There are many ways that drugs impact a person. Some of these range in terms of severity, and it’s all dependent on the individual in question. Regardless, drug abuse is a difficult circumstance to deal with for anybody.
Everybody has their own context and history when it comes to substance use disorder. This is a key factor in addiction treatment, and it’s important to ask these questions when beginning treatment. Diving deeper into how drugs influence an individual in different ways, it’s easier to get a better idea of how best to treat an individual’s addiction. This is especially true as it relates to personality changes as a result of drug use.
How Do Drugs Alter Your Personality?
Drugs can temporarily alter an individual’s personality by interfering with the brain’s normal chemical processes. These substances can affect the neurotransmitter systems responsible for mood, thought, and behavior.
For example, stimulants like cocaine can instigate feelings of heightened confidence and energy, potentially leading to risk-taking behaviors. On the other hand, depressants like alcohol may lower inhibitions and self-control. This often results in actions uncharacteristic of the individual’s sober personality.
Ultimately, drug use fundamentally alters how an individual perceives and interacts with the world around them. Long-term drug use can lead to persistent personality changes.
Personality is often understood as a unique blend of emotional, attitudinal, and behavioral response patterns of an individual. It is an intricate system shaped by both genetic predispositions and environmental influences.
Personality is influenced by family, culture, experiences, and individual choices. Theories in psychology suggest that personality consists of several key dimensions that are relatively stable over time. However, personality can also evolve due to life circumstances or conscious efforts by the individual. From the moment they’re born, people begin to develop their personality through interactions with people and the world around them.
The use of addictive substances significantly alters brain chemistry by disrupting the normal functioning of neurotransmitters (chemicals that transmit signals in the brain). These substances can increase the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This leads to heightened feelings of euphoria.
However, addiction causes the brain to adjust to these elevated dopamine levels. This is problematic, because it diminishes the user’s ability to find pleasure in natural rewards (which often leads to dependence and addiction). This imbalance in brain chemistry can impair cognitive functions, affect decision-making, and influence emotional stability.
Brain chemistry significantly influences personality traits through the interplay of neurotransmitters. For example, chemicals like serotonin work to impact mood and emotional stability. This particular chemical is often associated with feelings of happiness. Low levels of serotonin are linked with depression and aggression, while higher levels tend to correlate with a more positive mood.
Dopamine is associated with reward and pleasure systems in the brain. It influences motivation, excitement, and novelty-seeking behavior. Variations in the levels or activities of these and other neurotransmitters can lead to distinct personality patterns. Therefore, addictive substances can absolutely affect brain chemistry and have a profound impact on behavior and temperament.
Do Different Kinds of Drugs Have Different Effects on the Brain?
Different kinds of drugs have their own distinct impacts on the brain and its overall function. The three different kinds of drugs believed to have the biggest impact are stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens.
Stimulants are a class of drugs that increase brain activity. They exert their effects by enhancing the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain (such as dopamine and norepinephrine). These neurotransmitters are responsible for regulating mood, energy levels, and attention. Because of this, stimulants can lead to increased alertness, attention, and energy. However, they also have the potential to cause adverse effects. These effects can include increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and dependence or addiction in some cases.
It may seem as though depressants are simply substances that make a person feel more tired or drowsy, but it’s actually more complicated. Depressants act on the brain by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is a neurotransmitter responsible for reducing brain activity. This leads to a calming effect, which is why GABA can be used to enhance sleep and may be a part of anxiety treatment.
It is worth mentioning that the increased presence of GABA can also slow down brain function, which can affect judgment, reactions, and coordination. In the long term, heavy use can lead to dependence and symptoms of drug withdrawal. This is why it’s imperative to only ever use depressants under professional supervision if they are prescribed.
Hallucinogens exert their effects on the brain by disrupting the normal functioning of serotonin. These substances can alter users’ perception of time, space, and reality by inducing vivid (often distorted) auditory and visual experiences.
