Psychoactive drug

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Different psychoactive drugs; counter-clockwise from top left:

1. cocaine
2. crack
3. Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
4. ephedrine
5. MDMA (Ecstasy -pill with the smile)
6. mescaline (green dried cactus flesh)
7. LSD (small plastic bag)
8. Psilocybin (dried mushroom)
9. Salvia divinorum ((large plastic bag)
10. Diphenhydramine (pink pill)
11. Amanita muscaria (red dried mushroom cap)
12. tylenol (contains codeine)
13. codeine
14. pipe tobacco (top)
15. Bupropion (brown pill)
16. cannabis (green, center)
17. hashish (brown rectangle)

A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, or psychotropic is a chemical substance that crosses the blood-brain barrier. Its action affects the central nervous system. It can affect the brain and change perception, mood, consciousness, cognition and behaviour. Hypnotics are often prescribed to help people sleep. Sometimes they are also used in rituals, or as illegal drugs. These drugs enable their users to change their consciousness. This can also help students when they are preparing their examinations. Certain therapies also use such substances.

Psychoactive substances change the consciousness and mood of their user. The people using them may have pleasant feelings, such as euphoria or they may be more alert. For this reason, many psychoactive substances are abused: They are used outside the aims of the treatment. This may lead to the user developing a psychological and physical dependence ("addiction"). It will get more difficult to interrupt the cycle of abuse.

Drug rehabilitation aims to break this cycle of dependency; this is done with psychotherapy, support groups and even other psychoactive substances: Acamprosate or naltrexone are examples of substances made to treat alcoholism, methadone or buprenorphine maintenance therapy in the case of opioid dependency. However, the reverse is also true in some cases, that is certain experiences on drugs may be so unfriendly and uncomforting that the user may never want to try the substance again. This is especially true of the deliriants (e.g. datura) and dissociatives (e.g. salvia divinorum).

In part because of this potential for abuse and dependency, the ethics of drug use are the subject of a continuing philosophical debate. Many governments worldwide have placed restrictions on drug production and sales in an attempt to decrease drug abuse. Ethical concerns have also been raised about over-use of these drugs clinically, and about their marketing by manufacturers.

Psychoactive Drug Media

• Henri Timmermans - The coffee talk.jpg

  Coffee (containing caffeine) being consumed in a social environment; caffeine is widely legal virtually worldwide making it the most commonly used psychoactive drug.

• Depiction of alcohol and tobacco (containing nicotine) being used, both of which are commonly legal psychoactive drugs.

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  Chart of relative harmfulness of some psychoactive substances

• Drug use triangle.png

  Three key factors influence drug use: the drug (type, strength, availability, etc.), the environment (relatives, poverty, social norms, etc.) and the individual (age, genetics, personality, etc.).

• Zoloft bottles.jpg

  Zoloft (sertraline) is an SSRI antidepressant.

• Victory show Cosby Leicestershire UK 2013-09-07 zaphad1 Victory show 529 WWII military equipment orginals replicas reenactment etc German Luftwaffe pilot's personal items guns badges goggles knives etc.jpg

  Two hip flasks, located in the left-center, are featured in the military equipment used as emergency sustenance by the Luftwaffe, which was the air force of Nazi Germany during World War II.

• Alcohol consumption per capita (Per capita alcohol consumption in high-income countries), OWID.svg

  Global per capita alcohol consumption has shown a downward trajectory since the 20th century, suggesting a shift towards prioritizing health and well-being.

• Timothy-Leary-Los-Angeles-1989.jpg

  Timothy Leary was a leading proponent of spiritual hallucinogen use.

• SynapseSchematic en.svg

  Illustration of the major elements of neurotransmission. Depending on its method of action, a psychoactive substance may block the receptors on the post-synaptic neuron (dendrite), or block reuptake or affect neurotransmitter synthesis in the pre-synaptic neuron (axon).