Definition:
Psychoactive drugs are substances that affect the brain and change mood, thoughts, or behaviour.
What is it?
Psychoactive substances are chemicals that enter your brain and change how it works. They affect your mood, thoughts, feelings, and behaviour by changing the way your brain cells (neuron’s) communicate with each other.
How do they work?
Your brain works by sending messages using chemicals called neurotransmitters (like dopamine or serotonin). Psychoactive drugs can increase, decrease, or block these messages. That’s why they can make you feel happy, relaxed, excited, sleepy, or even confused or anxious, depending on the drug.
These are different types of psychoactive drugs:
Stimulants (like caffeine or cocaine) make you feel more alert or energetic.
Depressants (like alcohol or sleeping pills) slow down your brain and make you feel relaxed or sleepy.
Hallucinogens (like LSD) change how you see or hear things — they can cause hallucinations.
Opioids (like morphine) reduce pain and can make you feel very relaxed or euphoric.
Legal Psychoactive Drugs
These are allowed by law and may be used for medical or recreational purposes:
Caffeine – Found in coffee, tea, energy drinks; acts as a stimulant.
Alcohol – Used recreationally; acts as a depressant.
Nicotine – Found in cigarettes and vapes; stimulant that affects mood and alertness.
Prescription drugs – Includes antidepressants, sleeping pills, and painkillers; legal when used under medical supervision.
Illegal Psychoactive Drugs
These are banned or heavily controlled because they can be dangerous, addictive, or have no accepted medical use:
Cocaine – A powerful stimulant that increases energy and alertness.
Heroin – A strong opioid that reduces pain but is highly addictive.
LSD – A hallucinogen that changes perception and causes hallucinations.
Ecstasy (MDMA) – Alters mood and sensory perception.
Methamphetamine – A strong stimulant with high addiction potential.
Cannabis – Illegal in some places, legal for medical or recreational use in others depending on local laws.
Favourite part/ note/ summary— psychoactive drugs are substances, which change your mood or behaviour. Our brain works by passing chemicals called neurotransmitters like dopamine. When you consume any type of psychoactive substance, it can increase, decrease or even completely stoping these messages. Psychoactive drugs can make you feel relaxed, happy, anxious, sleepy, exited or even confused. And this depends on the drug you consume.
How do psychoactive drugs alter brain chemistry to affect mood, perception, or behavior?
What is the difference between stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens in terms of their effects on the nervous system?
Why do some psychoactive drugs lead to addiction while others do not?
How does long-term use of psychoactive drugs impact brain structure and cognitive function?
What role do neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin play in the effects of psychoactive drugs?
How do cultural and legal factors influence the perception and use of psychoactive substances worldwide?
keywords
Brain chemistry, neurotransmitters, mood, perception, behavior, psychoactive effects
Stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, nervous system, drug classification, effects
Addiction, dependency, tolerance, withdrawal, reward system, brain response
Long-term use, brain structure, cognitive function, neuroplasticity, damage
Dopamine, serotonin, neurotransmitters, pleasure, mood regulation, drug action
Culture, legality, social norms, drug policy, global perception, substance use