Drugs and IQ: Correlations Between Addiction and Intelligence

The correlation between drugs and IQ is particularly interesting, as it defies expectations in many ways. While many link addiction to lower intelligence, the truth is that highly intelligent individuals are more likely to experiment with and abuse substances.

To understand why that is the case, we’ve consulted our experts and found out how drugs and IQ are related, which drugs lower IQ, as well as what effect various substances have on cognition. In this article, we’ll review some of our findings.

So, let’s dive in.

Key Takeaways

• There’s a clear correlation between IQ and drug addiction; the higher your IQ, the more likely you are to use and abuse drugs.
• Substance abuse usually results in impaired cognition, including the ability to reason, make sound judgments, and memorize and process information.
• Different classes of drugs have different effects on cognition—stimulants tend to impair it, while the effect is somewhat less clear with opioids and hallucinogens.
• Some of the usual reasons highly intelligent people are prone to using drugs are because they are bored, looking for new challenges, or dealing with complicated feelings and problems.

The Correlation Between Intelligence and Addiction

The Correlation Between Intelligence and Addiction

The correlation between intelligence and addiction is positive, meaning that the higher your IQ is, the more likely you are to use and abuse drugs. In other words, contrary to popular belief, drug addicts aren’t unintelligent people unaware of the consequences of their addiction.

This was proven in a 2011 study that first measured the IQs of children aged between five and ten, only to follow up years later and investigate their relationships with drugs at 16 and 30.

As it turned out, those whose IQs were higher in childhood were far more likely to experiment with or abuse drugs in adulthood.

For women, that usually meant cannabis and cocaine—they were twice as likely to use these substances than their less intelligent counterparts. On the other hand, highly intelligent men were more inclined towards amphetamines, ecstasy, or polydrug abuse.

In this sense, the correlation between drugs and IQ differs from the one between intelligence and alcoholism. Specifically, while high-IQ individuals enjoy drinking alcohol in moderation, they are less likely to develop actual addiction than those with lower IQs. But, of course, this correlation isn’t entirely straightforward either.

High IQ and Smoking

While we’re on the topic of non-straightforward correlations, we should mention the one between intelligence and smoking. Scientists have suggested that people with higher IQs are less likely to begin smoking in the first place, as they tend to make more health-conscious decisions.

However, this is clearly not always the case, as evidenced by the fact that high-IQ individuals are more likely to abuse drugs. So, while some correlation between smoking and IQ score may exist, it’s not strong enough to make any firm conclusions.

Still, there is some evidence that smoking negatively affects cognition—primarily verbal and visual-spatial reasoning. Although it’s not entirely clear why this happens, some researchers believe it’s due to a restricted oxygen supply to the brain.

Drugs and IQ: The Drug Abuse Short & Long-Term Effects

Drugs and IQ: The Drug Abuse Short & Long-Term Effects

Considering that drugs are primarily used to alter consciousness, it’s not a surprise that they have a short-term effect on cognition. For instance, they tend to lower inhibitions, impair your ability to reason and make sound judgments, and decrease your processing speed and impulse control.

However, drugs can also affect your cognition long-term, especially with continuous abuse. Much like alcohol, they can impair your ability to form short-term and long-term memories, as well as weaken your brain connectivity and neuroplasticity.

In addition, drug abuse decreases your attention span and the ability to concentrate, causing difficulties in learning and retaining information.

All of these effects are especially pronounced when drug abuse starts earlier in life. For example, if you use drugs as a teenager when your brain still hasn’t fully developed, you are more likely to experience cognitive impairment later in life.

Furthermore, addiction affects cognition in another way—by negatively impacting your mental health.

Although addicts use drugs primarily to relieve stress and make themselves happier, that has adverse effects in the long run. Overreliance on drugs can actually worsen anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions, which, in turn, leads to impaired ability to reason, memorize, and process information.

Find Out If Your IQ Is Still Intact

If you’re curious about your IQ level or whether it changed due to substance abuse, consider taking IQtest.net. Our professionally designed IQ test uses the latest psychometric methods to measure the development of your cognitive abilities with superb precision.

