Memory function in individuals abusing drugs and alcohol is impaired. The extent of the impairment is usually dependant on the extent of the abuse. Alcohol and marijuana are two common entry level drugs widely perceived to by fairly harmless. These two drugs have definite effects on the ability, of an individual using and abusing them, to form and retrieve memories. The impact of the drug can be direct, as in neurotoxic effects, or indirect, as the result of the drug's action on parts on the body other than the brain itself, or on the body's ability to utilize chemical transmitters needed for memory formation or retrieval. The action, of alcohol and marijuana on the brain's cognitive ability, encompasses both short-term, a few seconds, and long-term memory storage. Repeated alcohol abuse and alcoholism, can lead to the development of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome a debilitating and chronic condition of memory deficits. Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is caused directly by a nutritional deficiency of thiamine. Alcohol abuse decreases the ability of the body to absorb and utilize thiamine for brain functions which is the cause of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
Memory loss due to drug and alcohol use can be long or short term and is significant. Alcohol is a drug. The primary cause of the memory loss may be due to the direct neurotoxic effect of the drug. The memory loss may also be caused by secondary effects of the substance abuse. In most instances, a single exposure to a drug will not cause permanent memory impairment but may have short term effects on learning ability. Two substances have been show to have major impacts on the ability, of an individual, to learn, recall, and retain information. The effects of these two entry level drugs on memory are significant. This paper will focus on the memory loss associated with primarily alcohol addiction and abuse and marijuana. Both, of these substances, have been shown to be...