Psychotropic drugs are drugs that are characterized by the intensity of their effects.
A psychotropic is a psychotropic drug capable of causing a highly intense effect and generating an important modification of personality . Psychotropic drugs , meanwhile, are chemical agents that act on the central nervous system ( CNS ) and are capable of altering various processes of the mind , generating changes in behavior, perception and consciousness.
Before moving forward with the definition of the term, it is necessary to determine the etymological origin of the term. Specifically, we can establish that it derives from Greek, since it is the result of the sum of three components of this language:
- The noun psyke , which can be translated as “soul.”
- The word tropes , which is synonymous with “turn” or “turn” .
- The suffix -ico , which is used to indicate “relative to” .
Use of psychotropics
Psychotropic substances have been used for various purposes throughout history. Medicine can prescribe them for the treatment of psychiatric disorders or neurological problems .
Specifically, among the most common diseases that are treated with psychotropics we find bipolar disorders, depression, cases of psychosis and it is even used with people who have certain sleep disorders.
Psychotropic drugs affect neurotransmission ; That is, they modify the sending and/or receiving of information that occurs through the synapses developed by neurons. In other words: a psychotropic can alter a physiological or biochemical procedure that takes place in the brain. According to its characteristics, it can inhibit or stimulate mental activity.
Classification according to type
It is important to know that psychotropics are divided into three large groups or families:
- Neuroanaleptics , which stimulate brain activity.
- Neuroleptics , which are responsible, on the contrary, for reducing said brain activity.
- Neurodysleptics , which proceed to modify brain tasks to a certain extent.
These psychotropic drugs, in turn, are classified differently depending on the type of influence they have on the CNS . There are psychotropics that are hallucinogenic , others act as stimulants and some are called depressants .
Caffeine is considered to be a natural psychotropic.
Recreational use of psychotropics
It is important to mention that, beyond medicinal use, psychotropics are also often used with recreational intent or for ritual purposes . There are those who use psychotropics to deliberately alter mental activity, modifying perceptual abilities. Due to the damage that psychotropics cause to health when they are not used with discretion and following the instructions of a doctor, the sale of these substances is regulated by law and, in certain cases, prohibited .
However, we cannot ignore that there are also certain substances that are considered natural psychotropics, since they do not include any type of pharmacological or toxic product, and that they also manage to act in one way or another in our central nervous system. We are referring, specifically, to caffeine , which can be found in coffee or certain cola drinks; to alcohol in general; and cannabis . Tobacco can also be included within this same group.