Final answer:
Cocaine impairs dopamine reuptake and causes more dopamine release, while methamphetamine can cause an elevated mood in low doses and brain damage in long-term use.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two different impacts of cocaine and methamphetamine are:
- Cocaine: Cocaine impairs the reuptake of dopamine, a neurotransmitter, and also causes more dopamine to be released into the synaptic cleft. This leads to increased levels of dopamine in the brain, which stimulates the pleasure centers and produces the drug's euphoric effects.
- Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine, on the other hand, causes an elevated mood, increased alertness, concentration, and energy in low doses. At higher doses, it can induce psychosis and physical complications like rhabdomyolysis and cerebral hemorrhage. Long-term use of methamphetamine can also cause brain damage, including adverse changes in brain structure and function, such as reductions in gray matter volume.