drugs
The Death of Heath Ledger: Drugs or Method Acting?
The death of one of Hollywood’s greatest actors, Heath Ledger, took everyone by surprise on the 22nd January 2008. Ledger was a highly acclaimed actor known for his transformative performances and dedication to his craft. Movies, such as, “Brokeback Mountain,” “The Dark Knight,” and “10 Things I Hate About You.” are all considered masterpieces in their own way.
The Australian actor was known to go above and beyond for his roles, using method acting to truly become the character. However, his tragic death at the youthful age of 28 left fans and critics questioning the role that method acting may have played in his untimely passing. Was it drugs or method acting that really brought about the demise of a true acting star? Let’s delve into this.
Who was Heath Ledger?
Well, if you’ve been living under a rock or were born after the year 2000, then maybe Heath Ledger’s life and incredible acting career may have passed you by. But either way, lets dive a little into his life before his unfortunate demise in 2008. Heath Ledger was born in Perth, Australia, in 1979. He began his acting career in the early 1990s, appearing in Australian television shows such as “Sweat” and “Home and Away.”
In 1998, he made his feature film debut in “Blackrock.” However, it wasn’t until his breakthrough performance in the 1999 teen comedy “10 Things I Hate About You” that he gained international recognition. Over the next few years, Ledger continued to establish himself as one of Hollywood’s rising stars, with critically acclaimed performances in films such as “Monster’s Ball” and “The Patriot.” However, it was his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in Ang Lee’s 2005 film “Brokeback Mountain” that earned him widespread acclaim and his first Academy Award nomination. Ang Lee, the successful director of Brokeback Mountain, spoke about Ledger in the Empire:
“Heath Ledger was a brilliant young actor. God only knows what he would have achieved later in life… I both understood, and cherished, Heath’s quietness, the subtlety of the moment. We are all very lucky we were able to make movies with an actor of that calibre. He had a God-given gift.”
Ledger certainly had a talent that not everyone in the acting world shared. He was a mesmerising, creative and bold performer. This was especially shown in his performance as the Joker in the “The Dark Knight” trilogy, Christopher Nolan’s incredible take on the batman franchise. It was this performance that won him “Best Supporting Actor” at the Oscars. Sadly, Ledger was unable to physically receive the award, as he died a few months after filming. On the 22nd January 2008, the actor was found dead by his masseuse and housekeeper in his bed. History quotes the coroner’s report:
“The report stated that he died of an accidental “abuse of prescription medications” that included commonly known painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills.”
The cause of death was determined to be an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine. But was it an accident? Was it self-inflicted? As with the death of all famous icons throughout time, this led to many wondering what the real reason behind the tragic event was.
Ledger’s Relationship with Drugs
Despite his success, Heath Ledger struggled with substance abuse for many years. He used a great amount of prescription drugs, mainly to treat his sleep problems and pneumonia. It was also believed he had a cocaine and heroin addiction – but these are only rumours. The facts are that Heath Ledger died due to a fatal concoction of legal substances that really should not be mixed. In an interview with Ledger’s father, he quoted a conversation that happened between Ledger’s sister and Heath himself:
“The last conversation Kate had with him was this discussion about his medications and she warned him, ‘You can’t mix drugs that you don’t know anything about…He said ‘Katie, Katie, I’ll be fine.’’
He then goes on to say…
“There is pressure on everybody, especially young people, to perform and to keep going… He was a young guy that travelled all the time for work. Even as a 2-year-old, he hardly ever slept. He was trying to work and travel and do everything in a short space of time.”
Whether used for medical or recreational purposes, you can make the argument that any use of drugs is for some sort of treatment. Whether it be boredom, depression or whatever it is. Some people would like to simplify Heath Ledger’s death, stating it as an accident. Of course it may have been that – who can truly tell? But even so, Ledger’s stress, lack of sleep, or need for those substances, may not have been an accident.
Why did Heath Ledger Die?
Let’s take a look at some of the key talking points when thinking about the death of one of the world’s greatest young actors.
Method Acting
Method acting is an approach to acting that involves immersing oneself in a character’s emotions and experiences in order to deliver a more authentic and compelling performance. This technique is often associated with great actors like Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Daniel Day Lewis and has been praised for its ability to bring realism to the stage and screen. Heath Ledger was known for his dedication to his craft and his commitment to fully embodying the characters he portrayed on screen.
