Effects of Alcohol, Marijuana & Psychedelic Drugs

Within the human brain is a system of memory powerful enough to capture quick images, retaining them forever, and versatile enough to trigger associated sights, sounds, smells, tastes and emotions related to past scene. Such a potent force is vulnerable to outside influences including injury, disease and surgery. It also is subject to changes due to self-induced influences such as drugs and alcohol. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how memory is effected by these substances including marijuana, alcohol, P.C.P. and other psychedelic drugs.

Memory originates as a sensory impression stored in the brain through the central visual system beginning at the primary visual cortex. The visual cortex is an area on the back surface of the brain that receives information about the visual world from the retina by way of the optic nerve and an intermediate state (the lateral geniculate body) deep in the brain (Mishkin, 1987, p. 80). These complex faculties encompass and effect different kinds of memory, comprising experiences and learning habits.

All drugs, including those listed above, have side effects, some desirable and some unwanted. They can be physically or mentally damaging as well as frightening and potentially deadly. A sixteenth century physician, Parcelsus wrote: "All drugs are poisons. What distinguishes a poison from a remedy is the right dose" (Goodman, 1988, p. 53). Regarding their impact on the memory function, this holds true as well. The "right dose

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a result, a person has a false confidence to participate in such tasks as operating power tools, exercising or driving an automobile, all dangerous to himself or others. Long-term effects of alcohol bring about important physiological and behavioral changes, especially if the drinking is heavy. It is a potentially addictive drug and prolonged abuse can cause physical dependency, apparent to many only after the drinker stops and "withdrawal symptoms" set in. These symptoms include tremors, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and can extend to seizures and delirium tremens (DTs) which are characterized by confusion, disorientation, and hallucinations, all effecting memory (Lang, 1985, p. 59). Chronic drinking can kill brain cells, change brain structure and reduce the supply of blood to the brain. Simultaneously, it robs the body of thiamine (a B vitamin) and other vitamins crucial to the brain's functioning, thus bringing about premature aging. In addition, the damage to the central nervous system also causes problems with coordination, movement and perception, confused and disorganized thinking and significant loss of memory functioning (Lang, 1985, p. 60). Among the mind-altering drugs known as "psychedelics" is Phencyclidi

Category: Medical - E