Vocab for Psychoactive Drugs
Psychoactive Drugs
Substances that alter perception, mood, thinking , memory, or behavior by changing bodies chemisty
Stimulants
Drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions
Ex: Coffee or cocaine
Depresants
Drugs reduce neural activity and slow body functions
Ex: Alcohol and Barbituates
Opiates
Depresses neural activity temporarily lessens pain and anxiety and has powerful effect on emotions
Ex: pain killers and morphine
Psychedelic Drugs
Disrupt normal thought process and perception and can cause hallucinations
Ex: LSD
Tolerance
Repeated exposure to a drug drug effects lessen and more of the drug is needed to get the desired effect
Withdrawl
Upon stopping use of the drug users may experience undesirable effects of withdrawal, wanting the drug maybe causing depression and sleeping issues
Addiction
Craving for chemical substance despite its adverse consequences
Dependence
Absence of drug can lead to physical pain, intense cravings, and negative emotions
3 Interesting Facts
- After use of LSD it can reduce long term anxiety for those nearing death
- MDMA (ecstasy or molly) release hormone oxytocin which can help with severe anxiety like PTSD or social anxiety
- Psilocybin can kill somebodys smoking addiction
- DMT is a drug taken that creates hallucinogens but also naturally in your body and is released when near death or intense experiences
- www.salmon.com/2014/04/15/6_facts_about_psychedelic_drugs_that_will_totally_blow_your_mind_partner/
By : Alison Doak and Marcy Wieczerzak
Yale Creates 'Study Group' For Psychedelic Drugs