Types of Psychoactive Drugs
What are psychoactive drugs?
Psychoactive drugs are chemical substances that cross the blood-brain barrier and affect brain function altering perception, mood, consciousness, and behavior. Although many of them were made specifically for medicinal purposes, some of them are recreationally used. These substances often bring out changes in consciousness and mood that the user might find pleasant or desirable, which in turn reinforces the practice of the drugs. Many are overused and have negative effects, and the longer someone uses these substances the more difficult it is for them to walk away. Drug rehabilitation centers help people eliminate their dependency on drugs through therapy and group support. However, there are drugs such as LSD and mescaline which are considered non-addictive. Although there is some controverrsy on the use of drugs, most countries and religions believe that they should be avoided as much as possible. Psychoactive drugs are grouped based on their use and pharmacological effects. Dr. Timothy Leary developed a theory on how the set, dosage, and setting are important components of the use of drugs. The set is the user's expectation of the effects of the drugs. Many use these drugs to escape reality and avoid confronting the issues in their lives. The dose plays a large factor in drug use because a very small amount might be pleasurable whereas a large dosage can cause severe damage to the brain and vascular system. The setting that drug use takes place also greatly affects the use of drugs How?.
The administration of psychoactive drugs also affects the definition and separates them from other kinds of drugs. In medicine, most psychoactive drugs are taken orally either in the form of tablets or capsules, but drugs can also be administered through inhalation, smoking, and injection. The drug's most effective form of administration varies from drug to drug. They all operate by briefly altering the neurochemistry of a person which affects other parts of that person’s behavior. Each drug reacts with a specific neurotransmitter or a receptor. Agnostics increase the activity of neurotransmitter system by increasing the synthesis, reducing the uptake from synapses, and mimicking the way natural compounds work. For example, many opiates are similar to endorphins and react with the same receptors that activate the endorphin molecules reactions. On the other hand, antagonists slow down neurotransmitters by stopping synthesis and blocking receptors. The receptors affected by these drugs try to maintain homeostasis, and over time their numbers decrease and they are less sensitive. This decrease in sensitivity causes drug users to build up a toleranceto them, so they need to take larger dosages to receive the same effects. This phenomenon is known as addiction, and there are two forms of addiction. One is psychological and the desire or compulsion to use the drug is all in the subject's mind. The other is physical because the user is physically hurt from withdrawal of the drug. Both of these forms of addiction cause a plethora of effects that vary from user to user.
Psychoactive drugs are chemical substances that cross the blood-brain barrier and affect brain function altering perception, mood, consciousness, and behavior. Although many of them were made specifically for medicinal purposes, some of them are recreationally used. These substances often bring out changes in consciousness and mood that the user might find pleasant or desirable, which in turn reinforces the practice of the drugs. Many are overused and have negative effects, and the longer someone uses these substances the more difficult it is for them to walk away. Drug rehabilitation centers help people eliminate their dependency on drugs through therapy and group support. However, there are drugs such as LSD and mescaline which are considered non-addictive. Although there is some controverrsy on the use of drugs, most countries and religions believe that they should be avoided as much as possible. Psychoactive drugs are grouped based on their use and pharmacological effects. Dr. Timothy Leary developed a theory on how the set, dosage, and setting are important components of the use of drugs. The set is the user's expectation of the effects of the drugs. Many use these drugs to escape reality and avoid confronting the issues in their lives. The dose plays a large factor in drug use because a very small amount might be pleasurable whereas a large dosage can cause severe damage to the brain and vascular system. The setting that drug use takes place also greatly affects the use of drugs How?.
The administration of psychoactive drugs also affects the definition and separates them from other kinds of drugs. In medicine, most psychoactive drugs are taken orally either in the form of tablets or capsules, but drugs can also be administered through inhalation, smoking, and injection. The drug's most effective form of administration varies from drug to drug. They all operate by briefly altering the neurochemistry of a person which affects other parts of that person’s behavior. Each drug reacts with a specific neurotransmitter or a receptor. Agnostics increase the activity of neurotransmitter system by increasing the synthesis, reducing the uptake from synapses, and mimicking the way natural compounds work. For example, many opiates are similar to endorphins and react with the same receptors that activate the endorphin molecules reactions. On the other hand, antagonists slow down neurotransmitters by stopping synthesis and blocking receptors. The receptors affected by these drugs try to maintain homeostasis, and over time their numbers decrease and they are less sensitive. This decrease in sensitivity causes drug users to build up a toleranceto them, so they need to take larger dosages to receive the same effects. This phenomenon is known as addiction, and there are two forms of addiction. One is psychological and the desire or compulsion to use the drug is all in the subject's mind. The other is physical because the user is physically hurt from withdrawal of the drug. Both of these forms of addiction cause a plethora of effects that vary from user to user.
What are the main types of psychoactive drugs?
