Psychoactive Drugs
Vocab
Stimulants-Stimulants are psychoactive drugs that induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical functions or both. Examples of these kinds of effects may include enhanced alertness, wakefulness, and locomotion, among others.
Depressants-A depressant, or central depressant, is a drug that lowers neurotransmission levels, which is to depress or reduce arousal or stimulation, in various areas of the brain.
Opiates-Opioids are substances that act on the nervous system in a similar way to opiates such as morphine and codeine. In a medical context the term usually indicates medications that are artificially made rather than extracted from opium
Psychedelic Drugs-A psychedelic substance is a psychoactive drug whose primary action is to alter cognition and perception, typically by agonising serotonin receptors.
Tolerance-Tolerance is a person's diminished response to a drug, which occurs when the drug is used repeatedly and the body adapts to the continued presence of the drug. Resistance refers to the ability of microorganisms or cancer cells to withstand the effects of a drug usually effective against them.
Withdrawl-Drug withdrawal is the group of symptoms that occur upon the abrupt discontinuation or decrease in intake ofmedications or recreational drugs.
Addiction-Addiction is a state characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences. It can be thought of as a disease or biological process leading to such behaviors.
Dependence-Drug dependence is the body's physical need, or addiction, to a specific agent. There is therefore virtually no difference between dependency and addiction. Over the long term, this dependence results in physical harm, behavior problems, and association with people who also abusedrugs.
Interesting Facts
Fun Facts
Marijuana is created from the dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa
When Dorothy collapses in the field of poppies in the Wizard of Oz, she has fallen under the influence of an opium. Treatment with a few chemicals can isolate morphine, the active ingredient in opium. Morphine can further be refined into diacetylmorphine, which is commonly known as heroin