Chapter 22, Page 63
The following is an article from Addiction & Prevention Journal, a bi-monthly publication dedicated to exploring the habits that lead to drug addiction and their prevention. [Article originally published eight months ago.]
EUPHORIA AND THE BRAIN
One of the most potent “pleasure drugs” currently available is the illegal substance Euphoria, which can elicit sensations of intense sexual pleasure in the user. The drug is so powerful and dangerous that users often lose control of their physical and mental faculties while on it.
Just like other pleasure drugs, including Aphrosia and Rapture, Euphoria alters the brain’s neurochemistry and chemical processes linked with sexual desire. These drugs activate key neurotransmitters and hormones in the brain, including dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and norepinephrine—each of which play crucial roles in the brain’s reward system. Pleasure drugs put these neurotransmitters into “overdrive” to give the user sensations far beyond what one would experience during normal sexual encounters.
Among the neurotransmitters, dopamine contributes to feelings of reward, pleasure, and motivation. It plays a significant role reinforcing behaviors linked to pleasurable experiences.
Serotonin is the “feel-good” neurotransmitter and regulates mood, appetite, and impulsivity, along with influencing sexual desire.
Oxytocin, sometimes referred to as the “bonding hormone”, is released during sexual activity to promote feelings of intimacy and connection.
Norepinephrine, a hormone involved in the body’s stress response, impacts sexual desire by increasing arousal and focus.
Based on clinical studies, Euphoria activates each of these responses faster and to a greater extent than both Aphrosia and Rapture—making it one of the most potent and potentially dangerous pleasure drugs available.
One of the many hazards of Euphoria is how it can override and skew a user’s cognitive functions and behavioral patterns, driving them into what can best be described as rampant “sexual frenzy”. The craving for immediate sexual release and to fulfill their physical desires becomes paramount to the user. Under the influence of Euphoria, logic is often upended and, in some cases, personal concern for the user’s own well-being becomes secondary to their base urges. Failure to act on these impulses can also have dangerous and potentially life-threatening consequences—including cardiac issues—due to the pent-up strain of not achieving sexual release. In other cases, users have suffered cardiac arrest simply from the drug being too much for their heart to handle, which has occurred in both first-time and repeat users.
Various studies into prolonged Euphoria usage and its effects on the brain have been particularly concerning. Because the substance stimulates one’s sexual appetite and the pleasurable sensations associated with sex, it creates a highly rewarding and extremely addictive experience. By reinforcing and escalating an individual’s pleasure drive to unnatural levels, this creates a cycle of desire, hijacks the brain’s reward system, and leads to increased cravings for sexual activity and the continued abuse of Euphoria.
Many users become physiologically and psychologically dependent on pleasure drugs, with Euphoria often reported as the most addictive. When these substances are introduced into a user’s body, they amplify, stimulate, and release the brain’s neurotransmitters to such heights, that it serves to further reinforce drug-seeking behavior.
Treating long-term use of Euphoria has proven difficult because of the complex imbalances it causes to the brain, particularly in regions such as the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex. Treatment for long-term Euphoria addiction is also not a one-size-fits-all approach. It is important to note that the neurochemical process can vary among individuals and can be influenced by various factors, including hormonal fluctuations, psychological factors, and individual differences in brain chemistry.
By further studying the effects of Euphoria on the brain at the neurochemical level, the scientific community can potentially develop effective interventions and treatments in the future.
A new study related to the effects of pleasure drugs on the brain is currently being conducted at the Garcona Medical Institute and its findings will be reported next year.
Danger Zone One. Story by Midnight. Art by Salaiix.
You guys are spoiling us with some of the best DZO pages yet!
Page 61 is my absolute favorite!
With Wilkos back on his feet this is a VERY BAD time for Madison to be overtaken by the drugs. Even if his mechanical arm doesn’t work, he’s still got enough functioning appendages to give her a rough time.
I love the way you worded this hahaha
I wouldn’t mind if Madison got addicted to this, could be an interesting short story arc
Just let it out, Girl! Let it all flow over………………just so long as Wilkos doesn’t try anything funny while you’re pleasuring yourself here!!!!!!!!!!😏😁😎
As usual, the real goodies are in the *writing*.
Makes me wonder how, given the fact that Wilkos downed the same concoction, he seems to be barely affected at all.
Also…to *further* engage with the awesome worldbuilding premises, who the heck got paid to come *up* with these kinds of things? What kind of crapsack world is this when, despite knowing what kind of effects narcotics like heroin and cocaine have had, that some pharma megacorp poured billions into R&D on things like Aphrosia and Euphoria? Okay, fine, I get that Viagra exists in our world to give old men boners, but considering such articles coming out with some regularity in the papers, how has whatever passes for the FDA in DZO’s world not immediately vetoed this stuff until the side effects could be hammered out?
Because there’s no way a near-future society in which there’s cyberware like Wilkos’s arm is incapable of doing the various clinical trials and such that are necessary to get things like this to market.
Or is it that the black market activity is thriving to such an extent AND medical R&D has become so advanced that some rogue scientists in sketchy corporate labs can just come up with this stuff as a “miscellaneous R&D costs” project, then quietly distribute it on the streets?
Basically, for a TL;DR: pleasure drugs with severe side effects–who, what, where, when, why, how? Who are the sketchballs making/distributing this stuff, and why are the feds asleep at the wheel–or are they in bed with the sketchballs getting kickbacks (probably)?
Or am I just engaging too deeply with the premise?
Interesting ideas. I think all of those could be very plausible. Personally, I think it’s a very large and very powerful black market creating and manufacturing this stuff.
Only thing, I’m 99.99% certain Wilkos didn’t take any drugs here, which explains why he’s not sleepy or sexed up. Wilkos slipped Madison the sleeping agent and sex drug in her drink. I don’t recall any mention or evidence to indicate he took the drugs too.
Willos downed a drink. He didn’t take the drugs. Why would he roofie himself? XD
This dude still has no eyebrows
Come Oooooon… LIMIT BREAK!
Goddangit someone get her a tongue for those beautiful pink bits!
Well, Doctor Raye is close by and can be of assistance.
😉
The doctor will have to put to test all her anatomy knowledge.
Given her existing long term addiction to intense exercise and driving her body to the limit, her heart should easily hold out against this. I’d warrant that the cases of heart failure due to the drug were in people with underlying conditions or in poor cardiovascular condition to begin with. Her fingers might get cramped though 😉
> her heart should easily hold out against this. I’d warrant that the cases of heart failure due to the drug were in people with underlying conditions or in poor cardiovascular condition to begin with
Drug side effects are now covid, confirmed =P
Looks like Mister Wilkos is not out of the game yet.
And Miss Madison really needs some help with getting that “sweet release” in order to get herself back on her feet,and right back on the case.
And what role will Doctor Raye play?
Now the question is, will Dr. Belanie arrive in time to help? If Wilkos gets his arm working, Madison might have more trouble with him than she did the android, considering her present condition. Exciting times ahead.