Psychoactive Drugs
By: Sam Briskin and Caitlynn Broom
What are psychoactive drugs?
They are chemical substances that alter perception and mood.
Stimulants
Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions.
Depressants
Drugs that reduce neural activity and slow down body functions.
Opiates
Depresses neural activity, and temporarily lessens pain and anxiety.
Psychedelic Drugs
So-called mind-expanding drugs that are able to induce states of altered perception and thought, frequently with heightened awareness of sensory input but with diminished control over what is being experienced.
Addiction
Craving for a chemical substance despite its adverse consequences.
Dependence
Absence of a drug may lead to a feeling of physical dependence and negative emotions.
Additional Fact #1
About 200 million people worldwide use some type of illicit drug. Typically, males and younger people are more likely to use them.
Additional Fact #2
Studies show that heritability affects the dependence on drugs.
Additional Fact #3
In developed countries, tobacco and alcohol are major causes of death and disability.