The human brain is the most complex organ in the body. This three-pound mass of gray and white matter sits at the center of all human activity. The brain is often likened to an incredibly complex and intricate computer. Instead of electrical circuits on the silicon chips that control our electronic devices, the brain consists of billions of cells, called neurons, which are organized into circuits and networks.

How do drugs work in the brain?

Drugs interfere with the way neurons send, receive, and process signals via neurotransmitters. Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, can activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter in the body. This allows the drugs to attach onto and activate the neurons. Although these drugs mimic the brain's own chemicals, they don't activate neurons in the same way as a natural neurotransmitter, and they lead to abnormal messages being sent through the network.

Other drugs, such as amphetamine or cocaine, can cause the neurons to release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters or prevent the normal recycling of these brain chemicals by interfering with transporters. This too amplifies or disrupts the normal communication between neurons.

What parts of the brain are affected by drug use?

Drugs can alter important brain areas that are necessary for life-sustaining functions and can drive the compulsive drug use that marks addiction. Brain areas affected by drug use include:

5. The basal ganglia
5. The extended amygdale
5. The prefrontal cortex

Some drugs like opioids also affect other parts of the brain, such as the brain stem, which controls basic functions critical to life, such as heart rate, breathing, and sleeping explaining why overdoses can cause depressed breathing and death.

Journal of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery Research is an International, peer-reviewed, open-access as well as subscription based journal with ISSN No: 2325-9604, NLM ID: 101663557 and indexed in: Index Copernicus (ICV- 62.57), Sherpa Romeo, Crossref,  IIJIF,  Cosmos.

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Subhana Quadri
Journal of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery
drugdelivary@peerreviewedjournal.org
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