Karl Patrick H.

Ernie PSYCH 1

Depressants are drugs that inhibit the function of the central nervous system (CNS)
and are among the most widely used drugs in the world. These drugs operate by affecting
neurons in the CNS, which leads to symptoms such as drowsiness, relaxation, decreased
inhibition, anesthesia, sleep, coma and even death. All depressants also have the potential to be
addictive.

While CNS depressants all share an ability to reduce activity in the central nervous
system and lower levels of awareness in the brain, there are important differences among
substances within this drug class. Some are safer than others, while some depressants have more
potential for use for medicinal purposes.

Drugs that are classed as depressants include:

• Ethyl alcohol
• Barbiturates
• Benzodiazepines

Ethyl Alcohol
Alcohol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is the second most widely used psychoactive drugs
in the world (caffeine is number one). While alcohol is a legal drug, it also has a high potential
for abuse. One survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration found that nearly 70 million over the age of 12 reported participating in binge
drinking or heavy drinking (2002). Alcohol use and abuse also has high social costs. According
to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately 50 percent of all assaults, homicides and
highway deaths involve alcohol (2000).

Barbiturates
Barbiturates, sometimes referred to as downers, are a type of CNS depressant that causes
euphoria and relaxation when taken in low doses. During the early half of the 1900s, barbiturates
were viewed as a safe depressant, but problems with addiction and deadly overdoses soon
became apparent. Barbiturates have a dramatic impact on sleep patterns, resulting in suppressed
REM sleep. Because the potential for addiction and misuse is so high, barbiturates are commonly
replaced with benzodiazepines to treat anxiety and sleep problems.

Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a type of CNS depressant widely prescribed to treat anxiety and
sleep disorders. In 1999, four different benzodiazepines were among the top 100 most prescribed
drugs in the U.S. (Latner, 2000). Because of their low toxicity and high effectiveness,
benzodiazepines have been popularly used as a short-term treatment for anxiety problems and
insomnia. However, their potential for dependency makes them a less preferred long-term
treatment for such things as generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorders and
panic disorders (Julien, 2001).
 Stimulants are a class of psychoactive drug that increase activity in the brain. These
drugs can temporarily elevate alertness, mood and awareness. While some stimulant drugs are
legal and widely used, all can be addicting. While stimulants share many commonalities, each
has unique properties and mechanisms of action.

Drugs that are classed as stimulants include:

• Caffeine
• Nicotine
• Cocaine
• Amphetamines
• Prescription drugs

Caffeine
Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world, found in coffee, tea,
cocoa, chocolate candy and soft drinks. While caffeine has several positive effects such as
increasing energy and mental alertness, heavy use can cause symptoms such as anxiety and
insomnia. Caffeine is physically addictive, and withdrawal symptoms can include headaches,
fatigue and irritability.

Nicotine
Nicotine is considered one of the three most widely used psychoactive drugs in the world,
despite the fact that there are few (if any) medical uses for the drug. During the early to mid-
twentieth century, smoking was considered fashionable. Reports of the adverse health
consequences have led to cigarette use being increasingly shunned. However, the Substance
Abuse And Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that approximately 66.5
million Americans over the age of 12 (or 29 percent of the population) used a nicotine containing
product in 2001.

Cocaine
Cocaine is an illegal psychoactive drug made from the leaves of the coca tree. During the
late 1800s, psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud advocated the use of cocaine as a therapeutic treatment
for psychological disorder, but later realized the addictive properties of the drug. During the
early 1900s, cocaine was legal in the U.S. and could be found in many over-the-counter
medications.
Cocaine is rapidly absorbed from any administration point, including being snorted,
inhaled, injected or taken orally. The drug reaches the brain quickly and is then distributed to
other tissues throughout the body. Cocaine is rapidly metabolized by enzymes in the liver and
plasma in approximately 30 to 60 minutes, but can be detected in urine tests for up to 12 hours
after administration.

Amphetamines
Amphetamines, sometimes referred to as "uppers," are a group of psychoactive drugs that affect
the central nervous system and autonomic nervous system. Some of the effects of using these
drugs include tremors, vasoconstriction, restlessness, tachycardia, insomnia, agitation and loss of
appetite. Amphetamines were once widely used in obesity and weight loss treatments, but their
addictive properties have caused them to be rarely used today. Today, methamphetamine, also
known as meth, is one of the most commonly used illegal amphetamines. Meth is extremely
addictive and destroys tissues in the brain, which can lead to brain damage.

