| A | B |
|---|
| psychoactive drugs | chemicals that change conscious awareness, mood or perception |
| drug abuse | drug taking that causes emotional or physical harm to the drug user or others |
| psychological dependence | desire or craving to achieve the affects produced by a drug |
| physical dependence | bodily processes have been so modified by repeated use of a drug that continued use is requred to prevent withdrawal symptoms |
| addiction | broad term describing a compulsion to use a specific drug or engage in a certain activity |
| withdrawal | discomfort and distress, including physical pain and intense cravings, experienced after stopping the use of addictive drugs |
| tolerance | decreased sensitivity to a drug brought about by its continuous use |
| depressants | psychoactive drugs that act on the central nervous system to supress or slow bodily processes and reduce overall responsiveness |
| stimulants | drugs that act on the brain and nevous system to increase their overall activity and general responsiveness |
| opiates | drugs derived from opium that function as an analgesic or pain reliever |
| hallucinogens | drugs that produce sensory or perceptual distortions called hallucinations |
| agonist | chemical that mimics the action of a specific neurotransmitter |
| antagonist | chemical that opposes or blocks the action of a neurotransmitter |
