How Stimulants Affect the Brain

Author: Emily Oconnor

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How Stimulants Affect a User’s Brain

When a stimulant drug enters a person’s body, it flows through the bloodstream directly to their brain. From there, it will begin to impair neurotransmitters, specifically the ones located in the brain’s internal reward system.

All stimulants affect a person’s brain by increasing dopamine levels. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, attention, and movement. The euphoric effect of stimulants occurs from this slow and steady increase of dopamine.

Due to this effect, a person on stimulants will feel more energized and alert. This is why stimulant drugs are prescribed to people who suffer from narcolepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If a person abuses a stimulant drug, they may feel happier, more sexual, more confident, and more productive. However, once the drug leaves a user’s body, their dopamine levels will be depleted, resulting in them feeling fatigue and depression.

The Dangers of Stimulants to a User’s Brain

Stimulants interact with the brain’s dopamine receptors.

Stimulants can cause a person to have an increased heart rate, which can result in cardiac arrest or stroke. However, the main impact that these drugs have on a person is the damage they can cause to their brain. Prolonged use of stimulants can cause permanent brain damage, and every time a person abuses a stimulant drug, they are affecting the chemical makeup of their brain.

Since stimulants mainly impact the brain’s pleasure system, if a person continues to take them, their brain will continue to have large increases in its dopamine levels, followed by large depletions of it. Over time, their brain may no longer be able to create the natural amounts of dopamine needed on its own. This can result in a person feeling depressed, having anxiety, or having a hard time enjoying pleasurable activities again, even after they quit using the stimulant.

Short-Term Effects

When you take a stimulant drug, you might notice some effects almost immediately. These occur due to the way your brain processes the substance and your body reacts to it. Some of the effects to note include:

Physical Effects: Rapid heart rate, higher body temperature, increased blood pressure, insomnia and lower appetite

Psychological Effects: Heightened sense of euphoria, self-esteem, alertness, sociability, and libido

When taken in high doses, stimulant use can also lead to an uptick in anxiety and panic attacks. These drugs can also trigger tremors and seizures, as well as episodes of panic attacks and psychosis.

Long-Term Effects

The prolonged use of stimulants, such as methamphetamine, can cause a person to have insomnia, anxiety, confusion, violent behavior, and mood swings. It can also cause a person to show signs of paranoia, delusions, and visual and auditory hallucinations. Other psychological effects include impaired memory, attention, and decision-making skills.

Continued abuse can also cause the brain’s natural levels of dopamine to drop, which makes the brain less sensitive to the drug’s effects. As a result, the individual will need to take a higher dose of the substance to achieve the same effect. Research also shows that ongoing, chronic use of stimulants can reduce the gray matter volume in the brain and potentially damage the intricate nerve terminals located in its reward system as well as its executive system. This is especially common with methamphetamine.

Find Help for Stimulant Addiction

Stimulant addiction can be challenging, but help is available. There are many treatment options available, including detox, inpatient and outpatient rehab. If you or someone you know is struggling to break free from stimulant abuse, reach out to learn more about these resources.

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