Does excessive use of illicit drugs eventually mean that the brain stops functioning properly?

I think it depends on the drug and usage. I’ve seen a beautiful 22 yr old man that burnt himself to the core by using too much acid. It was very sad.

That being said, I’ve known a LOT of old hippies and they seem to be doing okay well into their senior years.

I do feel that drugs are NOT necessary to acheive transcendental states of mind.

I don’t feel the negatives outway the positives for most people. Most recreational users, not HARD CORE ADDICTS, do not have any long-term affects from what I’ve seen.

I agree. I suppose there are a whole range of reasons that people take substances until they become addicts. It really does depend on the person and the environment. It is just sad when you see it take over some peoples lives.

I suppose we’d have to define what ‘normal’ brain function is – for some, taking drugs improves several brain functions and for others, it does not.

I agree you don’t need to take drugs to attain a transcendental state. I know numerous ways of attaining such states without drugs.

I also know that taking drugs like LSD can have a long term effect on certain people. If I had taken those drugs, I would be far more messed up now than I am (and I am pretty badly off). My cousin is also bipolar, and she did a lot of LSD when young, and has suffered ever since (30 years). She is now doing much better, but it’s been a long slog for her.

When I’ve given up and don’t care what happens to me any more, I may risk LSD. But I am sure I will be asking for trouble, although hopefully by then I will be together enough to tolerate what will happen.

Well the only illicit “drug” I have ever taken was smoking pot but I have a friend who says her husband suffers from serious clinical depression due to all extacy they indulged in over the years.

I think that for some people a moderate amount of illicit drug helps them function properly.
I have in mind medical marijuana for depression as an example. It can really help people mellow out and cope better than normally.

Yes, transcendental states are possible without drugs. The best way I know is through the combination of yogic breathing exercises and meditation.

Some people will trip out on classical music as some pieces take the nervous system through a delightful excursion.

It’s hard to say if negatives of drug use outweigh positives. Every individual has a unique response to each drug. Sure, with me drugs take way more out of me than they give me. So I don’t do drugs. I’m not into feeling bad. But there are people who love what drugs do for them, and don’t seem to mind the recovery process. So for them, drugs could be positive, overall. There is no one size fits all answer on this one.

I can’t think that constant use of any drug can be a good thing. What some think is “no apparent damage” can be that they have adjusted around the damage successfully enough so it doesn’t effect daily life as much. Truth be known there is a big ole rabbit hole in their mind somewhere they dance around the edge of, barring any high intensity challenge they may never fall in.

I have met many recovering addicts and they do OK. Some are living great lives.

It can be impossible for recovering druggies to really feel happy after, as they may have desensitized the pleasure center of their brain. They feel blah unless they have “something” to take the place of the illicit drug or what they were born with.

Some classical music can help rebuild the nervous system with its clear 12-tone harmonies.
Sanskrit chants are also neurological architects.

This question is a bit vague by only going with the term illicit here. Which types of drugs are you referring to here since there are so many of them. Also, alcohol is not an illicit drug, and I’ve seen people destroy themselves, both physically and mentally from it.

I assumed it was those that are currently illegal or prescription drugs, also illegal if they weren’t prescribed. But booze is pretty bad yes