An Overview of Stimulants and How They're Used

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCaffeineNicotineCocaineMethamphetaminePrescription Stimulants

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Caffeine

Nicotine

Cocaine

Methamphetamine

Prescription Stimulants

Stimulants are a class ofpsychoactive drugsthat increase activity in the brain, impacting alertness and mood. In psychology, stimulants are generally defined as substances that excite functional activity in the central nervous system.

Some stimulant drugs are legal and consumed widely, while others are illegal to possess and use. Drugs classified as stimulants include:

Each of these stimulants has unique properties and mechanisms of action. But they also share many commonalities, one of which is that all of them can be highly addictive, causing negative effects on health and wellness.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world.It’s found in various foods and drinks, including coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate candy, energy drinks, and soft drinks.

Many people use caffeine for increased energy and mental alertness. However, consuming too much of this stimulant can cause increased feelings of anxiety, dizziness, fast heart rate, and insomnia.

Thenegative effects of caffeinecan be especially problematic for certain individuals. This includes children, teens, and young adults; pregnant and lactating women; and people with underlying heart conditions or mental health issues.

Some people continue to consume caffeine despite it leading to behavioral, cognitive, or psychological problems. Health experts believe this should be diagnosable as caffeine use disorder and included in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disordersas a mental health condition similar tosubstance use disorder.

Caffeine addiction is associated with:

Quitting or significantly reducing caffeine can result in withdrawal.Caffeine withdrawal symptomsinclude headaches, fatigue, muscle pain, and irritability.Reducing your intake slowly over time can help you overcome caffeine addiction with fewer withdrawal symptoms.

Nicotine is another widely used psychoactive drug that is often consumed in combination with drugs that are often abused (alcohol, opioids, and other stimulants), leading to an increased intake of each or both substances.This can makequitting nicotineeven harder because other drugs are involved.

People can experience a wide variety ofadverse effects after using nicotine:

If you suspect nicotine toxicity or poisoning, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention.

Nicotine is a primary ingredient in not just cigarettes but also e-cigarettes, andvaping is highly addictive. Vaping nicotine has become an increasing problem among teens and young adults, with more than 2.5 million U.S. youth reporting that they used e-cigarettes in 2022.

Stopping nicotine use can lead to withdrawal, and withdrawal symptoms can hit quickly—within two to three hours from the last use. Symptoms ofnicotine withdrawalinclude irritability, anxiety, depression, headaches, trouble sleeping, and gastrointestinal issues.

If you’re trying to quit smoking, vaping, or using other forms of tobacco,nicotine replacement therapymay help you overcome your addiction to this drug. This therapy often involves tapering nicotine use over time, then eventually quitting this drug.

Cocaine is an illegal psychoactive drug made from the leaves of the coca tree. PsychoanalystSigmund Freudinitially advocated for its use but withdrew his endorsement of the drug after realizing that it wasn’t harmless and had negative side effects.

Cocaine increases dopamine levels in the brain, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in reward and movement control. Over time, its continued use can make you less sensitive to the drug’s effects, leading to using it more often and in higher amounts.

Cocaine usecan result in both short- and long-term side effects. Short-term effects include nausea, increased blood pressure, tremors, and irregular heartbeat. Long-term effects depend on how the cocaine is ingested and range from nosebleeds when it is snorted to hepatitis C and collapsed veins if it is injected.

Some scientists are trying to develop a cocaine vaccine to help combat dependence on this drug, but no such vaccine exists as of this time.

Methamphetamine, also known as meth, is an often-abused psychostimulant that damages the brain’s structure and function.Specifically, it has negative effects on the blood-brain barrier, also damaging portions of theneurotransmitter systems.

Even small doses of methamphetamines can lead to negative cardiovascular effects such as fast heart rate, irregular heartbeat, and elevated blood pressure. Take in too much of this stimulant and it can lead to high body temps (hyperthermia), convulsions, and, if not treated immediately, death.

If methamphetamine overdose is suspected, seek immediate medical attention.

There are also many negative consequences associated with long-term use of methamphetamines, including:

Behavioral therapies can effectively treat methamphetamine addiction.There are also other actions one can take on their own to feel better. For instance, research has found thatengaging in physical exercisecan help individuals addicted to methamphetamines feel better emotionally, improving abstinence and drug relapse rates.

Prescription stimulants are a group of psychoactive drugs that affect thecentral nervous systemand theautonomic nervous system. They are used to treat certain physical andpsychological disorders, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

Common names of prescription stimulants include:

Certain effects can also be experienced if prescription stimulants are not taken as prescribed. In addition to a risk of overdose, prescription stimulant misuse can lead to paranoia, psychosis, anger, or problems with the heart, nerves, or stomach—potentially leading to a heart attack or seizure.

