Types of Drugs

There are three main types of drugs categorised by the way they act on the central nervous system: depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens.

Depressants
Depressant drugs don't necessarily make a person feel depressed. They slow down the functions of the central nervous system, including the sending of messages to and from the brain.

In small quantities they can cause a person to be more relaxed and less inhibited. In larger doses they may cause unconsciousness, vomiting and death. Depressants affect concentration and coordination. They slow down a person's ability to respond to unexpected situations.

Driving while under the influence of cannabis is dangerous because of decreased concentration, coordination and drowsiness. Combined with alcohol, the effects will be much greater and driving is even more dangerous.

Depressant drugs include alcohol, minor tranquillisers (eg Valium, Rohypnol), cannabis, GHB, opioids(eg heroin, morphine, pethidine, methadone) and most inhalants(eg aerosols, solvents, glue, petrol, cleaning fluid, laughing gas).

Stimulants
Stimulants act on the central nervous system to speed up the messages going to and from the brain. Stimulants increase the heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. They release more sugar into the bloodstream, increase alertness and may reduce feelings of tiredness and hunger. In larger quantities, they may cause anxiety and panic.

Stimulants include amphetamines (speed, crystal meth, ice, shabu), ecstasy (E, XTC) and cocaine(coke, crack). Nicotine and caffeine are also mild stimulants.

Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens affect perception. People who have taken them may see or hear things which aren't really there. Or what they see may be distorted in some way. The effects of hallucinogens vary greatly. It is impossible to predict how they will affect a particular person at a particular time.

Hallucinogens include datura, magic mushrooms, LSD, mescaline, PCP (angel dust) and Ketamine(Special K). Hallucinogens may also have a depressant effect. For example, cannabis and ecstasy are a depressant as well as a hallucinogen.

Cannabis is a depressant as well as a hallucinogen. Ecstasy can also have hallucinogenic qualities.

Source: Common questions parents ask about young people (n.d) Retrieved November 11, 2005 , from http://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=common_questions_parents_ask_a#what