This dedication was evident in his performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight – he completely transformed himself. In preparation for the role, Ledger reportedly locked himself in a hotel room for a month, delving deep into the character’s psyche and creating the Joker’s sinister mannerisms and vocalizations. He also kept a diary in which he wrote down the character’s thoughts and emotions, allowing himself to fully inhabit the role. There is no question that a long period of delving into the sinister world of the Joker cannot be an entirely joyful experience but, then again, people forget how much of a profession Heath Ledger was.
Every actor has their own methods, the ones that work for them and Ledger was no different. There seems to be a romanticized view on the world of method acting, as if it has the power to kill a person. Of course no one can say for certain how Heath Ledger felt after becoming the Joker, but there are far more likely factors to consider. For instance, the loneliness and relentless hours of acting can be a hard pill to swallow. Staying in a hotel, in the middle of nowhere, with no friends or family for months on end, going on and off set – it can’t do wonders for morale, can it? For me, this is a more likely reason for his potential drug use than any method acting argument.
Fame
Another undeniable factor to consider is the world of fame. Many believe that an actor’s life begins when they become famous, but in many ways it ends. Of course being famous can be an incredible experience, but it can also be incredibly stressful. The constant scrutiny of the media and public can take a toll on an individual’s mental health and well-being. In addition, the expectations and demands of the entertainment industry can be overwhelming, leaving many celebrities feeling exhausted and burnt out.
For some, turning to drugs can be a way to cope with the pressures of fame. Drugs can provide a temporary escape from the stresses of life, allowing individuals to forget their problems and relax. However, this relief is often short-lived, and the long-term consequences of drug use can be severe. Look at the likes of Elton John, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. Fans usually think that fame brings you closer to people – due to the fact that the whole world knows who you are – but in reality it isolates you more than ever before. It’s likely that as Heath Ledger became more famous, he was disappointed by its lack of real meaning.
Drugs
The genuine, 100%, certain reason for Heath Ledger’s death was drugs. Factually speaking, the actor died from the wrong substances reacting in the wrong way to end his life. However, I think it’s fair to say that the actor was struggling with some sort of drug use problem. These problems are not self-made, they are caused. Far Out Magazine writes:
“In a 2007 interview with The New York Times, Ledger had revealed that he was heavily dependent on drugs such as Ambien for sleep since the production process of The Dark Knight had taken a heavy toll on him”
Some will take this to mean that the role itself had exhausted him, which is probably true. Any great actor will give a lot of themselves to a role, leaving them with little left in themselves. However, it also could mean the relentless process of filmmaking – with long hours and hotel sleeps. Whichever way you look at it, it seems that it’s pointless trying to pinpoint one main reason for the death of Heath Ledger. Perhaps it was just a concoction of many.
Conclusion
Heath Ledger was a legend, there’s no doubt about it. If he had stayed alive he would have certainly gone on to do unbelievable things in the acting world. However, we should count ourselves lucky that we were still able to witness the masterpieces that he did make during his 28 years of life. Since his death, many have debated what the cause of it was. However, it seems that we must put that to rest and allow it to be seen – like most things – as a nuanced situation. It may have been an accident but, then again, why did he need so many substances in the first place? It may have been his intense method of acting but, then again, what about the relentless hours and isolation of being an actor? Perhaps we’ll never know. What is for sure, is that Heath Ledger was a legend and no debate around his death will ever stop that from being true.
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Welcome to The Cannadelics Sunday Edition, Cannadelics’ weekly newsletter, sent every Sunday morning 11am est with the main stories of the week. This week we look into some unusual drug activities such as legal Cocaine, Amanita pee method, vape bong, drug cartels, Amanita HHC gummies, Cannabis chocolate, DEA & FDA, hemp in Argentina and more.
Don’t forget to check the article on the Amanita Pee Method as while it is not advised, it’s alot of fun to read about… Also see why there is legal Cocaine is Canada, even they didn’t really planned that to happen… Last, the Vape Bong is a new device. What is it and what makes it so special?
In our deals section, you could find rare opportunities on Amanita gummies, Knockout THC gummies, THCA flower and high-potency power 9 gummies. If you happen to like gummies, we have a great newsletter for you!
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The Cannadelics Sunday Edition (3/5/2023) – CA Legal Cocaine, Amanita Pee Method, Vape Bong & Drug Cartels and more
Hi,
Welcome to the Cannadelics Sunday edition, going out every Sunday with the top stories from the cannabis and psychedelics industries. This week we have a mixed bag of stories as well as a few deals from our deal-of-the-day segments.
