Effects of Recreational Drugs
Cocaine:
Cocaine has a stimulant effect on the CNS. Heroin:
It achieves its effects by altering synaptic Heroin has a depressant effect on the CNS.
transmission involving several It slows down CNS activity including the
neurotransmitters. neurones in charge of pain.
All recreational drugs increase dopamine release It is usually injected and once it reaches the
in the reward centres of the brain. brain, most of it is processed into an opioid
This ‘reward centre’ creates a sense of called morphine.
pleasure when activated. Morphine binds with opioid receptors found in
Cocaine blocks out the re-uptake of dopamine the cerebral cortex.
by binding with it’s transporter molecules on The CNS has its own opioid system for things
the terminal button of the pre-synaptic like endorphins for natural painkillers.
neurone. Heroin binds to the natural opioid system to
The synapse is flooded with a surplus of massively enhance the natural response.
dopamine which is the cause of the euphoric It is an agonist drug because it mimics the
‘high’. action of another natural biochemical.
After repeated use of cocaine, dopamine Repeated heroin use causes down regulation.
receptors become down regulated. The opioid receptors on postsynaptic neurones
Fewer receptors are active, some are damaged are constantly binding with morphine molecules,
and shut down. which desensitises them to the effect of the
The quantity of dopamine produced decreases drug.
and this causes withdrawals and higher doses
are needed because tolerance is built up.
Ecstasy and Serotonin:
MDMA (ecstasy) is a CNS stimulant that blocks re-uptake of serotonin at the synapse.
It also causes neurons to hugely increase their output of serotonin in the first place.
These neurons are part of the brain’s serotonin pathway that originates in the brainstem but spreads
out to almost every other region.
The activity of MDMA creates a ‘double whammy’ of serotonin enhancement - greater quantities are
produced and made available in the synapse for binding postsynaptic receptors.
Genes and Drug Responses:
Personality, motivation or peer influence is involved in the use of drugs.
Genetic influences are also involved.
Genes affect how sensitive or responsive an individuals CNS is to recreational drugs, including the impact
on CNS transmission.
Cocaine:
Cocaine has a stimulant effect on the CNS. Heroin:
It achieves its effects by altering synaptic Heroin has a depressant effect on the CNS.
transmission involving several It slows down CNS activity including the
neurotransmitters. neurones in charge of pain.
All recreational drugs increase dopamine release It is usually injected and once it reaches the
in the reward centres of the brain. brain, most of it is processed into an opioid
This ‘reward centre’ creates a sense of called morphine.
pleasure when activated. Morphine binds with opioid receptors found in
Cocaine blocks out the re-uptake of dopamine the cerebral cortex.
by binding with it’s transporter molecules on The CNS has its own opioid system for things
the terminal button of the pre-synaptic like endorphins for natural painkillers.
neurone. Heroin binds to the natural opioid system to
The synapse is flooded with a surplus of massively enhance the natural response.
dopamine which is the cause of the euphoric It is an agonist drug because it mimics the
‘high’. action of another natural biochemical.
After repeated use of cocaine, dopamine Repeated heroin use causes down regulation.
receptors become down regulated. The opioid receptors on postsynaptic neurones
Fewer receptors are active, some are damaged are constantly binding with morphine molecules,
and shut down. which desensitises them to the effect of the
The quantity of dopamine produced decreases drug.
and this causes withdrawals and higher doses
are needed because tolerance is built up.
Ecstasy and Serotonin:
MDMA (ecstasy) is a CNS stimulant that blocks re-uptake of serotonin at the synapse.
It also causes neurons to hugely increase their output of serotonin in the first place.
These neurons are part of the brain’s serotonin pathway that originates in the brainstem but spreads
out to almost every other region.
The activity of MDMA creates a ‘double whammy’ of serotonin enhancement - greater quantities are
produced and made available in the synapse for binding postsynaptic receptors.
Genes and Drug Responses:
Personality, motivation or peer influence is involved in the use of drugs.
Genetic influences are also involved.
Genes affect how sensitive or responsive an individuals CNS is to recreational drugs, including the impact
on CNS transmission.
