The
connection between two brain cells is called a synapse.
The synapse is a tiny space because the cells don’t
actually touch. The brain cells send chemical messengers
across the space of the synapse. These chemical
messengers are called neurotransmitters. There are
at least nine different chemical neurotransmitters,
used in different parts of the brain.
A midbrain cell is covered on every side
and surface with 100,000 synapses from other brain
cells. Any street drug that affects the chemicals
in the synapse, affects the midbrain. Each cell
always uses the same neurotransmitter, and it “recycles”
the chemical neurotransmitter. When brain cells
fire off a message, they release that neurotransmitter
into the synapse and then take it back up. The information
is encoded in the number of times the nerve fires
and the spacing between them.
When you are doing something that you enjoy, the
neurotransmitter dopamine is released in
the synapses in the Midbrain. With the first use,
Meth causes an intense “high” as it releases
huge amounts of dopamine into the Midbrain.
Meth “burns up” the connections of the
pleasure centers of the Midbrain. This destroys
your ability to enjoy the things that used to be
fun. The things that used to be fun are never fun
again, because Meth has broken all the connections
of the Midbrain.
Your personality that your friends like is gone.
The Meth has broken the personality connections
with the prefrontal cortex. Meth has destroyed many
of the connections and left the midbrain craving
for Meth.
More and more information is coming out of scientific
research that Meth causes permanent loss of brain
tissue. Both CT scans and MRI scans show missing
brain tissue and holes in the brain. |