Thanks for stopping by!
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THE WEEK IN REVIEW:
This week we have some exciting news, starting with a story about Canada selling legal cocaine, Amanita pee method, Psychedelic products at this year’s High Times Hemp Cup, DEA clarification on cannabinoid laws, Vape bong, Drug cartels and much more!
legal cocaine:
Stepping It Up: Canada Approved Two Companies to Sell Cocaine
Legal Cocaine???
One of the few substances we consider when we think of drug reform is cocaine. Yet in Canada, that’s exactly what is going on, as Health Canada just announced that they have made allowances for two companies to legally sell cocaine. Yes, Cocaine, the famous white central nervous system (CNS) stimulant people use for sun. This comes after British Columbia already decriminalized hard drugs within the province, as a way of dealing with the growing opioid use, and overdose rate.
Amanita Mushroom Products at 2023 High Times Hemp Cup
The 2023 High Times Hemp Cup is introducing a new product to the competition – Amanita Hemp Cup products that contain muscimol from Amanita muscaria mushrooms, combined with popular cannabinoids. The Amanita Hemp Cup products include gummies and pre-rolled joints containing muscimol combined with HHC, Delta 8 THC, and CBD.
The Vape Bong: Best of Both Worlds
Both bongs and vapes have become staple items in the world of cannabis. Both promote a somewhat cleaner way to consume cannabis than your average blunt or bowl out of a pipe, so it makes sense to combine the two into one super-product! The vape bong represents the best of both worlds, with most vape companies offering a bong attachment as an aftermarket product. Here’s more on how it works.
Cannabis Chocolate: Does it Taste Like Weed?
Although many people love both cannabis and chocolate, the flavor often leaves something to be desired, if they’re not prepared a certain way. the taste of infused treats can depend on various factors, including the quality of the product, the type of cannabis used, and the manufacturing process. In this article, we will explore these factors make for the best cannabis chocolate.
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Additional Reading:
A few more articles for your reading pleasure, such as legal cocaine in Canada, Amanita pee method, Cannabinoid laws by the DEA, Vape bong, Drug cartels and more!
DEA & FDA: The Confusion Over Legal Drugs VS Legal Products
It’s been an ongoing battle, but the DEA and FDA have released statement to clarify their stance on various cannabinoids. Are hemp-derived cannabinoids that are completely or partially synthetic, legal? Are the cannabinoids that show up in nature, but are only used for production as synthetics, legal? And what about the products that are made from these compounds? Are they legal? Short answer, no. But click the link to learn more.
The Amanita Pee Method: Not Advised, But Fun to Read About
The amanita pee method is one of the older ways to get high off amanita mushrooms. Luckily, you don’t need to drink any pee just to have an amanita experience. Even back in the same general time period, many Siberians did what you can do today: boil the mushrooms to make a tea. However, the ancient pee method is quite interesting to learn about.
New Argentina Hemp Law Expected to Widen Domestic and Export Markets
With the help of activist groups like Mama Cultiva, Argentia forced its way into the medical cannabis market. Now, Argentina making even bigger moves by opening the doors for increased hemp production for both domestic and export markets. The announcement for the implementation of the Regulatory Agency for the Hemp and Medical Cannabis Industry (ARICCAME), came out on January 25th, with its first working group to start immediately.
What is a Drug Cartel?
In the world of illegal substances, drug cartels are the kingpins. If you’ve ever heard of Pablo Escobar and his Medellin Cartel in Colombia, then you’ll have heard of these organizations. But that was then and this is now. Who are the current drug cartels to look out for? But not only that, what actually are they? We’re going to be explaining how drug cartels work, how they thrive and how they do or don’t get caught.
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News from the Week:
*** Ecuador Expanded Hemp Industry to Include More Industrial Uses
*** What’s The Deal with Shoddy Vape Carts Lately?
*** Brazil: Cannabis Startup Capital of the World?
*** 2023 Farm Bill Under Construction: What to Expect For Hemp
*** Does A Medical Setting Affect Psychedelic Treatment?
*** How Legal Cannabis Affects Pharmaceutical Sales
Legal cocaine, Amanita pee method, Drug cartels – Conclusion
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The Cannadelics team
*** Disclaimer: As the legality of cannabinoids and psychedelics changes between state to state, you should always check with your local authorities first.
