Recreational Drugs
Some people take recreational drugs; it seems like a fact of life. Their use has been around since the dawn of man. They were historically taken in a religious setting but now are used for enjoyment, medication, and inspiration. Obviously not using drugs is the healthiest option but I doubt humanity will ever fully discontinue using recreational drugs. Since their use is so common and widespread I thought I might write out some facts about the most popular ones so if you do decide to use any of them you know the effects, risks, etc and can make a more informed decision.

Caffeine- Caffeine is a stimulant that effects the cardiovascular and nervous system. It is legal and easy to obtain. It causes increased heart rate, blood flow, metabolic rate, and respiratory rate. It increases alertness, elevates mood, and decreases fatigue. With frequent use the user runs the risk of becoming chemically dependent to caffeine. Withdrawals from caffeine can cause difficulty concentrating, nausea, anxiety, and insomnia. It is possible in extreme amounts to overdose on caffeine and permanently damage the cardiovascular system and possibly result in death.

Tobacco (Nicotine)- Nicotine is a stimulant that effects the cardiovascular and nervous system. It is legal and easy to obtain. Using nicotine causes increased alertness followed by a sense of relaxation; it also reduces appetite. With frequent use the user runs the risk of becoming chemically dependent on nicotine. Nicotine withdrawals can range from insomnia, weight gain, constipation, anxiety, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating. In extreme dosages nicotine use can result in overdose (usually with patches). Using tobacco products has been shown to cause various kinds of cancer depending on the method of use. Mouth, lung, throat, bladder, larynx, kidney, stomach, etc.

Alcohol (Ethanol)-Ethanol is the depressant found in alcohol, it effects the nervous system and thins the blood. It is legal and easy to obtain. Using ethanol causes euphoria, reduction of inhibitions, and gradual decrease of motor skills depending on dosage and tolerance. Frequent ethanol use can result in chemical dependence and in higher dosage overdose. Ethanol withdrawals can be very severe and range from depression, nausea, headaches, shakes, and cold sweat. If you are chemically dependent on ethanol you should consult a doctor, as Detox can be fatal if not done properly. Ethanol has also been shown to cause various cancers such as, mouth, throat, liver, larynx, etc. It also has been shown to cause serosis and damage various organs in your body (esp. liver)

Strong Psychedelic Drugs (LSD, Psyliocybin, Peyote, Salvia Dinorum)- They are hallucinogenic drugs that effect your nervous system and chemicals in the brain. Using these drugs cause changes in mood, distortion of reality, dissociation, synathesisa, and hallucinations with all senses. You cannot become chemically dependent to any of these drugs but you can become psychologically dependent to them. This means that you feel a psychological need to use the drug but you will not suffer any chemical withdrawals if you discontinue use. These drugs effect how you think and perceive the world in a very powerful way. The quality of your experience depends on your mood before use, the location you take them in, and the people you are around. Based on these conditions you may have a positive, life changing experience or a negative, horrifying experience. Because of this risk it is recommended you have an experienced sitter who is there to watch over you and console you. The sitter is also there to make sure you don’t do anything dangerous or stupid while you are hallucinating. If you have previous mental issues these drugs may make them worse. They effect how you think and may cause you to bring up old issues and cause mental distress or even a mental breakdown.

Hard illegal Drugs (Meth, Cocaine)- These drugs are considered hard because like alcohol they have a high rate of chemical dependency and severe withdrawal symptoms. They are also highly illegal. When used they cause euphoria, altered mood, increased alertness, insomnia. They have a high risk of chemical dependence and their withdrawal can be fatal. They are similar to other stimulant withdrawals but more severe. If you have a chemical dependency to these drugs then you should consult a doctor since the withdrawal can result in death.

Smart drugs, Pharms (Rx drugs)- Prescription drugs are relatively easy to get and are legally distributed by the medical companies. Their use causes a wide range of symptoms including, altered mood, relaxation, increased alertness, sedation, reduced inhibition, among others. Rx drugs use in higher frequency can result in chemical dependence and in higher dosage can result in overdose. Rx withdrawals can be very severe and you should consult a doctor when discontinuing their use because the withdrawals can be fatal. T
Cannabis is weed..
Psilocybin is the active ingredient in shrooms…

obviously you need to learn a few things
yahoo answers cut out the cannabis section(not enough room) sorry!
Cannabis (THC)-THC is a mild psychoactive drug that effects the nervous system found in the buds of the cannabis plant. It is illegal but fairly easy to obtain. Its effects are highly varied depending on (location, mood, etc see strong psychoactive drugs) however the most common are, increased sensory experience, altered sense of time, increased appetite, change in thought process, euphoria, relaxation. The over load of sensory experience can cause short-term memory loss for the duration of the high. You cannot become chemically dependent on THC but you can become psychologically addicted (psychological need to use, no withdrawals when use stops). There has never been an overdose of THC and many believe that although it is theoretically possible in use it is impossible to use that much THC. If you use THC by smoking the buds of the plant the smoke from the burnt plant matter can irritate the lungs. Other methods of THC use such as inhaling THC vapor or digesting activated THC

By: philosophy major