Tag: Psychoactive drugs

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 296 million people used psychoactive drugs in 2021. These substances, which can be legal, prescribed, or illegal, affect brain function, altering mood, awareness, thoughts, and behavior. Understanding what are the 5 examples of psychoactive drugs is crucial to grasp their diverse effects on the central nervous system.

In the United States, one in five adults takes at least one psychotropic medication [1.8.2]. So, **what is it called when drugs affect the brain?** The terms used are **psychoactive** or **psychotropic**, describing substances that alter brain function, causing changes in mood, perception, and behavior [1.2.1, 1.2.2].

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, all addictive drugs—from heroin to alcohol—activate the brain's reward circuit, triggering a flood of dopamine and producing the euphoria of the drug high. Understanding the specific pharmacological mechanisms that produce a high is crucial for understanding substance use and addiction.

While roughly 80% of adult Americans consume caffeine daily, a common psychoactive substance, many people are unaware of the broad range of **types of drugs that affect the brain**, from prescribed medications to illicit substances, all of which alter normal brain function via neurotransmitters.

In a study of poisoning cases reported to a French poison control center, phenethylamines accounted for numerous hospitalizations, with 13% of cases being severe or fatal [1.6.1]. So, what is the street name for phenethylamines, this broad and potent class of substances?

Over the last few decades, a number of substances, from illicit psychedelics to unregulated dietary supplements, have been referred to as "DMA". It is crucial to understand that a "DMA pill" is not a standardized medication but a term that could refer to several dangerous and illegal compounds, with potentially severe health consequences.