Empathogens increase an individual’s feeling of empathy and benevolence towards others and increase feelings of being socially accepted by and connected to others. They can increase friendliness and playfulness, but can also cause mood swings, dehydration and depression.

The word cannabinoid refers to every chemical substance, regardless of structure or origin, that joins the cannabinoid receptors of the body and brain and that have similar effects to those produced by the Cannabis Sativa plant. The three types of cannabinoids are recreational, medicinal and synthetic.

Depressants reduce stimulation and arousal. They induce sleep, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and prevent seizures. Depressants do not necessarily make a person feel depressed, they inhibit the central nervous system, slowing down the messages between the brain and the body.

Dissociatives (also referred to as 'dissociative anesthetics') are a class of psychedelic drugs. They can be characterized by distorted sensory perceptions and feelings of disconnection or detachment from the environment and one's self. The individual effects of each dissociative can vary greatly between each person using them.

Hallucinogens are psychoactive substances that produce changes in perception, mood and cognitive processes. They affect all of the senses, altering a person’s thinking, sense of time and emotions. They can also cause a person to hallucinate—seeing or hearing things that do not exist or are distorted in nature.

The term stimulants cover a broad class of drugs that increase the activity of the central nervous system. Stimulants are sometimes referred to as uppers and reverse the effects of fatigue on both mental and physical tasks. They can produce desirable effects in the short-term by increasing levels of dopamine in the brain. 

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Opioids include any drug that acts on opioid receptors in the brain, and any natural or synthetic drugs derived from or related to the opium poppy. Opioids bind to opioid receptors which depress the central nervous system, and slow down messages traveling between the brain and body. 

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