Crises of Addition

Sam Townswick
Val Heike
NICC
12/7/2021 17:39:15 a12/p12

Illegal drugs and the effect upon a human brain

Different drugs and their effects upon the human brain.

The neurotransmitter/neuromodulator beta-phenyl ethylamine or PEA1; taken orally, PEA

easily crosses the blood-brain barrier. It therefore becomes rapidly available to increase the

activity of the major neurotransmitters. PEA increases the effects of dopamine for well-being and

feeling pleasure. It increases the effects of Norepinephrine — the brain’s stimulant for

wakefulness and higher performance; and acetylcholine for improving memory and mental

activity. And it stimulates serotonin for better mood, emotion and impulse control. 

PEA has been referred to as an “endogenous amphetamine” by different researchers. (Dr.

Richard Clark Kaufman of NEURVANA, 2010) It has an amphetamine-like structure and

actions on the central nervous system that boost cognition, alertness, wakefulness, attention,

energy and endurance. Unlike the drug stimulants that are addictive and harmful, PEA is natural,

free of harmful side effects and non-addictive.  It’s a highly concentrated neurotransmitter in the

limbic system, the brain’s emotional center that plays a major role in our motivation, physical

drive, feelings and social activity. (Dr. Richard Clark Kaufman of NEURVANA, 2010)

Think of PEA as a chip upgrade and amplifier for your brain’s neural processor

hardware.  It increases the signal strength of billions of brain neurons to discharge more

neurotransmitters to improve human biological functions.  Like a fast-processing high-memory

1
Phenylethylamine
CPU, PEA amplifies, modulates and improves brain functions and performance in nanoseconds. 

These drugs activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural

neurotransmitter. This drug works similarity in structure to fool receptors and allows the drugs to

lock onto and activate the nerve cells. Although these drugs mimic brain chemicals, they don't

activate nerve cells in the same way as a natural neurotransmitter, and they lead to abnormal

messages being transmitted through the network. (Influence)

This is a chemical that is usually taken orally as a capsule or tablet. It is a man-made drug

that is chemically similar to both stimulants and hallucinogens. It distorts the perception of time

and the sense of touch. Taking Ecstasy causes chemical changes in the brain that affect your

mood, appetite and sleep.

Ecstasy causes the excessive release of the important neurotransmitter, serotonin, which

controls mood, sleep, pain, appetite, and other behaviors. By releasing large amounts of

serotonin, Ecstasy causes the brain to become significantly depleted of this important

neurotransmitter, which contributes to the negative behavioral problems 2 that users often

experience for several days after taking Ecstasy. 

I have been surprised and delighted by the new things I have learned and all the arrows

and clicks that have popped into place from the other Sam Townswick classes I have been

fortunate enough to have been a part of.

Ketamine (influence)http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/facts/drugs-ketamine.aspx# is an

odorless, tasteless drug that is found in liquid, pill, and powder form. Ketamine was developed as

an anesthetic for veterinarians to use on animals. (Influence)  Ketamine is classified as a type of

2
(depression, sleep problems, etc)
disassociative drug.  It alters the events of the neurotransmitter glutamate throughout the brain.

Glutamate is involved in perception of pain, responses to the environment, and memory.

Ketamine distorts sounds and sensations and makes users feel detached from reality.

Ketamine | Drug Facts | AboveTheInfluence.com Some Ketamine experiences involve a

terrifying feeling of almost complete sensory detachment that is likened to a near-death

experience sometimes referred to as "the K-hole.

Ketamine is odorless and tasteless and possesses amnesia-inducing properties, the drug is

sometimes added to the beverage of unsuspecting Ketamine | Drug Facts |

AboveTheInfluence.com victims and used in the commission of sexual assaults, referred to as

"drug rape."

Street term for this drug is Vitamin K (Miller, 2010). Learned today that our bodies

produce vitamin K.  Special K cereal uses that particular ingredient to sell it as needed by your

body; funny thing is your body gets it from the bacteria produced within your stomach.

Impaired senses, judgment Ketamine | Drug Facts | AboveTheInfluence.com (low doses),

coordination, and motor coordination (high doses) / Hallucinations, delirium, and disconnection

from surroundings (high doses) / High blood pressure (high doses) / Amnesia (high doses) /

Vulnerable to sexual assault (due to loss of control) /Depression (high doses) / fatal respiratory

problems (high doses) Ketamine Facts (Super Acid) | Drug Facts | AboveTheInfluence.com

They work in the brain by drumming into the brain's communication system and

interfering with the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. (Abuse,

2010) Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, can activate neurons because their chemical
structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter. (Abuse, 2010)This similarity in structure

"fools" receptors and allows the drugs to lock onto and activate the nerve cells. (Abuse, 2010)

Although these drugs mimic brain chemicals, they don't activate nerve cells in the same way as a

natural neurotransmitter, and they lead to abnormal communication being transmitted through

the network. (Abuse, 2010)

Other drugs, such as amphetamine or cocaine, can cause the nerve cells to release

abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters or prevent the normal recycling of these

brain chemicals. (Abuse, 2010) This disruption produces a greatly amplified message, ultimately

disrupting communication channels.  The difference in effect can be described as the difference

between someone whispering into your ear and someone shouting into a microphone. (Abuse,

2010)

 References:

Abuse, N. I. (2010). Drugs and the Brain Washington ,D.C.: U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services. .

BANYARD, P. A. (2000). Introducing Psychological Research. London: : Seventy

Studies that Shape Psychology, 2nd Edition. Macmillan.

DA, K. (2003). Recreational use of Ritalin on college campuses. Newton, Massachusetts:

The Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention;.

Dr. Richard Clark Kaufman of NEURVANA, R. S. (2010, April 14). Nutraceuticals

Brain Boosting (& Free Schwag). h Plus Magazine .

 Drugs, U. G. (2010). How does stimulation of the brain's pleasure circuit teach us to

keep taking drugs? Washington, D.C.: US Gov

Miller, D. S. (2010). Human Biology. Calmer: NICC.