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What are Drugs?

  A drug is any chemical you take that affects 

the way your body works. Alcohol, caffeine, 

aspirin and nicotine are all drugs. A drug must 

be able to pass from your body into your brain. 

Once inside your brain, drugs can change the 

messages your brain cells are sending to each 

other, and to the rest of your body. They do 

this by interfering with your brain's own 

chemical signals.

Common Drugs.

   Antidepressants, Barbiturates, Cannabis, 

Depressants, Hallucinogens, Inhalants, 

Narcotics, Steroids, Stimulants, and Tobacco 

are all common used drugs. There are many 

different types of drugs you should be aware 

of. Some are prescribed, others are known as 

club drugs, illicit or illegal substances, and 

some are called designers drugs. 

Antidepressants

 Antidepressants are a prescription 

medication used to treat depression and 

mood disorders like obsessive-compulsive 

disorder, eating disorders and other anxiety 

problems. The problem is that some 

antidepressant drugs can actually carry 

serious side effects and when used in 

combination with alcohol or other depressant 

drugs, can actually make you more 

depressed. Likewise, discontinuing use 

suddenly can cause mild withdrawal 

symptoms.

Barbiturates

There are many different types 

of barbiturates out there, many 

of which are prescription, and 

work by depressing the central 

nervous system. This can cause 

sedation and anesthesia. While 

used to treat seizure disorders, 

insomnia and other problems, 

they can be abused. Users 

often build up a tolerance to 

them, requiring larger doses to 

achieve the same effects. 

Overdosing occurs often in 

those abusing "downers."

Cannabis

Cannabis is also known as 

marijuana and has psychoactive 

effects. It is taken into the body in 

the form of smoke or vapor and can 

even be consumed and mixed into 

food or steeped in a tea. While the 

jury's still out on whether or not 

marijuana is addictive, it is often 

believed to act as the "gateway" to 

other more serious substances.

Depressants

Depressants are a type of drug that 

can take several forms; however, 

the most common type is 

administered by prescription. Many 

people are prescribed depressant 

drugs which have beneficial effects 

but wind up dependant on them or 

addicted. Depressant drugs can put 

your health and wellbeing at serious 

risk.

Hallucinogens

While hallucinogens have been 

around for years in ceremonies 

and rituals, they play a role in 

modern society as well. They 

work by producing sensory 

hallucinations in users involving 

any of the five senses. Common 

substances that fall within this 

category include LSD, PCP and 

Peyote.

Inhalants

As their name would suggest, 

inhalants refer to a group of 

drugs that are inhaled in the 

form of a gas or solvent. 

Potential inhalants can be 

found just about anywhere 

and include common 

products like nail polish 

remover, gasoline, glue and 

aerosol cans.

Narcotics

While the term "narcotics" is 

often used to refer to any 

illicit substance, it technically 

means a substance derived 

from opium (opiates) or its 

synthetic replacements. 

Examples of narcotics include 

cocaine, morphine and 

heroin, all of which are highly 

addictive.

Steroids

Anabolic steroids are not the 

same as the kind used in 

medicine for the reduction of 

inflammation. Rather, these 

substances are used to build 

muscle mass and strength. 

They typically consist of male 

sex hormones and can be 

very damaging when used 

without a prescription. 

Stimulants

Stimulants are a class of 

drugs that boost 

alertness and increase 

the activity of the central 

nervous system. 

Examples of this type of 

drug include 

amphetamines, 

methamphetamines, 

cocaine and nicotine, all 

of which are highly 

addictive. 

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