Introduction
Drugs have become commonplace in society. The clear majority of human beings take, or at one time have taken, vitamins, aspirin, cold, or allergy relief medication. These drugs, however, rarely produce an altered state and are not considered psychoactive. Drugs, in general, can have different effects on behavior and physical traits, whether they be stimulants, depressants, or hallucinogens (Narie, 2014, p. 191). Psychoactive drugs are substances that change our states of consciousness, where brain function occurs, which results in temporary changes in perception, mood, and behavior. These drugs affect consciousness by influencing how neurotransmitters operate within …show more content…
Drugs such as caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, and amphetamines are placed within this category. Stimulants block the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the synapses of the central nervous system, which produce an enhanced mood and increase of energy. This energy is temporary and is accompanied by severe “crash” as the drug effects wear off. If stimulants are the most common, depressants are clearly the most abused recreationally. Depressants reduce anxiety, create dramatic mood swings, and slow both mental and physical functioning. Alcohol is the most abused depressant, it is said to release tension and stress and give feelings of happiness by those who use it. However, as doses increase people may feel emotionally and physically unstable, have a speech impairment, and may act aggressively. This is due to an “increase in the activity of GABA neurotransmitters in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens” (Enoch, 1998, p. 98). Furthermore, benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax, and toxic inhalants like solvent glues, nitrous oxide, and acetone, all classified as depressants, produce similar effects. The third class of drug that includes LSD, PCP and mescaline are hallucinogens. The chemical compositions of the hallucinogens are like the neurotransmitters and they act primarily by mimicking them. These effects can begin within twenty to ninety minutes of
Drugs have become commonplace in society. The clear majority of human beings take, or at one time have taken, vitamins, aspirin, cold, or allergy relief medication. These drugs, however, rarely produce an altered state and are not considered psychoactive. Drugs, in general, can have different effects on behavior and physical traits, whether they be stimulants, depressants, or hallucinogens (Narie, 2014, p. 191). Psychoactive drugs are substances that change our states of consciousness, where brain function occurs, which results in temporary changes in perception, mood, and behavior. These drugs affect consciousness by influencing how neurotransmitters operate within …show more content…
Drugs such as caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, and amphetamines are placed within this category. Stimulants block the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the synapses of the central nervous system, which produce an enhanced mood and increase of energy. This energy is temporary and is accompanied by severe “crash” as the drug effects wear off. If stimulants are the most common, depressants are clearly the most abused recreationally. Depressants reduce anxiety, create dramatic mood swings, and slow both mental and physical functioning. Alcohol is the most abused depressant, it is said to release tension and stress and give feelings of happiness by those who use it. However, as doses increase people may feel emotionally and physically unstable, have a speech impairment, and may act aggressively. This is due to an “increase in the activity of GABA neurotransmitters in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens” (Enoch, 1998, p. 98). Furthermore, benzodiazepines such as Valium and Xanax, and toxic inhalants like solvent glues, nitrous oxide, and acetone, all classified as depressants, produce similar effects. The third class of drug that includes LSD, PCP and mescaline are hallucinogens. The chemical compositions of the hallucinogens are like the neurotransmitters and they act primarily by mimicking them. These effects can begin within twenty to ninety minutes of