Prescription Stimulants
Prescription stimulants are used to treat some physical and psychological disorders, including
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Common names of prescription
stimulants include Ritalin, Adderall and Dexedrine. Prescription stimulants work by enhancing
the effects of dopamine and norepinephrine, and can lead to increased blood pressure, respiratory
function and euphoria.

Hallucinogens are psychedelic drugs, meaning they alter your perception of the
world, your emotions, and your brain functions. Drugs like PCP, mescaline, peyote, ecstasy, and
even marijuana are considered hallucinogens because they can cause you to hallucinate—you
may see things that aren’t really there.
Two of the most widely used hallucinogens in North America are LSD (“acid”) and
Psilocybin (“magic mushrooms” or “shrooms”). LSD stands for lysergic acid diethylamide, and
was originally found in lysergic acid, a chemical in a fungus that grows on some grains, like rye.
However, most LSD is now made in illegal labs. In its pure form, LSD is a white powder. It’s
commonly sold in tablets or capsules, or in liquid form, which is dabbed onto blotting paper to
be placed in the mouth. The blotting paper is often decorated with colourful designs. LSD can
also be inhaled or injected.
Psilocybin is derived from the chemical psilocybe, found in certain species of mushrooms
or fungi. It usually comes in the form of dried mushrooms, which can be eaten raw, baked into
food to be eaten, or brewed into a tea. Hallucinogens have, for thousands of years, been taken
during religious and spiritual rituals. Peyote continues to be used in the Native American Church
in the United States today. However, these uses of hallucinogens are very different from the way
these drugs are used today by the average person. Most people who try hallucinogenic drugs do
not use them repeatedly, and the vast majority voluntarily chooses to never use them again.
The hallucinogenic chemicals in LSD and psilocybin are closely related and affect you similarly.
These drugs act on serotonin, an important chemical in your central nervous system, altering
your thought processes, mood, perception, and your five senses.
LSD takes effect within 30 to 90 minutes, and can last up to 12 hours or more. Psilocybin
acts a bit faster, within about half an hour, and lasts for two or more hours.
Hallucinogens affect all of your senses, but in particular your vision and hearing. You may see
and hear things differently than they are (for example, colours may seem brighter and richer, and
sounds sharper), and you may even have visions of things that aren’t there at all (hallucinations).
You might experience synesthesia, which means you believe you can “hear colours,” or “see
sounds.” Some people find these changes in perception pleasant. These drugs also alter your
sense of time and space. Hallucinogens may also give you a feeling of relaxed well-being,
happiness, love for those around you, and may make you feel as though you have great insight
into the world, your life, and yourself.
Many people find altered perception and hallucinations frightening and disturbing. Some
people experience the hallucination of spiders or insects crawling all over their skin, and others
have described their altered perceptions as feeling they were “going crazy.” The effects of
hallucinogens are very unpredictable, and can vary each time you take a hallucinogen, so you
never know what kind of experience you’ll have. The effects depend on how much of a drug you
take, your size and weight, whether you’re mixing a hallucinogen with other drugs or alcohol, as
well as your state of mind and your expectations of the experience.
It’s also possible to experience a “bad trip,” in which the entire time you’re high, you feel
an intense sense of panic and fear. After a bad trip, the anxiety and paranoia can stay with you
for days, weeks, and even months. Hallucinogens may also give you a loss of appetite, a loss of
coordination, paranoia, confusion, anxiety, chills, numbness, and muscle weakness. Psilocybin
has been known to cause severe stomach pain, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. In high
doses, LSD can cause seizures. It’s very dangerous to take hallucinogens when taking other
drugs, including alcohol. Combining them with another drug makes it that much harder to know
what kind of physical and psychological effects your body and mind will experience.
There are no reported deaths from the direct effects of LSD or psilocybin. However, the total
lack of perception of the world around you can lead to very risky behaviour. Many fatalities have
been reported of people who were high on LSD and had an accident. People who take LSD
sometimes become suicidal. Because your sense of sight and your perception are so impaired,
it’s very dangerous to drive after using a hallucinogen.
Hallucinogens can also make you feel like you’re observing yourself from a distance.
This means that when you take a hallucinogen, you’re less able to make conscious and informed
decisions about any risky activity, including sex.
Because LSD is illegally prepared in labs, it’s impossible to know what you’re really
taking, and how much. This makes your experience that much harder to predict. Psilocybin also
comes with risks—many mushrooms are poisonous, and can be deadly. It’s illegal to possess or
sell LSD or psilocybin in Canada. Punishment can come in the form of a minimum $1000 fine,
and/or a prison sentence.
Regular LSD use may give you flashbacks, which can cause you problems years later. A
flashback is when, days, weeks, or even years later, you re-experience the effects of LSD,
usually for one or two minutes. You may hallucinate again, or may have your vision and thought
processes temporarily altered. Flashbacks are often triggered by stress, fatigue, or other drug use.
It is believed that LSD can do long-term damage to your memory and ability to concentrate.
Right now, there is no conclusive evidence that Ecstasy is physically addictive. However, studies
show that it is possible to become psychologically dependent on Ecstasy. This means you may
find yourself putting Ecstasy use above friends, family school, work, and other things in your life
that are important to you.
Over the last hundred years or so, some psychologists and therapists have believed
hallucinogens to be a possible treatment for psychiatric disorders. However, no study has shown
that there is a medical use for these drugs. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: regular use of LSD has
been linked to chronic depression.

