Perhaps Rick James said it best, "cocaine is a hell of a drug", but why? It impersonates one of our loveliest neurotransmitters, dopamine. This article in the NY Times examines new research on the lasting effects of drug abuse on the nervous system. The possibility that we could be sabotaging our bodies capacities for the natural dopamine highs is one of the best anti-drug messages I've heard in a long time.
Also check out this wonderful overview of the effects of Psychoactive Drugs on the Nervous System
Okay, so living in a city where drug use is a very common factor, it has often puzzled me the reason why people become addicted to drugs. The article by the NY Times explained almost perfectly how drug addiction occurs. People abuse substances like cocaine, even after they have become "numbed" to highs. Understanding how this happens for me was not too simple. The NY Times article goes to say that, the drug dopamine gives off our "good" feelings. After abusing substances we lose those "good" feelings even from our every day pleasures. I don't know about any other people but drug use, will never be a problem with me. I definitely won't abuse my dopamine! :)
ReplyDeleteHey, I don't see nothing wrong with a little hit ever now and again to keep sane. Just kidding! On a more serious note, this article was very informative. It makes me want to do an experiment dealing with drugs, but I can't legally conduct an experiment where I give my subjects some cocaine. If anyone wants to become a case study you know where to find me...Once again I'm just kidding!
ReplyDeleteThe article was very informative and has explained to me exaclty how people become addicted to drugs.I think more teens should be exposed to this articles or articles like this because then maybe they will reconsider an ignorant decision to use any type of drugs.Although the article only discuss cocaine and meth, I think the "dopamine theory" applies to all drugs. When a person begins taking drugs, they make take it once a day but as time goes on, they begin using it numerous times a day because more is needed to get the same euphoria. Teens espically need to know that you can get the same euphoria by hanging out with their friend;therefore, there is no reason to abuse your dopamine.
ReplyDeleteThere always has to be a downfall, dammit!! Now you tell me drugs stop working after a while? i didn't know that, and how dumb was the addict he let his wife find out?... lol. i'm glad i read the article now i know to stop at the first high.... psych!!
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting to me. This is why I want to be a psychologist. The fact they they did all this research just to help this man is very nice and cool. After reading this this would make you feel like you dont want to ever see a piece of drug. I no I want to be excited my whole life.
ReplyDeleteThis article enlightened me on how drugs can affect a person's well-being. I mean why continuously pay for something that's not making or keeping you happy? It doesn't make any sense. A person's euphoria doesn't have to literally come from "getting high" from a drug. You can get your EUPHORIA from enjoying life for what it's worth and hanging out with friends. Using drugs is not worth losing your DOPAMINE or even your family. I know I will NEVER abuse my DOPAMINE!
ReplyDeleteA person's euphoria doesn't have to come from taking drugs. It can come from simply enjoying life and living it to the fullest; by being fully above the influence. Using drugs is not worth loosing your life. In the city we live in the drug community is always thriving, but the high that drug abusers get from the drug, is the very thing that kills them. I don’t think any escape in such a manner is worth my life. I know for a fact I'll never abuse my Dopamine!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, this topic was very intresting. I thought that Dopamine was a drug until i read this article lol..But, nevertheless, this article gave me a better understanding of how the neurotransmitters in our brain works and where our subconscious desires from awards come from..okai, gotta get back to Praising my Jesus...Datz All Floks! :-)!!! lmbo!
ReplyDeletep.s..Girl, y Miquelle read and wrote on this article at 6:23 A.M! lol lol..girl datz to hard up! she woke up with Ms.Rious work on ha mind...bahahahaha
This article shows me how serious a drug can be.This man said he didnt even get high anymore from using cocaine.This shows that he did it too much.His body got used to it so he still cant quit.This is why many people die from drugs because they like the high but the effect it has on them is fatal.These stories help me really not want to go that way.It helps me appreciate my life.
ReplyDeleteThe article talk's about the abuse of drugs that can harm your nervous system. But, I feel as though if people know the consquence drugs do to your body. Why does they still attempt use those types of drugs? I realize this abuse been happening over time.. Some poeple have a mental problem not literally but, they use these drugs to cover up a hidden problem, pain, or past. This article is really interesting it makes me wonder what other reasons people have to cause them to use drugs and destoy thier nervous system...
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting article. It was informative and advised me of how drugs become addictive and how drug abuse harm your nervous system and your body. I know for a fact now that i will never do drugs and abuse my dopamine. I'll continue to enjoy life off my natural high.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article and all of my ap classmates comments' i have a bit of a differnt twist on how the responded to the NY post. Majority of you guys are claiming that youll never abuse your dopamine and i for one uphold you on that promise, however you dont know the motives behind using drugs for slef satisfaction. No one does! Because in all cases individuals turn to drugs for many differnt reason. Not saying that youll never do drugs because you never know what the future holds. Hopefully none of you guys go through a Disasterous event that will lead to dopamine becoming fully loaded!!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article i finally grasp the understanding of how a person get to the stage of relapsing over an addiction. I really don't understand why the man was still using the drug if he didnt get a "high" from it. Usually addicts move on to other drugs to try to relive their "first high", but all people are different and adapt to drugs differently. Maybe he was getting a higb but didnt know.
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