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A psychoactive drug or '''psychotropic substance''' is a Chemical Substance that acts primarily upon the Central Nervous System where it alters Brain function, resulting in temporary changes in Perception , Mood , Consciousness and Behavior . These drugs may be used Recreationally to purposefully alter one's Consciousness , as Entheogens for ritual or spiritual purposes, or therapeutically as Medication . Because psychoactive substances affect the brain and bring about subjective changes in mood, behavior and perception that the user may find pleasant, many psychoactive substances are Abused , that is, used outside of the guidance of a medical professional and for reasons other than what they were originally intended for. With sustained use, Physical Dependence may develop, making the cycle of abuse even more difficult to interrupt. Drug Rehabilitation can involve a combination of Psychotherapy , support groups and even other psychoactive substances to break the cycle of dependency. 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 control drug abuse. HISTORY Drug use is a practice that dates to Prehistoric times. There is archaeological evidence of the use of psychoactive substances dating back at least 10,000 years, and historical evidence of cultural use over the past 5,000 years.1 While medicinal use seems to have played a very large role, it has been suggested that the urge to alter one's consciousness is as primary as the drive to satiate thirst, hunger or sexual desire.2 Others suggest that marketing, availability or the pressures of modern life are why humans use so many psychoactives in their daily lives. However, the long history of drug use and even children's desire for spinning, swinging, or sliding indicates that the drive to alter one's state of mind is universal.3 This relationship is not limited to humans. A number of animals consume different psychoactive plants, animals, berries and even fermented fruit, becoming intoxicated, such as cats after consuming Catnip . Traditional legends of sacred plants often contain references to animals that introduced humankind to their use.4 Biology suggests an evolutionary connection between psychoactive plants and animals, as to why these chemicals and their receptors exist within the nervous system.5 The 20th century has seen governments initially responding to many drugs by banning them and making their use, supply or trade a criminal offense. A notable example of this is the Prohibition era in the United States, where alcohol was made illegal for 13 years. However, many governments have concluded that illicit drug use cannot be sufficiently stopped through criminalization. In some countries, there has been a move toward harm reduction by health services, where the use of illicit drugs is neither condoned nor promoted, but services and support are provided to ensure users have the negative effects of their illicit drug use minimized. This can go hand-in-hand with supply reduction strategies by law-enforcement agencies. USES OF PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES Psychoactive substances are used by humans for a number of different purposes, both legal and illicit. Anesthesia and NMDA systems. For example, Halothane is a GABA agonist,6 and Ketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist.7 Painkillers Psychoactive drugs are often prescribed to Manage Pain . As the subjective experience of pain is regulated by Endorphins , neurochemicals that are Endogenous Opioids , pain can be managed using psychoactives that operate on this neurotransmitter system. This class of drugs includes Narcotics , like Morphine and Codeine ,8 and also NSAID 's such as Aspirin and Paracetamol . Psychiatric medications (and anti-anxiety) medication]] Psychiatric medications are prescribed for the management of Mental And Emotional Disorders . There are 6 major classes of psychiatric medications:
Recreational drugs Many psychoactive substances are used/abused for their mood and perception altering effects, including those with accepted uses in medicine and psychiatry. Classes of drugs frequently used recreationally include:
Examples include . Retrieved on July 5, 2007. In many cultures, possessing or having used recreational drugs is seen as a Status symbol. Recreational drugs, especially those known as Club Drugs , are seen as status symbols at social events such as at Nightclubs and parties.9 This is true of many cultures throughout history; drugs have been viewed as status symbols since ancient times. For example, in Ancient Egypt , gods were commonly pictured holding hallucinogenic plants.10 Ritual and spiritual use was a leading proponent of spiritual hallucinogen use.]] Certain psychoactives, particularly hallucinogens, have been used for religious purposes since prehistoric times. Native Americans have used . The use of hallucinogens for religious purposes resurfaced in the West during the Counterculture Movements of the 1960s and 70s. Under the leadership of Timothy Leary , new religious movements began to use LSD and other hallucinogens as Sacrament s.13 However, in the United States, the use of hallucinogens for ritual purposes is legal only for members of the Native American Church , which is allowed to cultivate and distribute Peyote .14 ADMINISTRATION For a substance to be psychoactive, it must cross the Blood-brain Barrier so it can affect neurochemical function. Psychoactive drugs are Administered in several different ways. In medicine, most psychiatric drugs, such as Fluoxetine and Oxycodone , are Ingest ed orally in Tablet or Capsule form. However, certain medical psychoactives are administered via Inhalation , Injection , or rectal Suppository / Enema . Recreational drugs can be administered in several additional ways that are not common in medicine. Certain drugs, such as Alcohol and Caffeine , are ingested in beverage form; Nicotine and THC are often Smoked ; Peyote and Psilocybin Mushrooms are ingested in botanical form or dried; and certain crystalline drugs such as Cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy) are often Insufflated . The efficiency of each method of administration varies from drug to drug.United States Food and Drug Administration. CDER Data Standards Manual . Retrieved on May 15, 2007. EFFECTS . 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 ).]] Psychoactive drugs operate by temporarily affecting a person's neurochemistry, which in turn causes changes in a person's mood, cognition, perception and behavior. There are many ways in which psychoactive drugs can affect the brain. Each drug has a specific action on one or more Neurotransmitter or Neuroreceptor in the brain. |
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