What other drugs and substances cause brain damage? What are the real risks of E and Ice?

Our understanding of the effects of illicit substances on the brain is much less fully developed than for alcohol. One reason for this is the difficulty in undertaking research with populations of substance users who are more likely to have been exposed to multiple risk factors for developing acquired brain impairment (including alcohol use). Substance use is often harder to quantify than alcohol use due to the differing preparations and purities of the drugs and the tendency of substance users to use more than one drug during their career. Nevertheless, evidence from animal model and retrospective research has identified a range of substances with links to brain impairment.

Solvent use (including the inhalation of paint, petrol, glue and other aromatic hydrocarbons) is highly neurotoxic and there is likely no safe level of use of solvents.

Cannabis research is equivocal on the long term effects of use of this substance – whilst there is good evidence for cannabis use increasing the risks for psychiatric illness in some populations, the evidence for cognitive impairment is less clear, although it is likely that some changes to a persons memory and concentration will eventuate after long term, heavy use of cannabis.

Psychostimulant use (including amphetamines, methamphetamines and party drugs such as ecstacy and MDA) has been associated with both structural changes in the brain, as well as changes to neurotransmission systems important in the regulation of mood. Whilst our understanding of the role of psychostimulants in causing cognitive impairment is limited, it is likely that prolonged use of these substances effects both cognition and the regulation of mood.