No, we’re not talking about prescription drugs or any of that over-the-counter business. Recreational drugs aren’t exactly uncommon on a university campus, so it’s always handy to know what’s happening when some of this stuff is kicking around in your brain and body.
Recreational drugs are psychoactive—which means that they can alter mental, emotional, or behavioural functioning by interacting with neurotransmitters (chemicals that relay signals between neurons) in the brain. By amplifying or reducing the messages sent to neurons, neurotransmitters modulate the activity of certain brain systems, and as a result, change mood and behaviour.
Different drugs have varying effects because they can control the release or reuptake of specific neurotransmitters. For example, stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines work to increase levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is linked with the reward centres in the brain, and is thought to be responsible for the elated and energetic high produced from stimulants. However, excessive dopamine levels are also linked with psychosis and schizophrenia. That’s why using stimulants can cause psychotic symptoms, like paranoia or delusions.
Sedatives are another story. Unlike stimulants which increase behavioural activity, sedatives work to slow down activation in the central nervous system. There’s a reason they call ’em downers. The desired effect is a state of euphoria, relaxation, and reduced anxiety. Sedatives tend to increase levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, which in turn inhibits communication between neurons to slow down behavioural activity.
Those who take opiates exhibit similar effects. While euphoric and relaxed feelings can result from opiates like morphine and heroin, they also dull pain. Opiate drugs mimic the chemical structure and action of endorphins, the body’s natural pain relievers. Strenuous exercise, orgasm, and even eating red chilli peppers all provide an endorphin kick. Research also shows that acupuncture triggers the release of endorphins into the body.
MDMA, or ecstasy, is a compound drug related to amphetamines and hallucinogens. It increases release of the neurotransmitter serotonin, and its effects include alertness, sensations of euphoria, and deepened insight and empathy. Although it was chemically formulated in the early 1900s, it didn’t become popular until ’90s rave culture hit the scene, and has stayed on ever since. Apart from that short-term euphoric state, ecstasy’s long-term effects include memory problems and depression.
But the most widely used recreational drug, apart from alcohol, is cannabis. Whether it’s the form of hashish or your good friend Mary Jane, cannabis produces feelings of relaxed euphoria and enhanced sensory awareness. While it’s often seen as harmless or even beneficial, cannabis can lead to diseases in the pulmonary system, and increase the risk of severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
A lot of research goes into studying just how we get hooked. Studies show that there are both psychological and physiological elements to drug addiction. First, there’s the psychological element of positive reward: taking the drug feels good. In one experiment, rats frantically pressed a lever to receive morphine injections, even though the doses weren’t potent enough to cause physical dependence. On the physical side, drug users can become dependent because modifying the brain’s normal chemistry causes structural and functional changes. Once drug use stops, the user experiences extremely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms as the brain tries to reregulate its functions in the absence of the drug.
So whether it’s uppers or downers, cocaine or cannabis, recreational drugs work by changing signalling processes in your brain. Mind-blowing, isn’t it?
