Drug Awareness: Depressants, Hallucinogens And Stimulants

Summary

This video explores the three main categories of drugs: depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens. Depressants like cannabis and alcohol slow down brain-body communication, while stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines speed it up. Hallucinogens, such as LSD and magic mushrooms, alter perception, making individuals see or hear things that aren't there. It also covers the various street names for these drugs, with cannabis being the most commonly used illicit drug among young people. The video further delves into usage statistics, highlighting the relative popularity and impact of different substances among teenagers.

Takeaways

• 😀 Depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens are the three basic groups of drugs, each affecting the body in unique ways.
• 😀 Depressants (e.g., cannabis, alcohol, GHB) slow down electrical signals between the brain and body.
• 😀 Stimulants (e.g., cocaine, ecstasy, methamphetamines) speed up messages to the brain, leading to heightened alertness and energy.
• 😀 Hallucinogens (e.g., LSD, magic mushrooms) alter perceptions of reality, causing people to see and hear things that aren’t there.
• 😀 Ecstasy is classified as both a hallucinogen and a stimulant, combining the effects of both categories.
• 😀 Cannabis, also known by various street names like pot, weed, or ganja, is the most commonly used illicit drug among young people.
• 😀 Cannabis can be consumed in various forms, strains, and strengths, with different names for each variation.
• 😀 The usage of stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine is less common than cannabis use, with only a small percentage of youth engaging in these drugs.
• 😀 The use of hallucinogens and ecstasy is relatively low among young people, with 3% using hallucinogens and 2.7% using ecstasy.
• 😀 GHB and alcohol, like cannabis, are classified as depressants and slow down communication between the brain and body.
• 😀 Drug names and forms frequently change, with substances like ice also being called crystal meth, shabu, or shard.

Q & A

What are the three basic groups of drugs mentioned in the script?

The three basic groups of drugs mentioned are depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens (or psychedelics).

How do depressants like cannabis and alcohol affect the body?

Depressants such as cannabis, GHB, and alcohol slow down the electrical signals between the brain and the body, resulting in a sedative or calming effect.

What is the effect of stimulants on the body?

Stimulants like cocaine, ecstasy, and methamphetamines speed up the messages between the brain and body, leading to increased energy, alertness, and sometimes euphoria.

How do hallucinogens alter a person's perception?

Hallucinogens such as LSD and magic mushrooms alter a person’s perception of reality, making them see or hear things that aren't actually there.

Why is ecstasy classified as both a hallucinogen and a stimulant?

Ecstasy is classified as both a hallucinogen and a stimulant because it exhibits effects of both: it alters perception (hallucinogen) while also speeding up messages between the brain and body (stimulant).

What is the most common illicit drug used among young people?

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug among young people, with over 14% of those aged 12 to 17 having tried it.

What are some street names for cannabis mentioned in the script?

Some street names for cannabis include pot, dope, grass, mary-jane, weed, head, doobie, and ganja.

What are some common street names for methamphetamines?

Methamphetamines, or ice, are often called crystal meth, crystal, shabu, glass, or shard.

Which drugs are classified as stimulants, according to the script?

The stimulants mentioned in the script include cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines, and methamphetamines (or ice).

What is the percentage of young people (ages 12-17) who have tried hallucinogens and ecstasy?

According to the script, 3% of young people aged 12 to 17 have tried hallucinogens, and 2.7% have tried ecstasy.