PSYCHOACTIVE

DRUGS
Drug Categories
(include specific
drugs)

Depressants
(downers)
Examples:
Alcohol
Barbiturates
(tranquilizers)
Opiates

Neurological Effects (effects on

nervous system, neurons,
neurotransmitter production,
reuptake, etc.)
Slow the activity of the
sympathetic nervous system
Suppresses REM sleep

Behavioral & Cognitive

Effects (Mood, energy level,
memory, perception, etc.)

Lowered inhibitions
Slow reaction times
Disrupted memory
Slurred speech
Impaired performance

Stimulants
(uppers)

Examples:
Ecstasy
(disinhibition,
emotional high)
Methamphetam
ine (energy,
alertness, rush)
Nicotine (most
commonly
found in
tobacco
products)
Caffeine
(common,
found in
popular
products such
as coffee)
Cocaine

Increase heart and breathing

rates
Cause pupils to dilate
Temporarily excite neural
activity and arouse body
functions
Affect dopamine

Intense euphoria
Prolonged, heightened energy
levels
Heightened self-confidence
Aftermath of fatigue,
headaches, and depression

Hallucinogens
(psychedelics)

Examples:
LSD (aka acid)
PCP (infamous for
the violence and
strength it can
evoke)
Psilocybin
Mushrooms (aka
shrooms)
Peyote (or
mescaline)

Temporarily disrupts
communication of the brain and
spinal cord neurotransmitter
systems that control muscle
function, mood, sensory
perception, sleep, hunger, body
temperature, and sexual
behavior
Act on neurocircuits in brain
that use neurotransmitter
serotonin
Affects the prefrontal cortex
most notably

Rapid, intense mood swings

Hallucinations: Altered

perception of reality that that

includes seeing, hearing,
smelling, and feeling things
differently
Can involve distortions of
reality or, more drastically,
perceiving things that arent
real
Changed sense of time (time
seems to pass more slowly)
More intense emotion and
sensory perception (brighter
colors, sharper sounds)
Mixed senses, kind of like in

synesthesia
Experiences often
unpredictable and depend on
a variety of factors such as
the amount ingested and
personality of the user
Can be enjoyable and even
give temporary sense of
enlightenment
Can also be terrifying

Biopsychoso
cial
Perspective

Biological*

Social (SocioCultural) *

Psychological*

 There are genes

Impact on
Addiction

more common in
individuals
predisposed to
alcoholism, which
seem to naturally
produce deficiencies
in dopamine

Cultural attitudes
towards drugs
Environment of
individual (urban
settings create a
greater risk)
Peer influence

Individuals
dependent on
alcohol often drink it
to cope with
depression or
anxiety, indicating
that psychological
disorders are often a
factor in addiction
Feeling of a lack of
purpose, direction,
and/or meaning in
life