We’ve all seen those 90’s PSA’s where an egg is cracked into a smoking hot pan, followed by the statements, “This is your brain, and this is your brain on drugs.” Although they never scared me, they are embedded into my memory, but for what? The term DRUG is used so loosely, describing even, things like marijuana as schedule 1, while Big Pharma and the Alcohol industry runs a muck on human bodies worldwide legally.
The photo set below aims to specifically highlight the changes in each subjects eyes are taking a particular substance.
Not To Be Tried At Home (Well Weed’s OK)
“Rivaled only by alcohol, marijuana is the most widely used recreational substance. In recent years, marijuana has gained a lot of respect for its legitimate medical purposes. It is rapidly losing its sense of taboo and becoming more easily, legally, and readily available than ever before with Colorado and Washington’s legalization of the substance. The American public will soon find out if taxing and controlling this substance will be beneficial to the US economy. Twinkies made their comeback just in time.”
“Tobacco was critical in the development of the southern colonies in early America until cotton replaced it. In small doses it can act as a stimulant, it has also been reported to act as a relaxant. Nicotine is historically known as one of the hardest addictions to break. Over a billion people world wide use nicotine in one form or another.”
“This man is a Vietnam vet and has been taking painkillers for the last 20 years. Some users experience a euphoric response to opiate medications; since these drugs also affect the brain regions involved in reward. Those who abuse opiates often seek to intensify their experience by taking the drug in ways other than those prescribed.”
“I encountered this man wandering the streets on a hot summer night; he was wearing a full winter jacket and no shirt. During our conversation he told me about how he spoke to angels under a bridge about his long struggle with methamphetamine. He described the feeling as a sudden rush of pleasure, increased energy, focus and self-confidence”
“It is likely that most people have shared this experience. A night out taking shot after shot, only to chase it with another and perhaps a couple mixed drinks. We all know that it quickly leads to blurred or double vision.”
“She took a dose of pure MDMA, also known as “molly”. MDMA users can experience mental and physical euphoria, increased empathy, sociability, insightfulness, and enhanced tactile sensations. MDMA has been used in couples therapy and is also known to help treat PTSD. This participant spent the remainder of evening dancing with friends.”
“Millions of people rely on their morning cup of coffee to get ready for their day. Caffeine acts as a stimulant and can fight off drowsiness and make a user more alert. Legal and unregulated, caffeine is the worlds most widely used psychoactive substance. In the United States 90% of adults consume caffeine daily. ”
“During the last 5-7 years, adderall has become increasingly popular among college students. Its side effects include a heightened sense of motivation, focus, and concentration. Presumably, this is the perfect mind set which allows users to “pull all-nighters”, read hundreds of pages at a time, and write in depth, lengthy papers. What many do not realize is how widely this drug is also used among medical professionals.”
“This encounter involved a young woman taking two hits of LSD. I spent the day with her as she “tripped” out in a local park. She noted intricate visuals and brightened colors, and a general heightened sense of her surroundings.”
“This was an all night adventure that began with a couple drinks out at a local bar. This participant said it can become custom with some people after a couple drinks to grab a bag (cocaine) to keep “level”. Cocaine gives its users side effects including increased alertness as well as feelings of well-being and euphoria. The night ended around 4am after meeting a group of friends at a house for an after hours gathering.”
“While this is probably one of the most common substances used, I felt it important to include it in the series. This man spent the night out at a couple bars consuming only beer.”
