There are certain drugs that alter moods, emotions, and perceptions, these drugs are called as the Psychoactive Drugs. Psychoactive drugs fall into three major categories; the Depressants, Stimulants and Hallucinogens.
Depressants have the capability to reduce the activity of the central nervous system. It slows down reactions and reduces the strength of response. It can also cause drowsiness; sleep or it can even cause death depending on the dosage taken. Drugs such as barbiturates, narcotics, minor tranquilizers and alcohol fall in this category.
There are serious social problems involving depressant drugs. These are the use of Alcohol and Heroin. The used of alcohol in beverages are widespread in our society. Many people are addicted to the point where these people suffer from actual physical reactions, sweating or tremors when deprived from using these drugs. Heroin is also a serious problem which causes misery, crime, and deaths from overdoses. This drug is used to relieve pain; it produces feeling of well-being and freedom from worry, exhilaration, and extreme physical pleasures.
Alcohol addiction can be cured by psychotherapy and some form of aversive conditioning. Heroin on the other hand can be cured through successful treatment that includes both physical and psychological approaches. Another method of treating heroin addiction is by maintaining the addiction to heroin or by substituting drugs like methadone. This drug cannot cure the addiction but it can eliminate the need to illegally obtain the drugs as well as it allows a gradual controlled reduction in dosage. Stimulants have opposite effect to those of the depressants. These drugs increase the activity of the Central Nervous Systems. It also speeds up reactions; produce a feeling of light headedness, alertness and euphoria. Drugs such as caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines and cocaine belong to this category.
Stimulant drugs have the capability to improve performance on many tasks as well as in keeping someone awake in a period of time. Continued use in these drugs may lead to a cycle of arousal. It will be then followed by depressions in the time that the effect of the drugs wears off. There are cases that individuals who take these drugs will develop increase dependence on the drugs making larger and larger dosage or intake as necessary.
Hallucinogens have the capability to produce perpetual and temporal distortions. The tropical morning glory plant, the psilocybin mushroom and cannabis hemp, all contain substances of hallucinogens; others have been produced synthetically. These drugs affect the perception and thinking by producing distortions. The distortion that is produce might be pleasurable or it may be upsetting and frightening. Hallucinogens cause negative psychological effects and anti-social behavior. Users of these drugs also face legal consequences.