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Real Teens Ask: Can your brain size change from drug use?
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At NIDA’s last Drug Facts Chat Day, mendythepenty asked this question:
“is it possible that you do so much drugs, that your brain can change into the size of a pea?”
When you do drugs, your brain changes. According to NIDA scientists, the brain weighs about three pounds and doing drugs, even for the first time, can change how our brain looks and works. Assuming you’re serious, does this literally mean it can shrink to the size of a pea? Probably not, but the fact that drugs can change your brain, never mind damage or kill brain cells, is enough for me!
I want to be smart. To me, smart means cool, and it means healthy. And healthy means being able to live the life you choose, whether that’s trying out for the basketball team, skateboarding with friends, or going to the school dance.
Discover more about how drugs affect the brain. And pass it on! You can read more real questions from kids in our NIDA Drug Facts Chat Day transcripts.
Real Teens Ask: Can inhaling Sharpie markers make you high?
Lots of kids have questions about drugs. That’s why each year, NIDA scientists spend a day chatting online with high school students and answering their questions.
At our last Drug Facts Chat Day, mmmegan asked:
“can inhaling sharpies make you high?!?!?!”
According to NIDA’s scientists, the answer is yes. Permanent markers contain chemicals called solvents. When inhaled, these solvents can produce a “high.” Like alcohol, inhalants (including Sharpies) can cause slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. Unfortunately, the chemicals that cause these effects can also make you sick, kill your brain cells, and damage your nerves.
Some people think inhalants aren’t “real drugs” because a lot of them are sold in grocery stores—stuff like cleaners, glue, and markers. Household products are safe, if you use them like you’re supposed to. But that doesn’t mean they’re okay to inhale! I mean, you wouldn’t drink drain cleaner, or squirt bug spray in your mouth, would you? The chemicals in inhalants can be very dangerous, especially to kids. It’s rare, but some kids have even died after a single session of inhaling chemical fumes. So it’s really true that inhalants can kill you.
You can read more real questions from kids at our NIDA Drug Facts Chat Day transcripts. And you can get more information on inhalants at NIDA’s website.
