Psychoactive Drugs and Their Effects

Even though they are prescribed to treat a range of disorders, psychoactive drugs have recently come under the scanner for their side effects on the human body. These drugs are used in a range of psychiatric drugs and medications, and therefore it becomes all the more important for the layman to be aware of their effects on the body. The need of the hour is to spread awareness about the possible side effects of these drugs among the general public, so that, people don't get addicted to them, knowingly or unknowingly.

What are Psychoactive Drugs?

Chemical substances which act upon the central nervous system, particularly the brain, and bring about a change in the mood, perception, behavior and other such psychological attributes of the human being are referred to as psychoactive drugs. These psychoactive substances are used for recreational as well as therapeutic purposes, the former is strictly not advisable though. These drugs can be broadly categorized into three groups - depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens. While the depressants are the drugs which slow down the nervous system, the stimulants are the drugs which stimulate the central nervous system, and speed up the messaging process. Hallucinogens, on the other hand, are the drugs which alter your perception drastically and make you hallucinate.

The Effects of Different Psychoactive Drugs

The therapeutic use of these drugs refers to their use in the field of medicine to treat a range of disorders, including the treatment of pain and various mental illnesses. One should also take a note of the fact, that even the use of psychoactive medications can result in drug addiction, especially when used for prolonged duration. On the other hand, these drugs, unfortunately, are also used for recreational purposes. Use of nicotine and caffeine can be attributed to day-to-day activities like smoking and drinking beverages like tea and coffee, while other stronger drugs are used, to be more precise are actually abused, to produce hallucinatory effects - the so-called state of trance. Such use of various illegal drugs can be traced back to several centuries. More recently, however, scientific studies have revealed that such abuse can lead to a series of ill effects on the human body and mind.

Depressants and Their Effects
The long list of depressants include alcohol, cannabis, opiates etc., which tend to slow down the central nervous system functions, and therefore, make the person feel relaxed. That, however, is the case when taken in smaller quantities. In large quantities, these drugs are known to cause a range of adverse effects on the individuals health, including vomiting and unconsciousness, at times, even death. Relatively milder side effects of depressants include lack of ability to concentrate and coordinate, which in turn tend to affect the individual's ability to react to the unexpected situation. Even alcohol is a depressant, and the number of car crashes attributed to drunk driving does have a message for everyone who thinks otherwise.

Stimulants and Their Effects
On the contrary, stimulants have a totally opposite effect on the individual. It tends to speed up the messages going to the brain and coming from it, thus making the person feel totally charged up. While ephedrine and caffeine are mild stimulants, cocaine and ecstasy are much more powerful ones. The effects of mild stimulants are not hazardous, unless taken in large quantities. In fact, ephedrine is used in medicines meant to treat asthma and bronchitis, while caffeine and nicotine are present in coffee and cigarettes respectively. The stronger stimulants, however, can have hazardous effects on your mind and body, even when taken in small quantities. The over stimulation caused by these stimulants can result in headaches, panic, anxiety, seizures, and even make the person aggressive and paranoid.

Hallucinogens and Their Effects
Hallucinogens are by far the most powerful among the various psychoactive drugs, and therefore their effects are also quite serious. They directly affect the perception of the individual and result in hallucinations, i.e. seeing and hearing things which don't exist. The long list of hallucinogens include Ketamine, LSD, marijuana etc. It is very difficult to asses the extent of the hazardous effects these drugs can have on the individual at a given time. These drugs also have a large share when it comes to drug abuse. The hazardous effects of hallucinogens range from headache, panic and anxiety to paranoia, irrational behavior and psychological euphoria. Among the more serious side effects of the hallucinogens, renal failure and cardiac distress can also result in death. Interestingly enough, depressants like cannabis also have the tendency of producing hallucinogens-like effects on the humans.

Substance abuse is responsible for a large number of car accidents in the United States, and when we talk about substance abuse, alcohol abuse does play a major role in it. The use of psychoactive medication during pregnancy is also hazardous, as they have the tendency to intrude the placenta and affect the fetus. They can also result in a range of other complications, including miscarriage, in the pregnant women.

While the use of psychoactive drugs for recreational purpose is best avoided, their therapeutic use should only be done under the strict supervision of a medical professional who is well-versed with their dosage.