Synthetic analogs. The influence of drugs on dopamine levels
Like most neurotransmitters, dopamine has synthetic analogs as well as stimulators of its release in the brain. In particular, many drugs increase dopamine production and release it into the brain by 5-10 times higher than normal, which allows drug addicts to get a feeling of pleasure through artificial means. Thus, amphetamine directly stimulates dopamine release, affecting the mechanism of its transmission. Other drugs, such as cocaine and some other psychostimulants, block the natural mechanisms of dopamine reuptake, increasing its concentration in the synaptic space. Morphine and nicotine imitate the action of natural neurotransmitters, while alcohol blocks the action of dopamine antagonists. If a patient continues to overstimulate his “reward system”, the brain gradually adapts to the artificially increased dopamine levels, producing less hormone and decreasing the number of receptors in the “reward system”. This is one of the factors that induce an addict to increase the dose to obtain the same effect. Further development of chemical tolerance may gradually lead to metabolic disturbances in the brain and potentially cause serious damage to brain health in the long term.
To illustrate the effect of nicotine on dopamine levels, let’s take a look at their interaction in a graph. Pay particular attention to the yellow line “Degree of dependence on dopamine level stimulation by nicotine”.
Notes to Graph 1.
– Stage 1 begins from the moment of inhaling smoke from that first cigarette or the first instance of secondhand smoke until the first signs of addiction (the appearance of an unconscious rare desire to inhale smoke from a lit cigarette). The duration of the first stage is from one day to a month, depending on the frequency of intake of smoke from lit cigarettes into the human body.
– Stage 2 shows a pronounced, sometimes not yet realized nicotine dependence, which consists of the systematic inhalation of smoke from lit cigarettes (probably, not so frequent – more than once a week), without any noticeable (or pronounced) deterioration to your health. This stage can last for several years.
– Stage 3 shows pronounced features of health deterioration. The duration of this stage depends on the general state of a smoker’s health at the beginning of the “smoking experience”, lifestyle, physical activity, other bad habits, etc. At this stage, changes have already occurred in the smoker’s character and morality: irritation, grumbling, hatred for others, laziness – traits inherent in most smokers, however, laziness is due to physical weakness.