Drugs are plants or substances of natural or synthetic origin that affect the functioning of the central nervous system and therefore affect the functioning of the brain, modifying perception, well-being, consciousness and behavior. The effects of drugs can be felt in different ways depending on how they are taken, depending on the nature of the use, which can be experimental, recreational, habitual, circumstantial or addictive.
They are divided into two groups:
- licit drugs (taking licit drugs, possessing and trading them is not a crime): caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea
- illicit drugs (taking, possessing and dealing in illicit drugs is a crime)
ILLICIT DRUGS
- Plants and substances that are very dangerous to human health due to the serious consequences that can be caused by their improper use and are not used in medicine. This group includes heroin, opium poppy concentrate, MDA, MDMA, coce, psilocybin, psilocin, mescaline, LSD, mephedrone, cathinone, kat, etc.
- Extremely dangerous plants or substances due to the serious consequences that can arise from their abuse and which can be used in medicine. This group includes morphine, codeine, opium, methadone, pethidine, fentanyl, oxycodone, amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabis, etc.
- Plants and substances that are moderately dangerous for the consequences that can be caused by their abuse and that can be used in medicine. This group includes barbiturate and non-barbiturate (except hypnotic benzodiazepines) hypnotics and antiepileptics, eg phenobarbital, glutethimide, meprobamate; Benzodiazepine anxiolytics and hypnotics: e.g. bromazepam, diazepam, lorazepam; nitrazepam, flurazepam, midazolam, zolpidem and stimulants and anorectics such as phentermine, cathine, benzphetamine, pemoline.
Drugs are and classified in different ways; according to their effects they are divided into depressants, stimulants, hallucinogenic drugs, cannabinoids and there are also new psychoactive substances.
