Psychoactive Drugs

A psychoactive drug is a drug or other substance that affects how the brain works and causes changes in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, or behavior. In this quick read, I will explain the the distinctions between the six different types of psychoactive drugs, how they work, their effects on the human body, and treatments for their addictions.

I. Types:

Stimulants

• • Accelerate nervous system functioning

• • Examples: Amphetamine, cocaine

Depressants

• • Decelerate nervous system functioning

• • Often prescribed to alleviate stress

• • Examples: Alcohol, barbiturates

Inhalants

• • Chemical substances that produce instant high when inhaled

• • Cause oxygen deprivation, leading to accelerated heart rate

• • Examples: Paint thinners, glues, laughing gas

Hallucinogens

• • Cause hallucinations and delusions

• • Examples: LSD, mushrooms

Cannabinoids

• • Cause feelings of euphoria

• • THC and CBD are key active ingredients in medical cannabis

• • THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) causes “high” feeling

• • CBD (Cannabidiol) is non-euphoric, meaning it does not cause “high”

• • Side effects include confusion, impaired balance, delayed reactions, increased heart rate

• • Non-addictive, but can develop dependency– difference is dependency does not alter brain

• • Example: Marijuana

Opioids

• • Cause feelings of euphoria

• • Why overdosing can cause death: Highest densities of opioid receptors are in limbic system, brainstem, and spinal cord- vital parts of the brain

• • “More than three out of five drug overdose deaths involve an opioid.” 

• • Examples: Heroin, Fentanyl, Oxycodone, Morphine

II. How these drugs work

•  Just the feeling of normalcy becomes tethered to the neurotransmitter dopamine
• With frequent intake, the brain produces less and less dopamine on its own, strengthening the addiction
• Long-term dependency is on negative reinforcement, thus not taking drugs feels substandard to the abuser
• Receptors are protein particles that obtain chemical information from molecules such as neurotransmitters (i.e. dopamine); receptors are rooted in the cell wall or membrane
• Molecules cohere to receptors, triggering a biochemical or electrical signal that causes the cell to do specific things like create feelings of pleasure

III. Effects on the body

• Individuals who have had mental illness in the past are more likely to struggle with substance misuse, especially if they have anxiety disorders, cluster B personality disorders like BPD and ASPD, or psychotic disorders like schizophrenia.
• Drug abuse can induce significant alterations in the brain regions that are responsible for mental illnesses including schizophrenia, anxiety, mood, or impulse-control issues.
• In addition, even the most benign substances people take in every day, like coffee or tea, can be dangerous if taken improperly. Using these stimulants in excess can result in anxiety, headaches, insomnia, or excessive energy.
• Nicotinic acetylcholine, or simply “nicotine,” is another drug that might negatively impact someone’s mental health. The usage of nicotine, which is also utilized as a stimulant, has recently become quite common among young adults. It has a long history of being a widely used and addictive chemical.
• The early signs of substance abuse may result in changes in the brain’s structure and function that trigger a predisposition to mental disease or worsen an already present one.
• To compare the physical effects of drug addiction, patients with symptoms of mental disorders have changes in behavior and concentration that prevent them from being aware of their needs, such as physical health, including medicine and hygiene, when they are hungry or thirsty, or even if they need to sleep.
• People who use drugs have difficulty speaking properly, have shallow breathing and sleepiness. Symptoms of substance-induced mental illness can cause physical harm to a person, such as scratching, biting, and hitting. Some also develop chills or feel cold or hot at an otherwise insignificant temperature. An overdose of harmful drugs can cause a person to experience insomnia, leading to a more severe attitude or depression.

IV. Treatment

• Therapy is a helpful start in treating drug addiction Behavioral therapy is usually done with a therapist who discusses strategies for dealing with withdrawal symptoms and offers encouragement to stay sober. The therapist assists the individual in their personal decision-making processes and helps maintain stability in relationships Support groups help reduce victims’ feelings of shame and encourage them to come forward
• A drug called naloxone can be given to someone who is overdosing on opioids, which essentially reverses the negative effects of the drugs. Some medications reduce people’s cravings and help prevent them from coming back