Drugs
Drugs are powerful substances which affect the way you think, feel, and act, and can cause you to lose control over your body and mind.
People who take drugs do so for all sorts of reasons. Some people use them because they think drugs can make them forget their worries, because their friends do, because they are curious about how it will make them feel, or because they think it might be fun.
Whatever their reason, it is important that they are aware of the effects that drugs can have on the body and the mind, and the risks involved.
Most drugs can be divided into three broad groups:
- Stimulants:
stimulate the central nervous system, increase the heart rate and brain activity.
e.g. cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines, tobacco, caffeine - Depressants:
depress the central nervous system and slow down brain activity.
e.g. alcohol, heroin, tranquillisers, solvents - Hallucinogens:
act on the mind, alter perception, and distort the way users see and hear things.
e.g. cannabis, ketamine, LSD, magic mushrooms
Go to the drug fact file to find information about individual drugs, the effects they may have, and the risks involved.
