PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS

DRUG USE IN MODERN

SOCIETY
 PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS

1. STIMULANTS
2. DEPRESSANTS
3. OPIOIDS
4. HALLUCINOGENS
5. CANNABIS (MARIJUANA)
 STIMULANTS
 Stimulants are substances that cause
the user to feel pleasant effects, such
as an increase in energy.

 Stimulants increase alertness,

excitation, and euphoria, and are
referred to as uppers.
 DEPRESSANTS
Most widely-used and abused drugs in
the U.S
Is popular for its stress and anxiety
relieving properties
INHALANTS
• Gaseous Anesthetics
• Volatile Solvents
• GHB
 OPIOIDS
These drugs are referred to as the
opioid (or opiate) narcotics because of
their association with opium.

The term narcotic currently refers to

naturally occurring substances derived
from the opium poppy and their
synthetic substitutes.
 HALLUCINOGENS
Substances that alter sensory
processing in the brain, causing
perceptual disturbances, changes in
thought processing, and
depersonalization.
(Altered senses – synesthesia; Loss of control –
flashbacks; Self-reflection - “make conscious
the unconscious”; Loss of identity and cosmic
merging - “mystical-spiritual aspect of the
drug experience”)
 Cannabis (Marijuana)
Marijuana consists of the dried and
crushed leaves, flowers, stems, and
seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant

THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinal) is
the primary mind-altering ingredient in
marijuana
 Psychoactive drugs – street names
PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG STREET NAME or TRADE NAMES
STIMULANTS UPPERS
 Cocaine Coke, snow, blow, white, toot, nose candy, base, flake,
crack, rock
Amphetamines Dexies, footballs, orange, bennies, peaches, meth, speed, ice

DEPRESSANTS DOWNERS
Barbiturates Barbs, sleepers, stumblers, blues, yellow jackets, purple
hearts, red dolls, rainbows, tootsies
Tranquilizers Goof balls, blue devils, ludes
Rohypnol/GHB (sedative- Ropies, roofies, rope (“date-rape” drug)
hypnotics)
Inhalants Anesthetic gases (chloroform, laughing gas)
Commercial chemicals & Petroleum products (solvents,
aerosols, acetone, paint thinner, glue, kerosene, gasoline)

OPIOIDS (Opiates) NARCOTICS

Opium Dover’s powder, paragoric, parepectolin
Morphine Pectoral syrup
Codeine Robitussin A-C
Heroin Horse, smack
 Psychoactive drugs – street names
PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG STREET NAME or TRADE NAMES

HALLUCINOGENS
LSD (Lysergic acid
diethylamide)
PCP (Phencyclidine)
PSYCHEDELICS
Acid, sugar cubes, white lightning, dose, tripping
Angel dust, hog, crystal, killer weed, PeaCePill
Adam, XTC, hug, beans, love drug

Ecstasy (MDMA –
methylenedioxy
methamphetamine) Mushrooms, shrooms

Psylocybin

CANNABIS (Cannabis sativa) MARIJUANA

Pot, herb, weed, grass, widow, ganja, hash, maryjane
 SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE -
THE 3 BASIC PROCESSES

1. Tolerance
2. Physical dependence
3. Psychological dependence
 TOLERANCE
Diminished effect on the body after
repeated use of the same amount of the
drug
 Repeated exposure to the same dose of the drug
results in a lesser effect
Can prevail by increasing the amount
of the drug
 As an individual experiences less & less of the
desired effect, tolerance can be overcome by
increasing the dose of the drug
 PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE
 is the body’s need to constantly have the
drug or drugs
 The body’s normal physiological functioning is affected
 Tolerance typically paves the way to physical
dependence
 Over a period of repeated drug use, the normal
regulatory mechanisms compensate for the presence of
the drug; these compensating mechanisms produces an
imbalance
 With physical dependence when the drug use
is stopped promptly withdrawal effect can
happen
 PSYCHOLOGICAL
DEPENDENCE
 Behavioral dependence; is the mental
inability to stop using the drug or drugs
 Psychological dependence can be seen in
behavior and by the amount of time and
effort the person spends seeking the drug
 Observable behavior; craving, hoarding
 A behavioral act is followed by a consequence,
resulting in an increased tendency to repeat that
behavioral act. The behavior is reinforced by its
consequences (i.e. pleasurable - reward or escape
from pain & discomfort)
 WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME
 A consistent set of symptoms that
appears after discontinuing use of a
drug.
i.e. heroin – runny nose, chills, fever, diarrhea
 It reflects physical or psychological
dependence on the drug.
 The individual has come to depend on the presence
of the drug to function normally that removing the
drug leads to an imbalance