Psychoactive Drugs

• Psychoactive drug


  Chemical substance that is used purposefully to alter one's mood, perceptions, or consciousness. Associated with dependance
• Depressants


  Drugs that reduce neural activity, like sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and alcohol
• Opioids


  Falls under depressants, but are so addictive that they are considered to be a category of their own. Offer pain relief and act as endorphin agonists
• Opioids are synthetic, opiates are derived from poppies
• Stimulants


  Psychoactive drug category that excites neural activity, like caffeine, meth, cocaine
• Hallucinogens


  Drug category that distorts perceptions and induces hallucinations. LSD, THC
• Hallucination


  Sensory experience in absence of a stimulus