How Do Alcohol and Other Drugs Impact Your Mind and Body?

While your college experience probably won’t look like a scene out of Animal House, the truth of the matter is that it’s a time when some kids will experiment with drugs and alcohol. Whether you plan to partake or not, it’s best to go in understanding the effects of mind-altering substances.

General info

• Most drugs produce an initial high, then a crash.

• When you consume a drug that mimics brain chemicals, your brain responds by producing LESS of those chemicals to try to maintain homeostasis, or a natural balance.

• When the drug wears off, you wind up with less of the chemicals than you need, which can lead you to crave more of the drug to return to an artificial level. And so begins the cycle of addiction.

• Consuming drugs and alcohol can reduce inhibitions and result in actions or behaviors that you will later regret — or even worse, are unsafe.

• Thanks to social media, anything you do can end up shared far and wide. Don’t let one night of recklessness negatively impact your future.

Alcohol

• Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down brain function so there may be less worry, but also less ability to think things through.

• It can produce intense emotions including euphoria or rage.

• Extended use increases symptoms of depression and anxiety.

• Alcohol COUNTERACTS the effects of most antidepressant medications, and has potentially dangerous interactions with others.

• Do not mix alcohol and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like socarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Emsam) because it can cause dangerous spikes in blood pressure.

• Do not mix alcohol and prescription anti-anxiety drugs — benzodiazepines like Xanax or Klonopin — or prescription painkillers. They all suppress lung function, and the combination can be fatal!

• If you’ve heard about celebrities who have died from an overdose, very often they were mixing depressants.

Stimulants

• Stimulants include methamphetamine, cocaine, misused ADHD meds, and even nicotine or large quantities of caffeine.

• They speed up brain function, which can increase focus and motivation, but can also cause jitteriness, increased anxiety, paranoia, and heart palpitations.

• Large quantities can lead to temporary psychosis or — in some cases — full-on psychotic breaks.

• Nicotine — the chemical compound that makes cigarettes highly addictive — produces an initial rush, then a crash which can only be fixed with — you guessed it — more nicotine.

• NOTE: Mixing stimulants and depressants — called speedballing — or combining two or more from one category, greatly increases their risks!

Marijuana

• Marijuana goes by many names, including pot, weed, hash, ganga, grass, reefer, bud, cannabis, chronic, and many, many more.

• It can function as a depressant, stimulant, hallucinogen, or any combination.

• It often produces a high, including euphoria; some people report painkilling properties.

• Marijuana can increase social anxiety, produce full-on paranoia, or lead to panic attacks.

• It can also trigger psychotic episodes, especially when mixed with ADHD medications or other stimulants.

• Marijuana interferes with focus and motivation. While you’re high, you feel good despite not solving your problems. Then when you’re not high, your brain produces less of the chemicals it uses to motivate you.

Hallucinogens

• Hallucinogens — also called psychedelics — include psilocybin mushrooms (shrooms), LSD (acid), DMT, PCP (angel dust), and MDMA (ecstasy).

• Some psychedelics cause hallucinations, and they tend to affect all the senses – often intensifying them.

• These hallucinations and sensations can feel very good in the moment — or very, very bad.

• Hallucinogens have plenty of side effects, but are less likely to cause addiction than anything else on this list.

• If you have a family history of psychosis, BEWARE. Psychedelics can trigger psychotic episodes.

• Their effects are EXTREMELY dependent on your mindset and environment. If you are sad, nervous, or in an unfamiliar setting, the likelihood of a “bad trip” is much higher. The only way to end a bad trip is to wait it out.