Methamphetamine affects the brain

by increasing the amount of neurotransmitter

dopamine. This leads to high levels of that
chemical in the brain. Dopamine has to do with
reward, motivation and experiencing pleasure.
When methamphetamine releases dopamine quickly into your brain
it gives the user a "rush." Repeated use can cause addiction.

Alcohol affects the many regions of the brain, in numerous ways.

In the cerebral cortex, where a person's thoughts and consciousness occur
alcohol makes the person less inhibited. It also slows down the processing of
information from all your senses, making it difficult to think clearly
In the cerebellum, alcohol affects your balance and ability to move which causes
staggering and falling down easily.
In the hypothalamus and pituitary is where brain function and the release of
hormones are coordinated. Alcohol causes an increase in sexual urges, but
decreases performance.
In the medulla, which handles breathing and body temperature, alcohol causes
sleepiness and a drop of body temperature which can be very dangerous for a
person.

Marijuana causes memory loss, due to THC changing how information is processed
in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that forms memories. Older people lose
neurons in the hippocampus, which causes memory loss. Chronic THC may increase
the speed at which people lose their neurons. In a study, rats were exposed to THC
and had less nerve cells than animals twice their age.

Using hallucinogenic drugs can cause users to see images, hear sounds and feel
things that might seem real but aren't. The effect start anywhere from 20 to 90
minutes after taking the drug, and can last for up to 12 hours. The effects of
hallucinogens such as LSD can be defined as disorganizations of a person's ability to

view reality, speak to others and think straight. Users refer to using LSD as going on
"trips." There can be good trips where people can experience enjoyable sensations
and bad trips where users terrifying thoughts of anxiety, despair and even death.
Cocaine, same as methamphetamine since it increases levels of dopamine in the
brain and regulates pleasure. Usually dopamine is released into the brain in
response to rewards, such as smelling good food. then recycled back into the cell
and shutting off the signal between neurons. Cocaine doesn't allow the dopamine to
be recycled and therefore causes massive buildups of it in the brain. This increases
the dopamine signal and stops normal brain function. As with other drugs, repeated
use can cause addiction and a tolerance to the drug. This leads to users increasing
their dose as they no longer can get the "high" from the amount they previously
used to consume.

There are many club drugs that effect the brain in different ways, but most of them
cause feelings of drowsiness. GHB's sedative effects can cause sleep, comas or
death. Repeated use can lead to withdrawal effects, such as tremors, sweating,
insomnia and anxiety. Rohypnol produces anterograde amnesia which causes the
individual under the influence to not remember things that had happened to them.
Constant use of Rohypnol can lead to addiction, dependence and tolerance of the
drug. Ketamine distorts the perception of sight and sound and causes feelings of
detachment from oneself. At low doses Ketamine causes impaired attention and
memory. At higher doses, Ketamine can cause hallucinations and amnesia.
Ketamine users, have been report to binge on the drug, develop signs of tolerance
and cravings.