In 2007, a group of scientists concluded that there is a direct link between cocaine use and the level of education a student completes. One possible cause of this link is that people with a greater understanding of the effects of drug use make smarter choices. That is why it’s so important to understand how cocaine affects your brain and your body.
So what are the effects? For one thing, cocaine use can damage the dophamine system of your brain, which is a part of your brain that is involved in decision-making, memory, and analysis. In other words, cocaine use impairs your ability to do school work as well as any job that involves sharp thinking skills—forever.
In one study, participants were given a list of 6 letters to memorize. They had 8 seconds to study the list. After that, the participants were shown a serious of letters and instructed to react when they saw a letter that was not part of the list. Participants who were involved in cocaine usage demonstrated a degree of dysfunction. They simply could not perform as well as non-users.
People who use cocaine and drink alcohol are at a greater risk of damaging their brain’s power. Scientists have concluded that by mixing these drugs students will bring about a decrease in their memory skills and damage their ability to pay attention and learn in class.
And what about long-term effects? There is more bad news. In addition to the dulling of your thinking abilities, studies show that those who abuse cocaine actually increase their risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Cocaine use damages the nerves in the region called the substantia niagra, and that damage makes the brain susceptible to toxins that cause the disease.
Sources:
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. "Cocaine Use Related To Level Of Education Achieved." ScienceDaily 30 August 2007. 7 June 2008 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070829162811.htm>.
National Institute On Drug Abuse. "Cocaine And Alcohol Combined Are More Damaging To Mental Ability Than Either Drug Alone." ScienceDaily 4 July 2000. 7 June 2008 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/07/000704062446.htm>.
NIH/National Institute On Drug Abuse. "NIDA Study Offers New Clues About Connection Between Cocaine Abuse, Thinking, And Decision-making." ScienceDaily 19 November 2004. 7 June 2008 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/11/041118113006.htm>./
Public Library of Science. "Recreational Cocaine Use May Impair Inhibitory Control." ScienceDailyy 7 November 2007. 7 June 2008 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071106201948.htm>.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "Evidence Links Cocaine Abuse And Parkinson's Disease." ScienceDaily 14 December 2005. 7 June 2008 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051214084800.htm>.
