Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
2.4
Syntomatic Criteria
(a) Psycholeptics or depressants.
(b) Psychoanaleptics or stimulants.
(c) Psychodysleptics or hallucinogens.
It is a classification that highlights the various actions that a psychotropic substance
may have on the CNS. The psycholeptics are substances that exhibit CNS depressant
action by slowing the transmission of nerve impulses and body functions. The psy-
choanaleptic are substances that have a stimulating effect on the CNS by acting on
the nerve impulse transmission and accelerating the body's functions. Finally the last
group of psychodysleptic substances are those that alter the transmission of nerve
impulses by altering the state of consciousness and causing the distortion of reality.
2.5
Pharmacological Criteria
(a) Opiates.
(b) Psychostimulants.
(c) Depressants.
(d) Ethyl alcohol.
(e) Nicotine and tobacco.
(f) Cannabinoids.
(g) Hallucinogens.
(h) Aryl-cyclohexan-amines.
(i)
Inhalants.
This classification is based on the structural and pharmacological properties of the
individual active substances.
2.6
Other Classi fi cations
Reported below is a classification that gives particular prominence to the social
aspects of the use of these drugs and the extent to which its consumption has
increased [
6
]. Some commonly used terms are as follows:
(a)
Club drugs
: This definition combines substances while being dissimilar to each
other, and shares prevailing modes of consumption that are favored in club
scenes, raves and concerts.
(b)
Recreational drug
: Definition not different from the previous one while being
less speci fi c.
(c)
Disco drugs
: Similar to the first definition, but with more emphasis on the con-
text of the nightclub as the environment of choice for the consumption of this
group of drugs.
