Remember the public service announcement from 1987, where the TV guy would show an egg and say “This is your brain” and then crack the egg into the frying pan and say “This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?” This is one of many slogans against drugs that have been played before the public over the years.

In a new take on an old slogan, Dr. Daniel G. Amen is using SPECT imagery so that we may see what our brains look like when they are on drugs. SPECT stands for single photon emission computed tomography and is a nuclear medicine imaging technique that provides 3D results.

The SPECT images show areas of decreased activity among those who abuse drugs and / or alcohol. Variations in colors, “holes” and textures show clearly the degradation of the brains of users versus non-users. It is an interesting take on an old subject not just from a diagnostic and treatment point of view, but also from a drug and alcohol prevention point of view as well.