Hallucinogenic experiences can vary significantly. They’re often influenced by a variety of factors, including the type and quantity of hallucinogen used, the user’s expectations, and the environment in which the substance is taken.
Long-term effects of hallucinogen use on the brain are still being studied. However, there is evidence suggesting potential alterations in brain structure and function may take place due to hallucinogen use (particularly with frequent and high doses).
Which Drugs Can Cause Permanent Changes to Your Personality?
Certain psychoactive substances are documented as potentially causing lasting changes in an individual’s personality.
For example, long-term use of substances such as LSD (also known as acid) can lead to enduring shifts in mood, perception, and thought patterns. This is a condition often referred to as Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD). Chronic methamphetamine use can result in significant alterations in brain structure and function. This has the potential to lead to changes in behavior and personality, including increased aggression and impulsivity. Prolonged exposure to high doses of steroids is associated with mood disorders and aggressive behavior.
It’s crucial to understand that the degree of personality change can vary widely among individuals. This depends on factors like duration of drug use, the potency of the drug, and the user’s pre-existing mental health status.
The Impact of Long-Term Drug Abuse on Personality
Chronic exposure to drugs disrupts the brain’s chemical balance, affecting mood, decision-making, stress response, and self-control. Individuals may become increasingly irritable, aggressive, or exhibit depression and anxiety.
These alterations in brain function can lead to a diminished capacity for empathy. It can also lead to a reduced ability to form healthy relationships, which can fundamentally change the core aspects of a user’s personality.
How Does Drug Abuse Impact Emotional Regulation?
Drug abuse profoundly impacts an individual’s ability to regulate emotions, leading to heightened states of anxiety, depression, and emotional instability. Chemical imbalance caused by substances can severely disrupt the brain’s natural processes for managing emotions. This makes it increasingly difficult for individuals to cope with stress, recognize and express emotions, or maintain stable moods.
When emotional regulation is disrupted, it affects the individual’s mental health and may necessitate mental health treatment. This can also strain a person’s relationships and professional life, creating a cycle of dependency that can be hard to break.
Do Drugs Cause Personality Disorders?
While drugs do not directly cause personality disorders, they can make underlying issues much worse. Substance abuse can interfere with an individual’s emotional regulation and decision-making processes, potentially magnifying pre-existing personality disorder symptoms. It’s imperative for individuals to seek comprehensive dual diagnosis treatment when dealing with substance use and mental health disorders at the same time.
What are Personality Disorders?
Personality disorders are often characterized by enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that deviate significantly from cultural expectations. These patterns are rigid and pervasive across many different circumstances. They lead to significant distress or impairment in personal, social, and/or occupational functioning.
What Triggers Personality Disorders?
Personality disorders are complex conditions influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Those with personality disorders often have difficulty dealing with others and managing personal relationships; the symptoms typically manifest in adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetics may play a role in these disorders, but environmental influences play a significant role in their development. This could include trauma, childhood adversity, or unstable family life that could require PTSD treatment for complete healing. Psychological aspects, including one’s ability to form healthy relationships or coping mechanisms for stress, also contribute. It’s an interplay of these elements that can trigger personality disorders, making them challenging to both anticipate and treat.
Can a Personality Change Due to Drug Abuse be Treated?
A personality change due to drug abuse can be treated. Treatment typically involves a combination of therapy, medication, and support groups. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be particularly effective in helping individuals understand the triggers of their drug use, develop coping strategies, and learn how to change harmful thought patterns and behaviors. Recovery is designed overall to help people regain their pre-abuse personality traits and improve their overall mental health.
Addiction Treatment at Crestview Recovery
At Crestview Recovery, we offer comprehensive treatment for those suffering from substance use disorder. Addressing mental health is integral to healing, and we work to treat the entire person with a holistic perspective. If you or a loved one are suffering from an addiction, contact us here to begin your healing journey.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
