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- Info & Advice on Drugs In Scotland

How Drugs work

All drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) affect the brain. Different drugs act on different areas and alter the chemical balance, creating the feelings and sensations associated with drug taking.

  • Different drugs have different effects but it's not possible to say exactly how any one drug will affect someone.
  • Drugs may be more harmful for young people because their bodies and brains are still developing.
  • The same drug can have very different effects at different times, depending on its purity (which can vary a great deal) and the person's emotional mood, health, circumstances and surroundings.
  • Some drugs are more addictive than others. And some people are much more likely than others to become addicted.
  • Some drugs can trigger underlying mental health problems and make existing ones worse.