Conscious-altering drugs and drug addiction

Hypnosis: a therapeutic tool

Hypnosis is a state of deep concentration and self-focus, with minimal awareness of external stimuli. In therapy, trained professionals use relaxation and suggestion to influence a patient’s thoughts and perceptions. Research indicates that hypnosis can be particularly effective for individuals highly receptive to suggestion, with brain imaging showing widespread changes in brain activity during hypnotic states.

It is crucial to distinguish therapeutic hypnosis from its portrayal in entertainment. Clinical hypnosis is performed with patient consent, often as part of ongoing treatment. While hypnosis can alter perception and memory, it does not grant superhuman abilities or force individuals to act against their morals. It is sometimes used to recover past memories, though these recollections may not always be reliable.

Meditation

Meditation involves focusing attention on a specific target, such as breathing or a repetitive sound, to enhance present-moment awareness. Studies suggest that meditation may help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and assist in managing mood disorders, anxiety, and pain.

A therapeutic approach incorporating meditation is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a branch of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). DBT is often used to treat borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. It emphasizes skills in:

• Emotional regulation
• Mindfulness
• Distress tolerance

Conscious-altering drugs and their effects

The effects of psychoactive substances arise from their interactions with neurotransmitter systems in the brain. These substances can function as either agonists, which enhance neurotransmitter activity, or antagonists, which inhibit it.

Psychoactive drugs are typically categorized into three main groups:

1. Depressants slow down neural activity.
2. Stimulants increase neural activity.
3. Hallucinogens alter sensory perception.

Depressants

Depressants reduce central nervous system activity. Alcohol (ethanol) is one of the most well-known depressants. Other examples include barbiturates and benzodiazepines, which enhance the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that calms the brain. Because GABA slows neural activity, these drugs are commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia.

Prolonged use of depressants can lead to physical dependence, marked by tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, as well as psychological dependence, increasing the risk of substance abuse.

Stimulants

Stimulants boost overall brain activity, often acting as dopamine agonists, enhancing the neurotransmitter associated with reward and craving. Common stimulants include:

• Cocaine
• Amphetamines (including methamphetamine)
• Cathinones (bath salts)
• MDMA (ecstasy)
• Nicotine
• Caffeine

Amphetamines work similarly to cocaine by preventing dopamine reuptake and increasing its release. While stimulants are sometimes misused, they are also prescribed to individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to enhance neurotransmitter activity in brain regions linked to impulse control, such as the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia.

Opioids

Opioids are a subset of depressants that include heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine. These substances have analgesic (pain-relieving) properties by mimicking the body’s natural opioid neurotransmitters, binding to opioid receptors to reduce pain and induce euphoria. Because they closely resemble the body’s natural painkillers, opioids have a high potential for addiction.

Naturally derived opioids, known as opiates, come from the poppy plant. Heroin has historically been a major drug of abuse, but modern synthetic opioids also possess potent pain-relieving properties and are frequently misused.

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens significantly alter sensory and perceptual experiences, sometimes causing vivid visual or sensory distortions. These substances can distort time perception and bodily sensations, such as feeling much larger or smaller than usual.

Different hallucinogens impact different neurotransmitter systems:

• Mescaline and LSD act as serotonin agonists.
• PCP (angel dust) and ketamine block NMDA glutamate receptors.

Unlike depressants and stimulants, hallucinogens generally have a lower potential for addiction.

Addiction and the brain’s reward system

Addiction is closely linked to the dopamine system, particularly in the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s primary pleasure center.

Physical dependence occurs when prolonged drug use leads to changes in normal bodily functions, causing withdrawal symptoms when the substance is discontinued. Psychological dependence, on the other hand, involves an emotional craving for the drug.

Tolerance develops when an individual needs increasing amounts of a drug to achieve the same effect. This can drive users to consume dangerously high doses, increasing the risk of overdose and death.

Withdrawal symptoms often produce effects opposite to those of the drug itself. For example, withdrawal from sedatives can result in agitation and heightened arousal.