Depressants are drugs that sedate a person, calming them down by slowing down neural activity. Examples of depressants include alcohol, antihistamines, and barbiturates. All of these drugs work by affecting the neurotransmitter GABA. Although depressants are unique, they all inhibit GABA which results in a calming or drowsy effect on the user. Barbiturates bind to sodium channels on neurons and prevent the flow of sodium ions, and this stops the brain’s ability to produce action potential. Benzodiazepines work more specifically on the GABA receptor, and it allows for muscle relaxation. Depressants like marijuana work by releasing the chemical compound Cannabidiol which also results in a calming sensation. A third way that depressants work is by reducing the perception of pain by bonding to receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system. In some situation depressants are used in a healthy manner, such as calming those who suffer from anxiety and sleep disorders. Addicts of these drugs suffer greatly during withdrawal and experiences seizures, insomnia, and hallucinations. Rohypnol is a depressant most commonly referred to as “Roofies”, this Benzodiazepine is very well regarded for its medicinal uses, more specifically its sedative and anticonvulsant properties. Nonetheless, the abuse of this drug is rampant. Teenagers and adults aged 13 to 30 are the principal users of Rohypnol, and nearly 2 percent of all high-school seniors in the United States have used at least once (according to the University of Michigan). Rohypnol essentially incapacitates those who consume the drug for up to 12 hours. Christened as the “Date Rape Drug”, Rohypnol is also abused extensively among college students. Opiates are drugs which are derived from opium or opium derivatives. They are similar to stimulants because they create a feeling of euphoria, and they are also similar to depressants because they reduce tension and anxiety. Opiates bind to the receptors responsible for painkilling and slow the uptake of chemicals like dopamine. Long term use results in the inability of the brain to produce endorphins. Their extreme addictiveness causes them to be more destructive to their users , and they are illegal for recreational use. Their addictiveness is reinforced because the receptor they bind to is the reward pathway which makes your body want more. Alcohol works by increasing the turnover of dopamine, increasing the transmission of GABA and beta-endorphins in the hypothalamus.
Depressants are drugs that sedate a person, calming them down by slowing down neural activity. Examples of depressants include alcohol, antihistamines, and barbiturates. All of these drugs work by affecting the neurotransmitter GABA. Although depressants are unique, they all inhibit GABA which results in a calming or drowsy effect on the user. Barbiturates bind to sodium channels on neurons and prevent the flow of sodium ions, and this stops the brain’s ability to produce action potential. Benzodiazepines work more specifically on the GABA receptor, and it allows for muscle relaxation. Depressants like marijuana work by releasing the chemical compound Cannabidiol which also results in a calming sensation. A third way that depressants work is by reducing the perception of pain by bonding to receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system. In some situation depressants are used in a healthy manner, such as calming those who suffer from anxiety and sleep disorders. Addicts of these drugs suffer greatly during withdrawal and experiences seizures, insomnia, and hallucinations. Rohypnol is a depressant most commonly referred to as “Roofies”, this Benzodiazepine is very well regarded for its medicinal uses, more specifically its sedative and anticonvulsant properties. Nonetheless, the abuse of this drug is rampant. Teenagers and adults aged 13 to 30 are the principal users of Rohypnol, and nearly 2 percent of all high-school seniors in the United States have used at least once (according to the University of Michigan). Rohypnol essentially incapacitates those who consume the drug for up to 12 hours. Christened as the “Date Rape Drug”, Rohypnol is also abused extensively among college students. Opiates are drugs which are derived from opium or opium derivatives. They are similar to stimulants because they create a feeling of euphoria, and they are also similar to depressants because they reduce tension and anxiety. Opiates bind to the receptors responsible for painkilling and slow the uptake of chemicals like dopamine. Long term use results in the inability of the brain to produce endorphins. Their extreme addictiveness causes them to be more destructive to their users , and they are illegal for recreational use. Their addictiveness is reinforced because the receptor they bind to is the reward pathway which makes your body want more. Alcohol works by increasing the turnover of dopamine, increasing the transmission of GABA and beta-endorphins in the hypothalamus.
Stimulants are drugs that increase alertness, attention, energy, and respiratory rate. They have a wide array of uses, some beneficial and others harmful. Caffeine is the world’s most widely used drug and it helps many people wake up and start their morning routine. Caffeine works by affecting the chemical adenosine which is found in synapses, and it interferes with the adenosine at multiple locations. However there are others that are much more harmful such as cocaine which is extremely destructive to brain tissue. Stimulants work by enhancing the effects of norepinephrine and dopamine, which make their properties and effects more intense. The increase of dopamine can make the user feel euphoric and more focused. There is a growing problem with student and professionals in the work place taking drugs like Adderall to help them focus long and work harder because it does increase cognitive abilities for a short amount of time. Those who go through withdrawal from stimulants tend to experience fatigue, depression, and alteration of sleep patterns. Some subjects showed an increased level of paranoia and even some levels of psychosis. A large does can even cause cardiac failure. MDMA (ecstasy) affects the neurotransmitter serotonin which leads to the increase in neural activity. A second way that stimulants such as antidepressants work is by inhibiting the intake of dopamine which results in buildup of dopamine in the brain. A third way these drugs function is by preventing the reuptake of dopamine which means it can’t return to the neural networks. Amphetamines like meth work by releasing dopamine from axons, blocking its reuptake, and inhibiting storage by destroying enzymes. Nicotine acts on the central and peripheral nervous system, so it rapidly spreads throughout the body.
Hallucinogens are broken down into three categories: psychedelics, dissociatives, and deleriants. Psychedelics are non-addictive drugs, and they tend to have high LD50 content (the dose required to kill half of the population it is tested on). Dissociatives work by altering or blocking sensory perception, making the user feel disconnected from the world. Deliriants produce visual hallucinations that make it difficult for the user to distinguish reality from abstractions. LSD works by blocking serotonin from the brain because LSD and seratonin share a similar molecular structure. This causes a number of alterations in perception, affecting cogitative and visual senses. Marijuana contains THC that reacts on the cannabinoid receptors which affect memory, concentration, and perception. This can cause the user to have impaired senses and hallucinations.