Download Perspectives on Psychoactive Drugs

B2: 1
Making Sense of Drugs
HO2
1.3 Perspectives on Psychoactive Drugs
Psychoactive drugs affect mental processes and behaviours in a wide variety of ways. These effects, which result
from the drug’s interaction with the central nervous system, cause alterations to consciousness, emotions,
perception and behaviour in particular ways. In general these effects can be classed as depressant, stimulant or
hallucinogenic.
Classes of psychoactive drugs
Other aspects
Depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens act on the
central nervous system in different ways resulting in a
variety of effects that share some common features.
There are many viewpoints from which we can
examine psychoactive drugs. The following
perspectives are of particular importance.
•
Depressants
Depressants are psychoactive drugs that interact with
the central nervous system to produce major effects of
decreasing consciousness, awareness and
coordination.
•
Stimulants
Stimulants are psychoactive drugs that interact with
the central nervous system to produce major effects of
increasing alertness and activity.
•
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens (sometimes called psychedelics) are
psychoactive drugs that interact with the central
nervous system to produce major effects of distorting
perceptions and subjective awareness.
The table below outlines psychoactive drugs belonging
to each class.
CLASSES OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS
DEPRESSANTS
Barbiturates
Alcohol
Benzodiazepines
Opioids
Solvents
STIMULANTS
Amphetamines
Nicotine
Cocaine
Caffeine
Volatile Nitrites
HALLUCINOGENS
LSD
Psilocybin
(Magic Mushrooms)
Cannabis
MDMA (Ecstasy)
Classifying psychoactive drugs by their major effects
has some limitations. Many drugs produce a range of
behavioural effects, particularly at different dosages, in
combination with other drugs, or when taken by
different individuals. Alcohol consumption, for
example, can increase activity in low doses (eg.
talking) but is classified as a depressant as this is the
major effect on behaviour and central nervous system
function with significant levels of use. MDMA (Ecstasy)
possesses some stimulant properties as the chemical
structure and some physical effects are similar to
amphetamines, and cannabis has some properties in
common with the depressant class drugs.
•
Chemical – Each psychoactive drug is a unique
chemical compound with a distinct arrangement of
atoms. Their chemical structure, the processes
involved with their manufacture, actions and reactions
with other compounds can be investigated from a
chemical perspective.
•
Legal – Psychoactive drugs include a variety of
substances that have legal restrictions that apply to
them. They can be examined from the perspectives of
the various legal sanctions that apply to their
manufacture, possession, supply and use.
•
Medical – Some psychoactive drugs are
substances that have medical applications. The use of
some psychoactive drugs also results in some
conditions requiring medical intervention. They can be
studied from the perspectives of their application for,
and impacts on, the maintenance of health.
•
Social – Psychoactive drugs are substances that
are used in a range of social contexts for their effects
on behaviour and mental processes. They can be
considered from the perspective of their impact on
social functioning and activity and the social contexts
and rituals associated with their use. Whole areas of
scientific and social investigation are devoted to these
aspects of psychoactive drugs.
Reference:
Carmichael, C. 2001, The DISE Manual: A Resource
Manual for Directions in Illicit Substance Education.
QADREC, University of Queensland, Brisbane p.9
Resource Kit for GP Trainers on Illicit Drug Issues
Part B2 AOD Background: Making Sense of Drug Use