Psychoactive substance

From Drug Rehab Wiki

A psychoactive substance is any drug or food that affects mental ability, activity or processes, or mood. Psychoactive substances range from ordinary everyday substances and over-the-counter drugs such as caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, and antihistamines, to strong illegal drugs such as heroin.

Psychoactive substances can lift your mood or make you depressed; they can make you feel more awake or lull you into a stupor. Some psychoactive substances, such as LSD, can cause altered states of consciousness and hallucinations. Certain drugs in the opium family, such as heroin, oxycodone, and hydrocodone, cause temporary euphoria. Stimulant drugs, such as Adderall and methamphetamine, can make you feel powerful and alert.

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance in that it can cause temporary personality changes, and it also affects the ability to think and problem-solve. Tobacco products can boost mood and stimulate memory and other mental processes. Certain plants, such as mushrooms in the genus Psilocybe and marijuana, can be used as psychoactive substances. Certain foods can affect mental processes -- for example, turkey has a chemical that makes you sleepy, and chocolate contains chemicals that lift mood.

Doctors prescribe psychoactive substances to treat depression, mental illnesses, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, sleep problems, anxiety, and even shyness.

Many psychoactive substances are [[]]addictive. Some affect the pleasure centers in the brain, causing you to feel intense pleasure for no reason. Some studies have found that these kinds of psychoactive drugs may lead to permanent incurable depression if you highly abuse them, especially during adolescence.