Stimulants are drugs that increase alertness, energy, and bodily functions by stimulating the brain and nervous system. They have been used medically to treat conditions like narcolepsy and ADHD. However, stimulants can also be abused recreationally and lead to addiction. Common stimulants include caffeine, cocaine, amphetamines, and ingredients in energy drinks. While stimulants provide short-term effects like increased energy, they can cause serious long-term health problems if abused, such as heart disease, organ damage, and psychological issues.

1. Stimulants
Bridgette Bazin

2. What is a Stimulant?
● Stimulants are sometimes referred as “uppers” because they up your
energy and alertness.
● Any drug that increases bodily functions, specifically those that stimulate
the brain and nervous system.
● Stimulants stimulate alertness, increase speech and motor activity, and as
well as decrease appetite.

3. History of Stimulants
● In the 1930s, amphetamines were used to treat narcolepsy.
● As the 1980s began, people started seeking treatment to help them stop
using stimulants.
● A cocaine epidemic started in the 1970s and continued into the 19 80s.
● At first, cocaine was believed to be a cure for depression, morphine
addiction, chronic tuberculosis, and many others.
● Physicians began prescribing cocaine so often, it became a popular
ingredient in medicines, toxins, elixirs, and even the original formulation
of Coca-Cola.

4. Legislative Acts
● The first change was the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 made it that
labels had to state that cocaine or other narcotics were on medicines.
● The Harrison Act of 1914 almost completely stopped the use of cocaine-
containing patent medicines by not allowing the making and sale of
cocaine.

5. How it is taken
● Swallowed
● smoked
● chewed
● snorted

6. Caffeine
● coffee
● tea
● Mountain Dew
● Dr. Pepper
● energy drinks

7. Helpful
● Stimulants, despite their name, are used to help people with ADD and
ADHD.
● adderall and ritalin are used to enhance cognitive ability
● They are a mixture of amphetamine stereoisomer salts and
dextroamphetamine salts. These drugs work by increasing
neurotransmitters in the brain.

8. Street Names
● R-ball
● Skippy
● The smart drug
● Vitamin R
● JIF
● Kibbles and bits
● Speed

9. Drugs that are considered a Stimulant
● marijuana
● cocaine
● hallucinogens
● inhalants
● amphetamines
● tranquilizers

10. Cocaine
● Cocaine, the deadly white powder, creates a psychological dependency on
the drug.
● Tolerance of cocaine develops very quickly making becoming addicted
easier.
● People often mix cocaine with other drugs, such as heroin, marijuana,
tranquilizers, and amphetamines.

11. Short-term Effects of Cocaine
● loss of appetite
● increased heart rate
● blood pressure
● body temperature
● nausea
● disturbed sleep patterns
● hyperstimulation

12. Long-term Effects of Cocaine
● permanent damage to blood vessels of the heart and brain
● high blood pressure
● liver and kidney and lung damage
● severe depression

13. Effects on Cardiovascular
● irregular heartbeats
● heart disease
● in some cases may cause a heart attack
● For example, there was a high school volleyball star who had just passed
her physical the week before she died of a heart attack on the court. She
had been drinking Mountain Dew energy drinks before practices. The
stimulants in them caused her healthy heart to shut down.

14. Psychological effects
● decreased sense of fatigue
● mood swings
● increase sense of confidence
● increase your anxiety and irritability