Psychoactive substances: what are they and how are they classified?

Also known as drugs, there are several types of psychoactive substances with different health effects.

Psychoactive substances are chemical substances (drugs or psychotropic drugs) of natural or synthetic origin that affect the functions of the central nervous system (CNS), i.e. the brain and spinal cord. (CNS), i.e. the brain and spinal cord. Among their effects, we can find inhibition of pain, change of mood, alteration of perception, etcetera.

While pharmaceuticals are associated with therapeutic and medicinal use, drugs are often considered for recreational use. The latter are usually associated with young people, but in reality they are consumed by people of very different profiles and ages.

Psychoactive substances are very versatile and have a wide repertoire of effects. It should be noted that some psychoactive substances are considered drugs and psychotropic drugs. One example is Xyrem, which as a medical drug can be used for the treatment of narcolepsy, but in the recreational circuit it is called liquid ecstasy or GHB.

You can learn more about this substance in our article: "GHB: the drug used by rapists to neutralize their victims".

Psychoactive substances: their beginnings

Psychoactive substances have not only been used by modern man, but have been used for thousands of years. In fact, there are findings that indicate that they have been used since 3000 BC. Data suggest that opiates were already being taken at that time. Later, it is known that the Aztecs used peyote and some shamans used hallucinogenic substances.

Classification of psychoactive substances

In the following lines we have made a classification of psychoactive substances differentiating psychotropic substances from drugs.

Types of psychotropic drugs

There is a great variety of psychotropic drugs and, therefore, they can be classified in different ways. None of the following categories are better than the rest, but we have taken into account the functionality or usefulness of each group of psychotropic drugs.

1. Neuroleptics and antipsychotics

These are psychotropic drugs used to treat psychotic crises. Some of these drugs have potent side effects and are often used, for example, by patients with schizophrenia or paranoid disorder. Among the best known are haloperidol or olanzapine.

2. Anxiolytics and sedative-hypnotics

Anxiety disorders are one of the most frequent reasons for psychological consultation, so these psychotropic drugs are also among the most commonly used. Some of these drugs, those included in this classification, are used as sedatives, to facilitate sleep. We can highlight diazepam (valium) or tranquimazin.

3. Antidepressants

These are the psychotropic drugs used to treat depression, and they usually increase the presence of serotonin, noradrenaline or dopamine in the brain thanks to different actions. For example, by inhibiting reuptake enzymes. Among others, fluoxetine (or prozac) or sertraline stand out.

4. Mood stabilizers/Eutimizers

This type of psychotropic drugs are psychoactive substances that are used in the case of a patient suffering from bipolar disorder, thus, it is possible to stabilize the mood and keep it stable. We can highlight Lithium salts or carbamazepine.

• You can learn more about these classifications in our article: "Types of psychotropic drugs: uses and side effects".

Types of drugs

Drugs also have different effects and can be classified in several ways. They are the following.

According to their legality

According to their legality, drugs can be classified as follows:

• Legal drugs: are those that are permitted by the law of a country. These laws can change from one country to another. In Spain, alcohol or tobacco are legal drugs.
• Illegal drugs: are those whose consumption is not allowed in a country. In Spain, for example, we can talk about cocaine or ecstasy. Drug traffickers are in charge of marketing this type of substances, one of the best known was Pablo Escobar. You can read his biography in our article: "Biography and personality of Pablo Escobar, the irreducible narco".

Depending on how they are consumed

Drugs can be consumed in different ways. But which are they?

• Smoked: tobacco, hashish or crack are some examples.
• Orally: ecstasy, alcohol, LSD.
• Inhaled: speed, cocaine stripes.
• Inhaled: glue, popper.
• Injected: heroin

According to their effect on the central nervous system (CNS)

According to their effects, drugs can be classified in the following ways:

• Nervous system depressants.They produce an inhibitory effect on some functions of the central nervous system. Alcohol, hypnotics (sleeping pills or barbiturates), anxiolytics such as benzodiazepines, opiates (heroin, morphine, methadone, etc.) or tranquilizers belong to this group.
• Nervous system stimulantsThey produce the opposite effect to the previous ones and are excitatory drugs, which cause a feeling of energy and stimulation of the state of wakefulness. Amphetamines, nicotine, cocaine or caffeine belong to this group. Psychedelic or disturbing substances: These are substances that cause hallucinations and exaggerated changes in perception. The best known are: LSD, mescaline, ketamine and MDMA.

Drug use is widespread nowadays, and the variety of drugs is remarkable. Some of these drugs are natural, produced by nature itself. Others, the synthetic ones, follow a series of chemical processes for their creation. The immediacy of their effects has to do with the speed at which the active ingredient passes into the blood. Generally, injectable drugs are the ones that cause the fastest effects, and also the most addictive.

• For more information on drugs, you can read our article: "Types of drugs: know their characteristics and effects".