CANR News

Category: Cooperative Extension

Drug Effects on The Human Brain

June 05, 2025 Written by Lindsay Hughes, 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent

What if a single choice could hijack your brain’s wiring, rewriting your behavior, judgment, and even your ability to survive? The human brain is an essential organ in the body, responsible for everything from regulating bodily functions to thinking, breathing, and influencing behavior. It is made up of billions of cells called neurons, which are organized into circuits and networks that work together as a team. These neurons control the flow of information.

When someone uses drugs, it interferes with the way neurons send, receive, and process signals. This interference can alter the way a person behaves, causing them to act in ways they normally wouldn’t. Drug use can affect specific areas of the brain, leading to unhealthy behaviors, increased stress, illness, and poor judgment. For example, taking opioids can significantly slow down breathing, which may result in an overdose or even death.

A woman in a dark room with her hands on her head in distress

Changes to the brain caused by drug use can make it more difficult to quit, leading to addiction and constant cravings. Long-term drug use can result in serious consequences, including mental health issues, depression, cancer, lung problems, and heart disease. Additionally, the death of brain cells due to drug use can impair cognitive functions, making it harder to understand what is happening, communicate, and coordinate movement.

It's important to note that the brain continues to develop until around the mid-twenties. Teenagers who use drugs are more susceptible to nicotine addiction because their brains are still maturing.

In the end, protecting your brain means protecting your future. Drugs may offer temporary relief or escape, but the long-term damage they cause can be life-altering—or even life-ending. Understanding how drugs disrupt the brain’s natural functions is the first step toward making healthier choices. By staying informed and choosing to stay drug-free, you give your brain the chance to grow, thrive, and guide you toward a better, healthier life. Protect your brain by avoiding drug use.

Explore topics in 4-H Youth Development Prevention >

Related News

Yes, Turfgass Cultivar Selection Matters!

July 15, 2025 | Written by: John Emerson, Turfgrass Nutrient Management Agent, Amy Shober, Nutrient Management and Environmental Quality Specialist and Erik Ervin, Turfgrass and Horticultural Systems

There are several items to consider when establishing or renovating a lawn. Of course, water, light, soil nutrient levels, and temperature are essential, but one could easily argue that cultivar (cultivated variety) selection may be the most critical step in the long-term success and persistence of a lawn. Proper cultivar selection ensures that a particular turfgrass is best adapted to local conditions and will meet the turfgrass manager's use and maintenance expectations. Newer improved cultivars will establish quicker and form a denser turf to outcompete weeds. They require less supplemental irrigation, demand fewer fertilizer and pesticide applications, and maintain a more uniform turf stand throughout the growing season. These advantages ultimately translate into a significant reduction of inputs while still maintaining an excellent stand of turf.
Peep into learning

June 25, 2025 | Written by Michele Walfred

Delaware’s 4-H Embryology Program brings baby chicks all across Delaware classrooms, libraries, afterschool programs and other locations as part of an emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The program has delighted thousands of students for years, imprinting upon young minds a memorable experience of nature and science. The impact is powerful, reaching 42,000 participants in the past five years.
Lose the lawn, for Earth’s sake

June 20, 2025 | Written By Kathleen M. Doyle Kent County Master Gardener

Lawns are the most irrigated “crop” in the U.S, covering approximately 40 million acres of land — twice as much as our national parks. They provide no nourishment to any species (except Japanese beetles), and they degrade the soil and watershed due to their shallow roots and the chemicals property owners use to kill weeds and insects and to maintain the color. While patches of lawn are useful for children and pets, most homeowners blanket their property with turf. The impact of this monoculture of lawn devastates the environment.