstasy is a stimulant
with hallucinogenic effects that makes
you feel relaxed, high, ‘loved-up’ and
ready to dance all night. But people
who are already feeling anxious or
who take high doses can have bad
experiences of paranoia or feeling ‘out
of it’.
Long term:
Regular use may lead to
sleep problems, lack of energy, drastic
weight loss, depression or anxiety.
People can become psychologically
dependent on the feelings of euphoria
and calmness that ecstasy gives
them. Research shows that taking
ecstasy can reduce a user’s serotonin
levels, and may have an effect on
certain areas of the brain.
Heroin (smack, diamorphine)
Short term:
Heroin and other opiates
slow down the body’s functions and
stop both physical and emotional
pain. Users find they need to take
more and more herion to get the same
effect, or even feel ‘normal’. Taking a
lot can lead to coma or even death.
Long term:
Heroin is psychologically
and physically highly addictive.
“The withdrawal from heroin is really
unpleasant,” says Professor Nutt.
“Long-term heroin users are often
depressed because of their overall
lifestyle.” Coming off and staying off
heroin can be very difficult.
Ketamine (K)
Short
term:
Ketamine is an
anaesthetic that
makes people
feel
relaxed
and high, but
its effects are
unpredictable.
“It’s like drinking
a whole bottle
of vodka: you
don’t have any
control
over
what
you’re
doing,”
says
Professor Nutt.
“The biggest danger is wandering off
in a daze and having an accident or
getting lost and staying out all night,
resulting in hypothermia.” Ketamine
can make you feel detached from
yourself and others, andmake existing
mental health problems worse.
Long term:
Tolerance develops
quickly so people need more K to
get high. “The longer term effects are
more difficult to pinpoint, but may
include flashbacks and losing your
memory and ability to concentrate,”
says Barnes. “Occasionally, people
get psychotic symptoms, while
evidence is growing that long-term
use of ketamine can severely damage
the bladder. Some people find it hard
to stop taking K.”
Solvents (gases, glues and
aerosols)
Short term:
Solvents make you
feel drunk and sometimes cause
hallucinations.
Long term:
Heavy use of solvents
poisons your brain and can damage
it, making it hard to control your
emotions, think straight or remember
things.
Speed and crystal meth
(amphetamine and
methamphetamine)
Short term:
Speed can quickly make
you feel energetic and confident