Since anesthetics administered by inhalation became available, there have been instances of their self-administration, not to produce unconsciousness and anesthesia, but to induce a sense of giddiness, intoxication and sometimes euphoria. Among the agents used in this way are ether, chloroform and nitrous oxide. More recently, certain volatile solvents - such as the acetone […]

The outstanding and distinctive characteristic of dependence on opium and morphine-like agents is that the major features - psychological and physical dependence, as well as tolerance - can be initiated by the repeated administration of small doses, and increase in intensity in direct relation to an increase in the dosage. This characteristic implies that […]

Drugs of this type include lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, “acid”), psilocybin (”magic mushrooms”) and mescaline (peyote). Drugs of the LSD-type induce a state of excitation of the brain that is manifested in a number of ways:

- changes in mood
- anxiety
- distortion in sensory perception
- visual hallucinations
- delusions
- depersonalization
- dilation of the pupils
- increase in body […]

Cocaine is the prototype of stimulant drugs that are capable, in high dosages, of inducing euphoric excitement and hallucinatory experiences. Because of these properties, cocaine ranks high in the esteem of experienced drug users, and it can lead to the highest degree of psychological dependence. Cocaine induces feelings of muscular strength and mental alertness, leading […]

CANNABIS (MARIJUANA)
The hemp plant, Cannabis sativa, grows in most temperate to tropical parts of the world. It is used both for its fiber and its psychoactive properties.
Although it is still employed in some traditional systems of medicine, cannabis is of little importance in modem medical practice.
The amount of psychoactive material in a given cannabis […]

Drugs producing dependence of the barbiturate-type include not only barbiturates but also some sedatives chemically related to them or to alcohol. In addition, some (but not all) drugs commonly referred to as “tranquillizers” produce dependence of this kind; among those that produce barbituratetype dependence are certain anti-anxiety agents, such as diazepam (Valium) and meprobamate (Equanil, […]

When this increasing use is carried to an extreme, the psychotoxic effects of large amounts of amphetamine-type drugs may lead to aggressive and dangerous anti-social behavior. Qualitatively, the psychological effects are in many respects similar to those produced by cocaine. It must be emphasized that the effects are dose-related. The occasional, or even the regular, […]

The signs and symptoms of alcohol and of barbiturate intoxication are similar, as are the signs and symptoms of abstinence of these drugs. In addition, barbiturates will suppress the effects of alcohol withdrawal, and alcohol will suppress, at least partially, the symptoms of barbiturate withdrawal. Drug dependence of the alcohol-type may be said to exist […]

The use or abuse of narcotic drugs is characterized by dependence phenomena. Drug dependence is a psychological and sometimes physical state resulting from the interaction between a living organism and a drug, characterized by behavioral and other responses that always include a compulsion to take the drug on a continuous or periodic basis in order […]