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Types of drugs - Coggle Diagram
Types of drugs
Drugs can be grouped together in different ways – by the way they affect the body, how they are used or where they are used.
Drug categories
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hallucinogens – affect your senses and change the way you see, hear, taste, smell or feel things
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Depressant
Depressants slow down the messages between the brain and the body — they don’t necessarily make you feel depressed. The slower messages affect:
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Small doses of depressants can make you feel relaxed, calm and less inhibited.
Hallucinogens
you can have hallucinations. Your senses are distorted and the way you see, hear, taste, smell or feel things is different.
Larger doses may cause hallucinations, memory loss, distress, anxiety, increased heart rate, paranoia, panic and aggression.
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Common gruops of drug
Analgesics
Analgesics – or painkillers – relieve the symptoms of pain. Some people take more than the recommended dose to get high, or to self-harm. They can also be overused by people who have chronic pain.
Some are available over the counter, such as:
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Others require a prescription from a doctor, such as:
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Inhalants
Inhalants are substances that you breathe in through the nose (sniffing) or mouth. They are absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly, giving the user an immediate high.
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volatile solvents – liquids that turn into a gas at room temperatures — for example, paint thinners and removers, glues, petrol and correction fluid (liquid paper)
aerosol sprays – for example, spray paints, deodorants and hairsprays, fly sprays and vegetable oil sprays
gases – for example, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), propane, butane (cigarette lighters), helium
nitrites – for example, room deodorisers and leather cleaners.
Opioids
Opioids are a type of painkiller that can be made from poppy plants (heroin) or produced synthetically (fentanyl). Also called opiates or narcotics, they are addictive as they can give you a feeling of wellbeing or euphoria.
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Party drugs
Party drugs are a group of stimulants and hallucinogens. They are often used by young people in an attempt to enhance a party, festival or concert experience. However, dozens of Australians become seriously ill or die after using party drugs each year.
The most common party drug is ecstasy (MDMA), but the pills/tablets/capsules are of variable purity or don’t actually contain any MDMA and may contain a wide range of other substances. You cannot be sure what you’re taking and the risks to your health are high.
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Prescription drugs
Medicines prescribed by a doctor – also known as pharmaceuticals – that are not being used appropriately can cause harm, both short and long-term. People assume that all prescribed medicines are safe, but not following instructions or combining them with other medicines, drugs and/or alcohol can be dangerous.
Psychoactive drugs
Psychoactive drugs affect the way you think, feel and behave. They act mainly on the central nervous system, changing brain functions and temporarily changing your consciousness.
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Synthetic drugs
Synthetics drugs are a range of drugs that have been developed to create similar effects to banned drugs. These new psychoactive substances are being developed quickly, trying to stay ahead of the law. They are also called ‘legal highs’, although in most cases they are not legal.
Because they are not regulated or tested and change constantly there is not a lot of information about their effects and side-effects. You cannot be sure what you are taking or how it will affect you.
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Our priorities
Our National Drug Strategy identifies a number of drug types that cause the most harm in Australia. These include:
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opioids, including heroin
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