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increases, and the person breathes faster. Stimulants also increase the presence of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Dopamine is involved in the brain’s “reward center,” which gives humans the ability to feel pleasure. Users experience a rush of euphoria and a boost of energy. People using stimulants are more active, and they feel less tired and less hungry. In low doses—like, say, a can of regular soda—there’s usually no harm done, and there may even be some benefits, as anybody who needs a little coffee to wake up can attest. Prescription stimulants are a lot stronger than the caffeine in a can of soda, but if used correctly they can be life-changing for people who struggle with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But the effects of stimulants are dose-dependent, meaning the more of the drug you

Find out more about how prescription stimulant drugs affect the brain.

This Is Your Brain (and the Rest of You) on Drugs

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