Depressants, Stimulants, and Hallucinogens
How depressants affect nervous system activity and behavior
Depressants, such as alcohol, barbiturates, and the opiates, reduce neural activity and slow body functions.
The major stimulants, and explain how they affect neural activity and behavior
Stimulants—caffeine, nicotine, the amphetamines, cocaine, and Ecstasy—excite neural activity and speed up body functions.
The physiological and psychological effects of hallucinogens
Hallucinogens, such as LSD and marijuana, distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.
The effects of LSD and marijuana
- The user’s mood and expectations influence the effects of LSD, but common components are hallucinations and emotions varying from euphoria to panic.
- Marijuana’s main active ingredient, THC, triggers variety of effects, including disinheriting, a euphoric high, and feelings of relaxation, relief from pain, and intense sensitivity to colors, sounds, tastes, and smells. It may also amplify feelings of anxiety or depression, impair motor coordination and reaction time, disrupt memory formation, and damaged lung tissue.