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Welcome to the Cannadelics Sunday Edition, our weekly newsletter sent to our readers every Sunday morning with the leading stories of the week. This week the main articles were about 2023 Farm-Bill, Delta-8 THC vs Delta-9 THC, Isotonitazene – the new extra-string opioid, Poor-quality vape carts, THC-O clearance sale, Psychedelic medical settings, Medical Cannabis as a part of healthcare, Drugs on blue-monday and Salvia legality and more.
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The Cannadelics Sunday Edition (2/19/2023) – Isotonitazene, Vape Carts, 2023 Farm-Bill, Delta-8 vs Delta-9, THC-O Sale and more
Hi,
Welcome to the Cannadelics Sunday edition, going out every Sunday with the top stories from the cannabis and psychedelics industries. This week we have a mixed bag of stories as well as a few deals from our deal-of-the-day segments.
Thanks for stopping by!
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THE WEEK IN REVIEW:
This week we have a pretty even mix of both cannabis and psychedelics news. 2023 Farm-Bill is coming soon, what to expect? A few popular topics explore the latest opioid to hit the market, which is said to be stronger than fentanyl and comes along with public fears of a worsening opioid epidemic. Also covered is how legal cannabis impacts big pharma, how a medical setting impacts psychedelic therapy, and more!
Worse Than Fentanyl? New Opioid Isotonitazene Deepens Opioid Issue
Considering how strong fentanyl is, and the absolute devastation it’s had on the American public, it’s a bit crazy to think that a new, and even stronger opioid was just released. It’s name is isotonitazene, and it is said to be 20-100 times more powerful than fentanyl, making it around 500 time stronger than morphine. Will this make the already terrible opioid situation, even worse?
What’s The Deal with Shoddy Vape Carts Lately?
Over the past few months, we’ve observed a significant decrease in the caliber of the vape cartridges we purchase. Strangely, it’s not the concentrate inside that’s the issue, but rather the carts themselves. Whether it’s leakage or complete disintegration, the majority of vape carts we’ve bought in the past year have been of poor quality. What’s going on?
2023 Farm-Bill Under Construction: What to Expect
It’s that time again… time for a new and “improved” farm bill. A farm bill is a set of laws that governs a wide array of food and agricultural program, including hemp which is federally legal. The last one sure shook things up with its legalization of industrial hemp and derived products. But it also created many messes. Now with the new 2023 farm bill under construction, the burning question is, how will it impact the industry?
Does A Medical Setting Affect Psychedelic Treatment?
As psychedelics gain acceptance quickly, laws in different states are changing to accommodate their possession and use. So far though, the only states to legalize have done so with an allowance for use in a medical/supervised setting. But is this really the most beneficial setting in which to use these compounds, or can it get in the way of true spiritual healing?
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Additional Reading:
A few more articles for your reading pleasure, such as the 2023 farm-bill, medical cannabis, salvia, Delta 9 vs Delta 8 etc.
Delta-8 THC vs Delta-9 THC: What Are the Key Differences?
For centuries, cannabis has been a widely used substance valued for its psychoactive effects and medicinal properties. Among the many cannabinoids found in cannabis, two of the most prevalent psychoactive compounds today are Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC. Despite their similar names, these compounds differ in their chemical makeup, psychoactive effects, medicinal uses, and legal status. What distinguishes Delta-8 THC from Delta-9 THC?
Colombia Now Has Mandatory Medical Cannabis as a Part of Healthcare
Columbia ended 2022 on a high note by announcing that medical cannabis is now a mandatory part of their healthcare program. That means that approved, plant-based cannabis products will be covered by insurance, for all residents. Resolution 2808 also added more medical conditions that can be treated with medical cannabis, like: chronic and neuropathic pain, cancer pain, sleep disorders, epilepsy, and fibromyalgia.
In Which US States is Salvia Illegal?
Because salvia has managed to mostly fly under the radar with only small windows of popularity over the years, it has managed to uphold a much looser legal structure than other hallucinogenic drugs. At the federal level, it’s actually completely legal. However, several states have implemented some form of legislation to regulate the plant and its products.
Do People Consume More Drugs on Blue Monday?
Monday’s suck, but according to past studies, one particular Monday is worse than the rest. Blue Monday, or the third Monday of January, holds the title of Blue Monday, the worst Monday of the year. An interesting facet to all this, is what happens on Blue Monday, and more specifically, do people use more drugs on that day in order to ease their Monday blues?
