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How Meth Impacts Brain Chemistry

Source: Nora D. Volkow, M.D.; Linda Chang, M.D.; et al. American Journal of Psychiatry 2001;158:2015-2021.


Usually neurons recycle dopamine, but methamphetamine is able to fool neurons into taking it up just like it would dopamine. Once inside the neuron, methamphetamine causes that neuron to release lots of dopamine. This causes the person to feel intense pleasure that can last all day. Eventually these pleasurable sensations stop, causing unpleasant feelings called a “crash” that leads a person to crave more of the drug. Over time the person has a difficult time feeling any pleasure.

Methamphetamine can also change other neurotransimitter pathways in the brain including serotonin and epinephrine which affect mood, energy, and self-regulatory mechanisms of heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure.

– Susie Adams, PhD, PMHNP Director, VUSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program

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