Get help now.
If you or someone you know is in immediate distress, access these resources and hotlines toll-free and receive 24-hour, confidential support. You are not facing this alone.
988
Mental Health Crisis & Suicide PreventionDial 988, a helpline for immediate crisis and non-emergency assistance, for mental health and substance use issues.
911
EmergencyFor serious medical problems or any imminent, life-threatening situation, dial 911.
Substances and Your Brain
Your brain is what makes you you. It allows you to think, breathe, speak, and feel. The brain is always working, processing information so we can function properly. When substances enter your system, they mess with your brain’s typical functionality and can eventually lead to negative changes in how it works.
What does “getting high” really mean?
We used to believe that the “high” you feel while using substances was because of dopamine – “the happy hormone.” Now, we know that it’s a lot more complicated. Many substances affect your brain’s “reward system.” This system remembers where you are and who you are with when you use substances, leading you to seek those places and people out again. These patterns then reinforce the desire to use substances more and more often.
How Substances
Affect Your Brain
The Long Lasting Truth
Using substances now could impact your life forever. Continued substance use can cause depression, anxiety, panic attacks, aggression, paranoia, and more. Long term use can also impact your ability to remember and concentrate. SUD can also lead to other diseases.
