# Can using hard drugs cause brain damage over time?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-using-hard-drugs-cause-brain-damage-over-time/589289>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 16, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-using-hard-drugs-cause-brain-damage-over-time/589289 "2011-07-16T22:30:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-using-hard-drugs-cause-brain-damage-over-time/589289/21 "2011-07-19T17:35:20Z")

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> [@Minnie\_Luna](#):
>
> Amphetamines cross the blood-brain barrier, so they definitely cause permanent brain damage ([study here](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21208167)) at various levels.

Don’t all psychoactive drugs cross the blood-brain barrier? (Alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, NSAIDs, antidepressants, to name a few…) The study seems to be about potential damage to the BBB caused by amphetamines.

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**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-using-hard-drugs-cause-brain-damage-over-time/589289/22 "2011-07-20T16:41:42Z")

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> [@VinylTurnip](#):
>
> Don’t all psychoactive drugs cross the blood-brain barrier? (Alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, NSAIDs, antidepressants, to name a few…) The study seems to be about potential damage to the BBB caused by amphetamines.

Yes, I am sorry. What I meant to say is that there is evidence the amphetamines make the BBB more permeable. When that happens and other drugs or compounds are introduced they may now be able to cross the more permeable barrier and cause changes.

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**Author:** ![BillJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@BillJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BillJJ)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2011, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-using-hard-drugs-cause-brain-damage-over-time/589289/23 "2011-08-08T09:56:21Z")

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> [@David42](#):
>
> The cell would not have a receptor for something that harms it directly would it? I am no expert biologist, but it seems right. Am I wrong?

Well. Human cells have receptors for HIV. I think it’s pretty clear that HIV is directly harmful.

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