Psychoactive drug

An assortment of psychoactive drugs, including both street drugs and medications:

A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, psychoactive agent, or psychotropic drug is a chemical substance that changes the function of the nervous system and results in alterations of perception, mood, cognition, and behavior.[1] These substances may be used medically, recreationally, for spiritual reasons (for example, by altering one's consciousness, as with entheogens for ritual, spiritual, or shamanic purposes), or for research.[2] Some categories of psychoactive drugs may be prescribed by physicians[3] and other healthcare practitioners because of their therapeutic value.

Some psychoactive substances may be used in detoxification and rehabilitation programs for people who may have become dependent upon or addicted to other mind-altering or mood-altering substances.[4] Drug rehabilitation attempts to reduce addiction through a combination of strategies such as psychotherapy, support groups, and sometimes medication such as psychoactive substances.[5]

Psychoactive substances often bring various changes in consciousness and mood that the user may find rewarding and pleasant (e.g., euphoria or a sense of relaxation) or advantageous in an observable or measurable way (e.g., increased alertness).[6] Substances that are rewarding and thus positively reinforcing have the potential to induce a state of addiction – compulsive drug use despite negative consequences.[7] In addition, sustained use of some substances may produce physical or psychological dependence, or both, associated with somatic or psychological-emotional withdrawal states, respectively.[7]

Psychoactive drug misuse, dependence, and addiction have resulted in legal measures and moral debate.[8] Governmental controls on manufacture, supply, and prescription attempt to reduce problematic medical drug use. Ethical concerns have also been raised about the overuse of these drugs clinically and about their marketing by manufacturers.[9] Popular campaigns to decriminalize[10] or legalize the recreational use of certain drugs (e.g., cannabis) are also ongoing.

  1. ^ "CHAPTER 1 Alcohol and Other Drugs". The Public Health Bush Book: Facts & approaches to three key public health issues. ISBN 0-7245-3361-3. Archived from the original on 2015-03-28.
  2. ^ Miller C, Lewis J. "Uses of Psychoactive Drugs". Open Library: Press Books. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  3. ^ Levine RJ (1991). "Medicalization of Psychoactive Substance Use and the Doctor-Patient Relationship". The Milbank Quarterly. 69 (4): 623–640. doi:10.2307/3350230. ISSN 0887-378X. JSTOR 3350230. PMID 1806804.
  4. ^ Rockville (2006). "4 Physical Detoxification Services for Withdrawal from Specific Substances". Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment: 4 Physical Detoxification Services for Withdrawal From Specific Substances. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "Substance Use Disorder (SUD): Management and Treatment". Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Drugs (psychoactive)". World Health Organization. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Substance use and addiction". Canadian Mental Health Association. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  8. ^ Frank LE, Nagel SK (February 2017). "Addiction and Moralization: the Role of the Underlying Model of Addiction". Neuroethics. 10 (1): 129–139. doi:10.1007/s12152-017-9307-x. PMC 5486499. PMID 28725284. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  9. ^ Mastroianni PC, Noto AR, Galduróz JC (2008). "Psychoactive drug advertising: analysis of scientific information". Revista de Saude Publica. 42 (3). 42(3): 529–35. doi:10.1590/s0034-89102008005000023. hdl:11449/70529. PMID 18438590. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  10. ^ Zhang M. "Missouri's marijuana legalization campaign is splitting the weed world". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-01-25.