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News from the Week:
*** Meet Psilomethoxin, the Love Child of Psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT
*** The Positives and Negatives of Magic Mushrooms
*** 5 Weirdest ways to Consume Cannabis
*** Salvia: Tricks of Use for the Best Experience
*** The Lowdown On Syria As The New Captagon Narco State
*** Why is Everyone ‘Shelving’ their Drugs?
We hope you enjoyed this week’s review. We work hard to find and verify the best products, so we may include affiliate links to support the maintenance and development of this site.
Best,
The Cannadelics team
*** Disclaimer: As the legality of cannabinoids and psychedelics changes between state to state, you should always check with your local authorities first.
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With legal cannabis across Canada and drugs like fentanyl and heroin decriminalized in British Columbia, the question remains: can drugs hijack your brain?
It’s an all-too-common belief among so-called “experts” and the general public. The general idea is that drugs (or food, gambling, porn, etc.) can “hijack” the brain’s dopamine pathways and essentially compel you to behave a certain way.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in the brain’s reward system. The brain releases it in response to pleasurable and painful stimuli.
Drugs like cocaine, for example, cause excessive dopamine release in the brain. This can lead to feelings of intense pleasure and euphoria. Over time, the repeated use of these drugs can lead to changes in the brain’s dopamine pathways, causing them to become “hijacked.”
The “experts” say the same thing can occur with cannabis, although not as severe (or as rapid) as the way it happens with cocaine.
But what if this viewpoint is bunk? What if referring to “dopamine” as the “everything chemical” and promoting “dopamine fasting” is just the moral values of Science™ masquerading as fact?
Can Drugs Hijack Your Brain? Five Major Criticisms
Can drugs hijack your brain? There are five significant criticisms of this viewpoint.
- Over-simplification. Some experts argue that the hijacking of the dopamine pathways is too simple to explain the complex phenomenon of dependency. They point out that drug dependency involves multiple brain regions and systems, not just the dopamine pathways.
- Lack of evidence. Critics argue that there is limited direct evidence to support the hijacking hypothesis and that the theorists base their information on indirect and circumstantial evidence.
- Dopamine is not the only factor. The hijacking hypothesis focuses solely on dopamine and its role in the brain’s reward system. But many critics argue that other factors, such as genetics, environment, and individual choice, also play a role.
- Individual variability. Critics argue that the hijacking hypothesis does not account for individual variability in how different people respond to drugs. For example, some people may be more susceptible to opioid dependency than others, even when exposed to the same drug.
- Medications. Critics argue that the hijacking hypothesis does not fully explain why some medications, such as buprenorphine, can effectively treat addiction by stabilizing the dopamine pathways, while other drugs, such as cocaine, lead to hijacking.
Neuroscience has become all the rage, particularly among people looking to optimize (or to eliminate, change or modify) certain behaviours. But neuroscience relies on correlational evidence to establish a connection between brain activity and behaviour or mental processes.
However, correlation does not imply causation. Associations between variables can’t and won’t prove causality.
Reducing the mind to mere brain activity oversimplifies the complex nature of conscious experience. Current neuroscience methods are not equipped to capture the holistic nature of the mind.
Neuroscience relies heavily on imaging techniques such as fMRI to study the brain. However, these methods have limitations, such as poor temporal resolution.
But ultimately, the problem is that neuroscience can’t determine the precise nature of the relationship between brain activity and mental processes.
Neuroscience can’t objectively study the mind.
So with this in mind, is there any evidence to support the belief that drugs can hijack the mind?
Is Dopamine Too Simple of an Explanation?
The hijacking of dopamine pathways is too simple an explanation for the complex phenomenon of consciousness and a desire to use drugs. Consider what drug dependency involves.
- Involvement of multiple brain regions. Drug dependency is a complex process that involves many brain regions, not just the dopamine pathways. For example, other brain regions that play a role in dependency include the prefrontal cortex, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. These regions regulate emotions, motivation, decision-making, and learning, all of which can be affected by growing dependent on specific drugs or activities.
- Neuroplasticity. Drug dependency is a process that leads to changes in the brain over time. These changes, known as neuroplasticity, occur in multiple brain regions and can lead to the development of new neural pathways that support drug seeking and use. But this happens whenever you learn a new habit. No one feels compelled to drive a car, but most of us can do it in our sleep thanks to neuroplasticity.