Types of Hallucinogens

Hashish is a preparation of cannabis composed of the compressed stalked resin glands

called trichomes, collected from the cannabis plant. It contains the same active ingredients but in
higher concentrations than unsifted buds or leaves. Hashish is often a paste-like substance with
varying hardness and pliability. Its color is most commonly light to dark brown, but can vary
toward green, yellow, black, or red.
The psychoactive effects of hashish are similar to those of other cannabis preparations.
 Hashish is heated in a screened miniature smoking pipe (one-hitter, kiseru, midwakh,
sebsi, narrow chillum etc.), hookah, bong bubbler, vaporizer, hot knife, smoked in joints mixed
with cannabis buds, tobacco or other aromatic herbs, or cooked in foods.

Cannabis, also known as marijuana (sometimes spelled "marihuana") among many

other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a
psychoactive drug. The word marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish marihuana. According
to the United Nations, cannabis "is the most widely used illicit substance in the world."
The typical herbal form of cannabis consists of the flowers and subtending leaves and
stalks of mature pistillate of female plants. The resinous form of the drug is known as hashish (or
merely as 'hash').
The major psychoactive chemical compound in cannabis is Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol
(commonly abbreviated as THC). Cannabis contains more than 400 different chemical
compounds, including at least 66 other cannabinoids (cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN) and
tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), etc.) which can result in different effects from those of THC
alone.
Cannabis use has been found to have occurred as long ago as the 3rd millennium BC In
modern times, the drug has been used for recreational, religious or spiritual, and medicinal
purposes. The UN estimated that in 2004 about 4% of the world's adult population (162 million
people) use cannabis annually, and about 0.6% (22.5 million) use it on a daily basis. The
possession, use, or sale of cannabis preparations containing psychoactive cannabinoids became
illegal in most parts of the world in the early 20th century. Since then, some countries have
intensified the enforcement of cannabis prohibition, while others have reduced it.

Psilocybin is a prodrug for the classical hallucinogen - more specifically, psychedelic -

psilocin, or 4-HO-DMT (4-hydroxyl-dimethyltryptamine), the active metabolite of psilocybin,
responsible for all of the psychoactive effect of the drug. Both drugs are members of the indole
and tryptamine classes. Psilocybin-containing mushrooms are used both recreationally, and
traditionally, for spiritual purposes, as entheogens, with a history of use spanning millennia. It is
produced by hundreds of species of fungi, including those of the genus Psilocybe, such as
Psilocybe cubensis, Psilocybe semilanceata and Psilocybe cyanescens, and has also been
reportedly isolated from about a dozen other genera. Collectively known as psilocybin
mushrooms, these are commonly called "boomers," "sacred mushrooms," "magic mushrooms,"
or more simply "'shrooms." Possession, and in some cases usage, of psilocybin or psilocin has
been outlawed in most countries across the globe.[1] Proponents of its usage consider it to be an
entheogen and a tool to supplement various types of practices for transcendence, including in
meditation, psychonautics, and psychedelic psychotherapy. The intensity and duration of
entheogenic effects of psilocybin mushrooms are highly variable, depending on species or
cultivar of mushrooms, dosage, individual physiology, and set and setting.
Once ingested, psilocybin is rapidly metabolised to psilocin, which then acts as a partial
agonist at the 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A serotonin receptors in the brain. The mind-altering effects of
psilocybin typically last anywhere from 3 to 8 hours; however, to individuals under the influence
of psilocybin, the effects may seem to last much longer, since the drug can distort the perception
of time.