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CHAPTER 15 - IMAGES OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE
Select a chapter from the list
Brain Pollution and the Real Reason You Shouldn't Use
Drugs
Studying the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain has clearly been one of the
most informative and fascinating parts of my work. I had a sense growing up that
drugs and alcohol weren't helpful to my overall health. I might add, this notion
was helped along by getting drunk on a six pack of Michelob and half a bottle of
champagne when I was sixteen years old - I was sick for three days. After that,
I've been lucky enough to stay away from drugs and alcohol. After doing this
work there's no way you could get me to do marijuana, heroin, cocaine,
methamphetamine, LSD, PCP, inhalants or any more than a glass or two of wine or
beer. These substances damage the patterns in your brain, and without your brain you
are not you.
There is really quite a bit of scientific literature on the physiological effects of
drugs and alcohol on the brain. SPECT Scans have demonstrated a number of abnormalities in
substance abusers in brain areas known to be involved in behavior, such as the
frontal and temporal lobes. There are some SPECT similarities and differences
between the damage we see caused by the different substances of abuse. I'll
discuss the differences in drug abuse patterns below. There tends to be several
similarities seen among classes of abused drugs. The most common similarity among
drug and alcohol abusers is that the brain has an overall toxic look to it. In
general, the SPECT Scan studies look less active, more shriveled, and overall less
healthy. A "scalloping effect" is common amongst drug abusing brains.
Normal brain patterns show smooth activity across the cortical surface. Scalloping
is a wavy, rough sea-like look on the brain's surface. I also see this pattern
in patients who have been exposed to toxic fumes or oxygen deprivation. My research
assistant says that the drug brains she has seen look like someone poured acid on
the brain. Not a pretty site.
SPECT can be helpful in evaluating the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain. On
3D surface brain images, several substances of abuse appear to show consistent patterns.
For example, cocaine and methamphetamine abuse appear as multiple small holes across
the cortical surface; heroin abuse appears as marked decreased activity across the
whole cortical surface; heavy marijuana abuse shows decreased activity in the
temporal lobes bilaterally and heavy alcohol abuse shows marked decreased activity
throughout the brain. These findings tend to improve with abstinence, although long
term use has been associated with continued SPECT deficits seen years after
abstinence. SPECT can be helpful in several ways in drug and alcohol abuse. First,
3D surface SPECT brain images of drug and alcohol abusers can be used in drug prevention
education. Second, SPECT studies can help break though the denial that often
accompanies substance abuse. When one is faced with their own abnormal cerebral
perfusion it is hard to remain in denial. Third, SPECT may help evaluate if there is
an underlying neuropsychiatric condition that needs treatment.
Effects of Marijuana
In our experience, the effects of marijuana use typically cause decreased activity in the
posterior temporal lobes bilaterally. The damage can be mild or severe, depending on
how long a person used, how much use occurred, what other substances were used
(nicotine is a powerful vasoconstrictor) and how vulnerable a particular brain is.
For more information see Dr. Amen's article High Resolution Brain SPECT Imaging
in Marijuana Smokers with AD/HD, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, Volume 30, No. 2
April-June 1998. Pgs 1-13.
Off and On Marijuana Effects
This 57-year-old physician had abused marijuana for 30 years. We performed this
SPECT series because he had been unable to stop using without feeling very angry,
irritable, agitated and anxious.
The first study (those images in the right column) was performed after he came to
the clinic intoxicated from 3 straight days of heavy usage. The second study (those
images in the left column) was performed after he abstained from marijuana usage for
1 month.
Notice the study without marijuana shows decreased temporal lobe activity (likely
from the chronic marijuana usage), but also patchy increased uptake, especially
increased activity in the deep left temporal lobe (often associated with anger,
irritability and anxiety). The study with heavy marijuana usage shows marked overall
decreased activity, especially in the prefrontal cortex and temporal lobes
(associated with attention, memory and motivational problems) but also there is a
decrease in the overactive areas noted in the "off marijuana" study.
This scan series argues for the possibility of "self-medication," but
unfortunately this medication has the side effect of causing the potential for long
term damage to his brain.
Effects of Marijuana - Abstracts
Long Term Effects of Heroin & Methadone
Long Term Effects of Cocaine & Methamphetamine
Effects of Alcohol
38 y/o - 17 years of heavy weekend use
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marked overall decreased activity
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Alcohol
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48 y/o -- 22 years of daily use with history of past head
injury
marked scalloping overall decreased activity
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Hope for Healing
Alcohol, Cocaine & Meth
On and Off Drugs
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notice the overall holes and shriveled appearance during
abuse and marked improvement with abstinence
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Effects of Heavy Nicotine & Caffeine Abuse
45 y/o -- 27 year history of heavy use
3 packs of cigarettes and 3 pots of coffee daily
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