Drugs = Psychoactive Substances
DRUGS
Any chemical substance, natural or man-made that-by its chemical nature-alters biological structure or functioning when administered
DRUGS = PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES
- In the prevention community-drugs are referenced as psychoactive substances
- A psychoactive substance in one that affects feelings, perceptions, thought process, and/or behavior
- All psychoactive substances exert their effects by altering the functioning of the nervous system
- All medications are psychoactive substances, but not all psychoative substances are medications
PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES
- Psychoactive substances alter:
- Mood
- Thoughts
- Sensory perceptions
- Behavior
- Psychoactive substances include:
- Legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco and certain prescription medications
- Illegal substances such as hashish/cannabis, heroin, methamphetamine