This document discusses psychoactive drugs, also known as psychotropic or psychopharmaceutical drugs. It provides definitions and describes how these drugs affect the central nervous system and alter perceptions, moods, and behaviors. The document also summarizes key points about the history of psychoactive drug use, common classes of psychotropic drugs, their medical and non-medical uses, methods of administration, effects on neurochemistry, risks of addiction, and regulations around legality.

1. Sarvarsh Singh Saini
57-
3rd Course

2.  A psychoactive
drug,psychopharmaceutical, or psychotropic is
a chemical substance that crosses the blood–brain
barrier and acts primarily upon the central nervous
system where it affects brain function, resulting in
alterations in
perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and beh
avior
 Psychoactive drugs have therapeutic utility, e.g., as
anesthetics, analgesics, or for the treatment
of psychiatric disorders
INTRODUCTION

3. HISTORY
 Psychotropic drugs have been used from
prehistoric times
 Medicinal use is one of the important facet of
psychoactive drug usage in ancient times
 The chewing of coca leaves, dates back over
8000 years ago has been found by archeologist
while studying

4. Dr. Timothy Leary , Ralph
Metzner, and Richard Alpert (Ram Dass) in
the 1960s
 Dosage – some compounds are beneficial when consumed in
small amounts, but harmful in higher doses
 Set – it is internal attitudes and constitution of a person
including their wishes, fears and expectation
 Setting – it pertains to the surroundings, the place, and the
time in which experiences transpire

5. Commonly Used Psychotropic Drugs And
Its Group
 Anxiolytics (inhibits anxiety) - Benzodiazepine
 Euphoriants (induces relaxation) - MDMA , MDA, Indopan
 Stimulants - amphetamine, caffeine, cocaine,
nicotine
 Depressants - alcoholic beverages (ethanol),
opioids, barbiturates, benzodiazepines
 Hallucinogens - LSD and nitrous oxide

6. PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION
Psychiatric medications are psychoactive drugs
prescribed for the management of mental and
emotional disorders
There are six major classes of psychiatric
medications :
Antidepressant – clinical depression, anxiety, eating disorders
Stimulants – attention deficit disorder, suppress the appetite
Antipsyhotics – schizophrenia, severe mania
Mood stabilizers – bipolar disorder
Anxiolytics – anexiety disorder
Depressent – hynotics, sedatives, anaesthetics

7. ANESTHESIA – It is a class of psychotropic drugs used on patients
to block pain and other sensations. Most anesthetics induce
unconsciousness, which allows patients to
undergo medical procedures
like surgery without physical pain or emotional trauma induce
unconsciousness, anesthetics affect the GABA and NMDA
systems. For example, halothane is a GABA agonist, and
ketamine an NMDA receptor antagonist
PAIN MANAGEMENT- Psychoactive drugs are often prescribed
to manage pain. The subjective experience of pain is primarily
regulated by endogenous opiod peptides. Thus, pain can often
be managed using psychoactives that operate on this
neurotransmitter system, also known as opiod receptor
agonist. This class of drugs can be highly addictive, and
includes opiate narcotics, like morphine and codeine.
USES

8. MILITARY
Psychotropic drugs have been used in military as non-
lethal weapon
In World War II 60 million amphetamine pills were used
by soldiers
Brown-brown, a form of cocaine adulterated with gun
powder, has been used in Sierra Leone Civil War
Both military and civilianAmerican intelligence officials
are know to use psychotropic drugs for there
interrogation with captives

9. Administration
For a substance to be psychotropic it must clear
the blood-brain barrier so it can affect
neurochemical function.
Certain drugs such as alcohol and caffeine are
ingested in beverages form.
Nicotine and cannabis are often smoked
Crystalline drugs like cocaine and
methamphetamines are often insufflated (inhaled
or ”snorted”)
Medicines such as lorazepam is ingested orally in
tablet form or capsule form
 The efficiency of each method of administration
varies from drug to drug

10. EFFECTS
It affects a person’s neurochemistry, which in turn
causes a change in person’s mood, cognition, perception
and behaviour.
Agonist - Increase the synthesis of one or more
neurotransmitter, by reducing it’s reuptake from
synapses, or by mimicking the action by binding directly
to the postsynaptic receptor.
Antagonist – operate by interfering with synthesis or
blocking postsynaptic receptors so that neurotransmitters
cannot bind to them.

11. An overview of normal signalling by neurotransmitter

12. Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter
Derived from tryptophan
Found in gastrointestinal tract, platelets and in central nervous system
It contributes to feelings of well being and happiness
It also acts as a growth factor for some cells

13. ADDICTION
It is of two types :-
PsychologicalAddiction – by which a user feels compelled to use a
drug despite negative physical or societal consequences
Physical Dependence – by which a user must use a drug to avoid
physically uncomfortable or even medically harmful withdrawal
symptoms
Drugs that are most likely to cause addiction are drugs that directly
stimulate the dopaminergic system, like cocaine and amphetamines
Drugs that only indirectly stimulate the dopaminergic system, such
as psychedelics, are not as likely to be addictive

14. LEGALITY
 The legality of psychoactive drugs has been controversial
 The most influential document regarding the legality of psychoactive
drugs is the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, an
international treaty signed in 1961 as anAct of the United Nations
 It is signed by 73 nations including United States, USSR, India and
United Kingdom
 It established the legality of each drug and laid out an international
agreement to fight addiction to recreational drugs by combatting the
sale, trafficking, and use of scheduled drugs
 In the United States, the Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) has
authority over all drugs, including psychoactive drugs
 Psychotropic drugs are only given with a prescription
 However, certain psychoactive drugs, like alcohol, tobacco, and drugs
listed in the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs are subject to
criminal laws

15. Thank you !!