What are the effects of drugs on the body and mind?

Psychoactive drugs are divided into three categories (some drugs fall into more than one category). Each category of psychoactive drug has different effects on the body and mind:

Depressants slow down the activity of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which reduces a person's alertness, and also slows down functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Examples of depressants are alcohol, heroin, cannabis, the prescription drug group of benzodiazepines and other prescription tranquilisers.

Stimulants increase the activity of the central nervous system, making the person more alert and aroused.

Examples of stimulants are nicotine, caffeine, cocaine, ecstasy and the methamphetamines, speed and ice.

Hallucinogens make a person see, hear, smell or feel things that aren't there.

Examples of hallucinogens are LSD, magic mushrooms, ecstasy and cannabis.