- Psychological and environmental factors. Drug dependency is not just a matter of brain chemistry. It also involves psychological and environmental factors, such as stress, trauma, and cost of living, which can contribute to its development and maintenance. For example, notorious alcoholic poet Charles Bukowski drank significantly less later in life as he came across money and success.
- Interactions with other systems. Drug dependency also involves interactions with other systems in the body, such as the stress response system and the immune system.
- Individual variability. Drug dependency is a complex and highly personal phenomenon that various factors, such as genetics, personality, and environment, can influence.
Five Reasons “Dopamine Hijacking” is a Theory
- Lack of direct measurements. There is a lack of direct measurements of dopamine levels in the brain during drug use, making it difficult to establish the role of dopamine in dependency.
- Indirect measurements. The evidence for the hijacking hypothesis is primarily based on indirect measures of dopamine, such as PET scans and functional MRI. These provide only a snapshot of the brain. They do not reflect the complex and dynamic changes that occur in the brain over time. Some critics argue that brain scans amount to reading tea leaves.
- Circumstantial evidence. Critics argue that much of the proof of the hijacking hypothesis is circumstantial and based on correlations between drug use and dopamine release. To date, there have been no direct cause-and-effect relationships established.
- Model limitations: Researchers base the hijacking hypothesis on animal studies, which have limitations in generalizing to humans. For example, the methods used to study drug dependency in animals, such as self-administration models, may not accurately reflect the complexity and heterogeneity of human beings. Not to mention, unlike animals, we don’t always rely on instinct. We can think and reason.
- Complexity of the brain. Critics argue that the brain is a complex system and that the hijacking hypothesis oversimplifies the many factors and processes.
Five More Reasons “Dopamine Hijacking” is a Theory
- Individual differences. Individual differences, such as personality, coping skills, and motivations for drug use, can also play a role in the development of drug dependency.
- Interactions with other systems. Critics argue that the hijacking hypothesis focuses solely on dopamine and the brain’s reward system. It neglects other methods, such as the stress system, that can also play a role in drug dependency.
- Differences in sensitivity to drugs. Some individuals may be more sensitive to the rewarding effects of drugs, making them more susceptible to dependency. The hijacking hypothesis does not account for why some people love cannabis while others hate it. Or why some people can enjoy cocaine at a party but not touch it again for weeks.
- Different drug-taking patterns. Different individuals may have different patterns of drug use, such as frequency and dose, that can contribute to developing dependency. The hijacking hypothesis does not account for the role of these differences in drug-taking patterns.
- Different mechanisms of action. Some experts argue that the hijacking hypothesis does not fully explain why some medications, such as buprenorphine, can stabilize the dopamine pathways while other drugs, such as cocaine, lead to hijacking. Different mechanisms of action, such as how drugs bind to brain receptors, may play a role in this discrepancy. Differences in the effects of drugs on multiple brain systems, beyond just the dopamine pathways, may also play a role.
Can Drugs Hijack Your Brain?
Can drugs hijack your brain by hijacking your dopamine? If that belief helps you get through life, don’t let me stop you.
The idea drugs or specific activities can “hijack” your brain and make you addicted is a theory based on indirect and circumstantial evidence.
Drug dependency is a complex phenomenon that the hijacking hypothesis cannot fully explain.
There are plenty of reasons to criticize British Columbia’s drug decriminalization. Especially when the “experts” believe all that’s stopping people from seeking help is the “stigma” associated with the illegality of drugs.
But suppose you oppose decriminalization or legalization based on the hypothesis that drugs can “hijack” your brain.
In that case, you might as well oppose gay marriage based on words written in a religious text. Meaning, you can oppose drugs on a moral or ethical basis. But you lose all credibility once you decide what’s best for others. Especially when your justification is the Science™.
Using drugs, whether it’s a dab of cannabis shatter, a bottle of beer, a hit of LSD, or a line of cocaine, involves the release of numerous neurochemicals and hormones in the body. This leads to a complex interplay of effects.
By attributing drug dependency solely to dopamine, we encourage individuals to externalize the problem and blame it on a neurotransmitter. But it is more productive to focus on the cognitive and behavioral aspects of drug dependency.
If the “experts” want to help, they should call to attention the individual’s actions, motivations, and the cultural or societal significance they attribute to their drug-taking behaviour. They should focus on changing people’s beliefs about drugs rather than fixating on these irrelevant neurochemicals.
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