Praghna Week 16: Drugs vs. Memory

Throughout this blog, I will be examining the effects of drugs on memory.

Different drugs have various effects on memory based on their purpose and the brain regions they target. Some drugs can give you a sense of temporal amnesia, but others can significantly impair the brain. 

Marijuana, for instance, has long been associated with short-term memory loss and impairments in attention and cognitive processing. The most significant substance in this drug is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which acts as a cannabinoid receptor in the hippocampus (basically the region that is in charge of memory). Though a legal drug, marijuana is only beneficial when dealing with chronic pain (and medically prescribed). 


(Image from Journey Hillside Tarzana)

Opioids are not only highly addicting, but they also impair cognitive functions and are one of the most harmful drugs (heroin specifically). They bind to opioid receptors in the brain and modulate pain perception and mood. 

Lastly, Stimulant drugs, such as cocaine, have consequential effects on the central nervous system and can significantly impact memory function. These drugs increase the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and lead to euphoric sensations. However, consistent use of this drug can disrupt memory processes involving memory retrieval and formation (the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus). Though they provide a brief sense of happiness, they lead to severe impairments in our cognitive functions (basically making us dumber even before we fully develop our prefrontal cortex). 

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