DRUG CLASSES

Question 1

Stimulants

Answer 1

Stimulants accelerate messages travelling between the brain and body. They can make a person feel more awake, alert, confident or energetic. They can also cause a person to feel anxious, aggressive or paranoid.

Question 2

Depressants

Answer 2

Depressant substances affect the central nervous system, slowing down the messages travelling between the brain and body. Sometimes depressants reduce concentration, inhibitions and coordination and cause people to feel relaxed.

Question 3

Psychedelics

Answer 3

Psychedelics are also known as hallucinogens. They can cause hallucinations, or change a person’s thoughts, mood, sense of time or perception of their environment or themselves.

Question 4

Empathogens

Answer 4

Empathogens include substances that cause the brain to release dopamine and serotonin. They can increase feelings of connection and empathy, pleasure and energy levels but can also cause mood swings, dehydration and depression.

Question 5

Disassociatives

Answer 5

Dissociatives are a type of psychedelic drug. They can cause a person to feel disconnected from their body or physical environment. They can also distort physical senses, such as taste, touch, sight, sound and smell.

Question 6

Cannabinoids

Answer 6

Cannabinoids refer to any medicinal, recreational or synthetic substance that joins the cannabinoid receptors of the body and brain. These substances have a similar effect to cannabis, causing a ‘high’ during which a person may feel happy, relaxed, hungry, giggly or quiet and reflective. Cannabis is more commonly known as marijuana.

Question 7

Opioids

Answer 7

Opioids affect the opioid receptors in the brain and are usually derived from the opium poppy. Like depressants, opioids slow the central nervous system and messages travelling between the brain and body. They are often used to treat pain.