Furthermore, since it’s free, you can use it to track the changes in your IQ over time. This is especially important if you’re taking steps to work on your intelligence; plus, IQtest.net can serve as an excellent tool for boosting your cognition.

How Different Types of Drugs Affect IQ

Although, generally speaking, drugs have a negative effect on IQ, different kinds can affect your brain and cognition in different ways. As a result, we can’t make sweeping statements without examining classes of drugs in more detail.

Here is how different kinds of drugs affect cognition:

• Stimulants (cocaine, amphetamines). While stimulants can temporarily improve focus and attention, they also impair your ability to adapt to new situations and stay flexible, as well as to plan, make predictions, and memorize information in the long run.
• Opioids (morphine, heroin). Scientists aren’t entirely in agreement when it comes to the effects of opioids on cognition. Some believe they cause mild cognitive decline similar to that experienced with age, while others think some types can enhance cognitive function and decrease delirium.
• Cannabis. Consistent use of cannabis is usually linked with brain fog, memory problems, reduced attention span, and difficulty retaining information. However, it can also be used to improve focus and cognition, especially among people with mental conditions who need help relieving stress and anxiety.
• Hallucinogens (psilocybin, LSD). Although none of the hallucinogens are considered safe, some scientists believe they could be useful for treating mental conditions as well as improving creativity, problem-solving skills, and cognitive flexibility. Still, memory tends to decrease, especially with higher doses.

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Are Intelligent People Prone to Drug Use?

Intelligent people are prone to drug use since they tend to be more open-minded and willing to experience new things. As a result, there is a strong correlation between intelligence and drug experimentation, as well as drug abuse.

Below, we explore further reasons intelligent people may be drawn to drugs.

#1. Boredom

An emoji drawn on a paper

Highly intelligent people may become bored with mundane tasks and daily routines much faster than the average person. Their brains are hungry for new inputs and challenges, and if they can’t find them in their surroundings, they may turn to drugs for help.

After all, certain drugs (hallucinogens in particular) completely alter perception and open the doors to what’s often considered a higher state of consciousness. To many highly intelligent people, the idea of achieving these states is highly alluring and outweighs any potential risks associated with drug use.

#2. New Challenges

Drugs and IQ - New Challenges

A highly intelligent brain is always on the lookout for new challenges, as it is thirsty for the knowledge and experience that come with them. Those challenges can come in different forms: learning and mastering a new skill, exploring new places, or even trying a new drug.

While drug use may seem like a strange activity to choose when looking for new challenges, it does make sense. After all, altered states of consciousness can come with new ways of thinking and fresh perspectives you’ve never considered before.

As a result, you gain access to plenty of material to ponder when you’re sober, some of which may significantly impact your future behaviors and attitudes. Of course, this won’t happen every time you use drugs, but there is a possibility that it might be enough to justify frequent experimentation.

#3. Coping Mechanisms

Drugs and IQ as coping mechanisms

Finally, regardless of intelligence, people often use drugs as coping mechanisms. This is quite self-explanatory: drugs produce feelings of euphoria and temporarily alleviate anxiety, depression, stress, and other negative feelings. As a result, they provide an escape from reality and the problems that come with it.

Like everyone else, highly intelligent people face challenges they feel are insurmountable. For instance, they can often feel misunderstood and struggle to relate to others due to their high intelligence. In addition, they are more prone to overthinking and anxiety than the average person.

Consequently, they are likely to reach for drugs to help them cope with these feelings. For many, this ends with marijuana, but it’s not usual to opt for harder substances as well.

Final Thoughts

An interest in drugs and their effects might sometimes be a sign of high intelligence, but you should avoid substance use altogether if you hope to keep your IQ intact.

While occasional and recreational use may not immediately impact your cognition, it can be easy to slip into addiction, which can have physical, mental, and cognitive consequences.

So, it’s best to opt for safer methods to stimulate your brain, such as, for instance, exploring new topics, meeting new people, or traveling to new places. These don’t only preserve your IQ; they can actually develop it further.