Drug Effects
Drug Type | Examples | Effect on Behaviour | Effect on Thought | Effect on Emotion | How they work |
Hallucinogen | LSD PCP Ketamine Magic mushrooms Mescaline Ecstasy (MDMA) |
|
|
| They target areas of the brain related to the understanding of sensory input |
Stimulants | Methamphetamine Amphetamine Cocaine Secondary: Caffeine Nicotine Ecstasy |
|
|
| Act in the brain in a similar way to dopamine (pleasure centre response) and norepinephrine (fight or flight response) |
Depressants | GHB Alcohol Heroin Cannabis Valium | Poor concentration and slowed reaction time |
|
| Slows down/reduces brain and bodily functions. Slows the functions of the central nervous system,. Usually done by enhancing the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA |
Psychoactive Drug | Examples | Process | Effect on behaviour, thought and emotion | ||
Stimulant: | Methamphetamine Amphetamine Cocaine Secondary: Caffeine Nicotine Ecstasy | Methamphetamine: Meth mimics dopamine and is taken into the cell by the transporters, it enters vesicle pushing the dopamine out. This means that dopamine is pumped into the synapse. Dopamine is trapped in the synaptic cleft binding to receptors continuously Cocaine: Cocaine blocks the transporters that are responsible for letting dopamine back into the pre-synaptic terminal, leaving the dopamine in the synapse to continually bond with receptors | Jittery, euphoria, feelings of relaxation, aggression, excites nervous system Fidgety, unable to sit still | ||
Depressant: | GHB Alcohol Heroin Cannabis Valium | Heroin: Heroin mimics opiates, binds to opiate receptors and turns off inhibition of dopamine. Dopamine plugs synapse causing the neurotransmitter to be read again and again equally euphoria Cannabis: Neurotransmitters that stop the release of dopamine into the synapse is mimicked by THC allowing dopamine to be continually let into the synapse | Impaired judgement, fewer inhibitions, more confidence, slows reactions, slurs speech, slows nervous system Loss of inhibition, increased appetite, spontaneous laughter, paranoia, anxiety | ||
Hallucinogen: | LSD PCP Ketamine Magic mushrooms Mescaline Ecstasy (MDMA) | LSD Binds to serotonin receptors May inhibit or excite receptors Target locus coeruleous impacting sensory perception | Increases sensations of the senses, impaired judgement, antisocial behaviour |