Entering college is one of the greatest achievements for brilliant young people. Higher institutions provide the chance for teens to grow into adults and gain experiences that will help them becomes well-paid professionals will high-quality reputations. However, under certain circumstances, extracurricular activities involving certain addictive substances can result in catastrophic effects. Studies have shown that young adults who take drugs during these critical years of learning may suffer from tremendously detrimental problems with their social lives and (most importantly) their educational circles. Here is a closer look at why using drugs in college can have a terrible impact on your grades.
How Addiction Affects the Human Brain
Before we begin, let’s take a closer look at the source of the problem.
Drugs, simply put, are chemicals that impact the communication network inside our brains. The method of consumption (eating, smoking, or injecting) does not matter. These substances will influence thought patterns and physical reactions, depending on the type of drug that is ingested. Overall, scientists have determined that drugs can affect the neural network in these ways:
- Identifying and mimicking naturally occurring chemical messengers
- Excessively stimulating the brain’s reward center
For example, marijuana and heroin can trick the brain and latch onto nerve endings to induce unusual or euphoric sensations, while stimulants (like cocaine and meth) force the release of dopamine to create a sudden rush of energy. As a result of long-term use, these communication pathways can be muted or distorted, resulting in erratic behavior commonly associated with addiction.
How Drugs Affect Your Grades
Whether you are in high school or college, drugs can and will destroy your social life and (ultimately) your grades. Substances like marijuana have a particularly notorious reputation in schools. Here is a look at the ways drugs can impact your education:
- Studying less
- Earning lower academic grades
- Poor class attendance rate
- Missing classes and ultimately dropping out of school
- Failure to find employment opportunities
- Failure to obtain a high-income job (due to dropping out of school)
Always remember that drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance abuse disorder or addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Out counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug addiction troubles today.