They make us feel really good at first, but then they decrease our brain's activity to fight pain on its own. Our ability to think and plan ahead is weakened through taking narcotics. People ask, "Why don't you just stop?" It isn't so easy.ﾠ In each person's brain are molecules that naturally relieve pain and make you feel good. However, when someone abuses narcotics, rushes of similar molecules attach themselves to Dopamine receptors and eventually, the brain becomes dependent on the narcotics to relieve pain and feel good. The brain stops making its own pain relievers. The brain wants to keep the effect of the drugs going. The more drugs you take, the more the brain demands to feel the effects.

To stop narcotics that the brain has grown used to requires bravery and motivation.ﾠ It takes about 3 weeks to get a narcotic out of your system. During this time, you may experience cold sweats, shaking; have trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, all over body pain, and extreme aggravation. Suboxin is a drug that can help improve the side effects of withdrawal; it can work for many people.ﾠ However, recovery isn't something that happens overnight. It's a process that has to be worked on for a long time. Your brain and your body need time to heal.

Narcotics, when taken by teens, have even more effects.ﾠ From age 12-17, a person's brain is still growing and developing. When teens take narcotics, it stunts the growth of the brain, causing slower reactions and thinking later on in life. However, healing and recovery can be easier for teens who have not been taking narcotics for very long than for adults. It may not be easy, but recovery and healing is possible for anyone.

A special thanks goes out to Dr. Bob Must for his presentation and conversation with us about how drugs affect the brain. We are now one step closer to understanding and helping our friends and community understand why narcotics are so dangerous to our bodies.

For more information please feel free to talk to Shelby Starks, Molly Plaugher, Derick Hamman, Amberﾠ McClure, Brooke Clevinger, Billie Woody, Brooke Irvine, Makinsey Cochran, Kendra Hubbert, or Moniefia Maitland, or Lauren Garretson.

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