Stimulants are drugs that act on the central nervous system and enhance brain activity. According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, stimulant drugs increase blood pressure and heart rate, raise blood sugar, constrict blood vessels and increase breathing rate. Stimulants also increase alertness, attention and energy, often producing a feeling of euphoria. There are various types of stimulant drugs, and all of them pose a risk of addiction and are commonly abused.
Medical Stimulants
According to National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), stimulant drugs are used to treat a variety of medical conditions. Prescription amphetamines, such as Adderall, a drug composed of a combination of amphetamines and dextroamphetamine, are prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These medications are also used to treat narcolepsy, a sleep disorder that causes an overwhelming urge to fall asleep.
Amphetamine-like medications, such as methylphenidate, stimulate the central nervous system but are less potent than traditional amphetamines, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. The advantage to this type of stimulant is that unlike amphetamines, patients do not get addicted to methylphenidate when taken as directed. Because of their stimulant effect, however, these drugs are also commonly abused.
Prescription stimulant medications are classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency as Schedule II controlled substances. This means that according to The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act 21 USC 301, they must be prescribed with a written prescription and refills are not permitted.
Illegal Stimulants
There are many illegal drugs classified as stimulants, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cocaine, a powerful stimulant, is a powder that can be either snorted through the nose or dissolved in water to be injected. Crack is a crystallized form of cocaine that is heated and smoked.
Methamphetamine, another powerful stimulant drug, is illegally manufactured, often from over-the-counter medications. Methamphetamine occurs as crystals or a powder that can be dissolved in water or alcohol and then injected.
Other Stimulants
Ephedrine is a naturally occurring stimulant drug extracted from the plant Ephedra equisetina. It is marketed as an herbal supplement to help relieve asthma, treat nasal congestion and lower blood pressure. Although it's a "natural" supplement, ephedrine has a structure similar to methamphetamine, although the effect on the central nervous system is less potent, according to the Vaults of Erowid.
Caffeine is a chemical that is naturally found in coffee, cocoa, tea and kola nuts. Caffeine affects the body by stimulating the central nervous system, relaxing smooth muscles and increasing the flow of urine.
Another naturally occurring drug classified as a stimulant is nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive drug found in tobacco. The American Heart Association reports that when a person smokes a cigarette, her body reacts immediately to the nicotine with an increase in blood pressure and heart rate.
