9.1

Psychoactive Drugs
Drug	Classification	Common Short-Term Effects on Conscious Experience*
Alcohol	Depressant	Relaxation, tension reduction, elevated mood
Amphetamine	Stimulant	Increased alertness, euphoric feelings
Benzodiazepine	Depressant	Reduced anxiety, relaxation, sleepiness
Caffeine	Stimulant	Enhanced alertness, arousal, attention
Cocaine	Stimulant	Euphoria, enhanced energy, alertness
Ecstasy	Hallucinogen, stimulant	Reduced anxiety, euphoria, visual hallucinations
Heroin	Opioid	Euphoric rush, “clouded” thinking, pain reduction
LSD	Hallucinogen	Distorted sensory and perceptual experiences, intense positive and negative emotions
Marijuana	Depressant, hallucinogen	Euphoria, calmness, distorted perception and impaired thinking, paranoia
Nicotine	Stimulant	Elevated mood, relaxation, improved concentration, appetite reduction
Psilocybin	Hallucinogen	Hallucinations, altered perception of time, intense emotional states
Ritalin	Stimulant	Increased attention and concentration, reduced distractibility

*The short-term effects of psychoactive drugs can vary from one person to another. In addition to short-term effects, many psychoactive drugs have major negative effects on psychological and physical health. The United States’ National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that alcohol abuse and illegal drug use contribute to more than 100,000 deaths annually and that tobacco use is linked to more than 4 times that number of annual deaths (NIDA, 2010).