|
The hardness of a drug could be defined by the residual effects, both emotionally and physicially on the body and mind. It could also be said that the hardness of a drug is directly related to it's potential for abuse.
Many of the opiates, drugs that stimulate opiate receptors and subsequantly dopamine levels in the brain are regarded as 'high risk for abuse', one reason for their status on the DEA list. Other drugs like PCP, LSD and such, have a potential for abuse, though their effects on the mind are far more detremental.
I have seen many cases where friends/acquaintances have used LSD on only a few occasions, yet they have changed perminantly. LSD, in particular, work with certain parts of the brain's chemistry that cannot be undone; once LSD has been metabolized in the brain, perminant damage has been done.
---------
I would also like to add to the above discussion about Ecstacy. Ecstacy has many hidden dangers, especially when considering the effects on brain chemisty. Without going into great detail about 'reuptake' and neurotransmitters, let's just for times sake, say that, chemicals that are used to communicate between brain cells, that aren't used immedietly, are used again by said cells. This process of recapturing neurotransmitters is called re-uptake.
Now, with a brain that it under the influence of MDMA, or ectstacy, as there is a sudden and extreme release of 5-HT and other chemicals, there is an opportunity for dopamine and seritonin to 'uptake' into the incorrect areas. Studies have shown that reuptake of seritonin into a dopamine vessicle could lead to the oxidizing of said seritonin molecule and creating a PEROXIDE byproduct. Now, we all know what PEROXIDES do to organic matter; imaging duping hydrogen peroxide onto your brain, not a good thing to do. Of course this is on a far smaller scale, but when one thinks about neuron regeneration, they remember that it does NOT happen. You are born with a majority of the neurons that you will have your entire life. One must also consider that with frequancy of use comes the greatest deal of damage; using MDMA a few times puts you at a small risk, but taking the drug in multiple doses, frequantly for a long period of time puts you at a GREAT risk for physicial brain damage. This does not include the emotional damage from the psychological implications of MDMA.
/Wishes he hadn't done SO much.
-SF
|