If you misuse stimulants, talk to your healthcare provider as they may switch you to a medication with a lower addiction risk. If you experience severe negative effects due to prescription stimulant misuse, such as heart attack or seizure, seek immediate medical attention.

19 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Stimulant.Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA.The safety of ingested caffeine: A comprehensive review.Front Psychopharmacol. 2017;8:80. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080National Library of Medicine.Caffeine.Addicott MA.Caffeine use disorder: A review of the evidence and future implications.Curr Addict Rep. 2014;1:186-192. doi:10.1007/s40429-014-0024-9Bae EJ, Kim EB, Choi BR, et al.The relationships between addiction to highly caffeinated drinks, burnout, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019;30(4):153-160. doi:10.5765/jkacap.190015Cleveland Clinic.Caffeine: How to hack it and how to quit it.Kohut SJ.Interactions between nicotine and drugs of abuse: A review of preclinical findings.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2017;43(2):155-170. doi:10.1080/00952990.2016.1209513Alcohol and Drug Foundation.Nicotine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.More than 2.5 million youth reported e-cigarette use in 2022.Roetto H.What a lark! What a plunge! The influence of Sigmund Freud on Virginia Woolf.Int J English Lit. 2019;10(3):21-30. doi:10.5897/IJEL2015.0889National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is cocaine?National Institute on Drug Abuse.How is cocaine addiction treated?Stephenson RJ, Toth I.Anti-cocaine vaccine development: Where are we now and where are we going?J Med Chem. 2023;66(11):7086-7100. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00366Northrop NA, Yamamoto BK.Methamphetamine effects on blood-brain barrier structure and function.Front Neurosci. 2015;9:69. doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00069National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are the immediate (short-term effects of methamphetamine misuse?National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is methamphetamine?Delgado Morais AP, Roque Pita I, Fontes-Ribeiro A, Costa Pereira F.The neurological mechanisms of physical exercise in methamphetamine addiction.CNS Neurosci Therap. 2017;24(2):85-97. doi:10.1111/cns.12788National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are prescription stimulants?

19 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Stimulant.Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA.The safety of ingested caffeine: A comprehensive review.Front Psychopharmacol. 2017;8:80. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080National Library of Medicine.Caffeine.Addicott MA.Caffeine use disorder: A review of the evidence and future implications.Curr Addict Rep. 2014;1:186-192. doi:10.1007/s40429-014-0024-9Bae EJ, Kim EB, Choi BR, et al.The relationships between addiction to highly caffeinated drinks, burnout, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019;30(4):153-160. doi:10.5765/jkacap.190015Cleveland Clinic.Caffeine: How to hack it and how to quit it.Kohut SJ.Interactions between nicotine and drugs of abuse: A review of preclinical findings.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2017;43(2):155-170. doi:10.1080/00952990.2016.1209513Alcohol and Drug Foundation.Nicotine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.More than 2.5 million youth reported e-cigarette use in 2022.Roetto H.What a lark! What a plunge! The influence of Sigmund Freud on Virginia Woolf.Int J English Lit. 2019;10(3):21-30. doi:10.5897/IJEL2015.0889National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is cocaine?National Institute on Drug Abuse.How is cocaine addiction treated?Stephenson RJ, Toth I.Anti-cocaine vaccine development: Where are we now and where are we going?J Med Chem. 2023;66(11):7086-7100. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00366Northrop NA, Yamamoto BK.Methamphetamine effects on blood-brain barrier structure and function.Front Neurosci. 2015;9:69. doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00069National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are the immediate (short-term effects of methamphetamine misuse?National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is methamphetamine?Delgado Morais AP, Roque Pita I, Fontes-Ribeiro A, Costa Pereira F.The neurological mechanisms of physical exercise in methamphetamine addiction.CNS Neurosci Therap. 2017;24(2):85-97. doi:10.1111/cns.12788National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are prescription stimulants?

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.Stimulant.Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA.The safety of ingested caffeine: A comprehensive review.Front Psychopharmacol. 2017;8:80. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080National Library of Medicine.Caffeine.Addicott MA.Caffeine use disorder: A review of the evidence and future implications.Curr Addict Rep. 2014;1:186-192. doi:10.1007/s40429-014-0024-9Bae EJ, Kim EB, Choi BR, et al.The relationships between addiction to highly caffeinated drinks, burnout, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019;30(4):153-160. doi:10.5765/jkacap.190015Cleveland Clinic.Caffeine: How to hack it and how to quit it.Kohut SJ.Interactions between nicotine and drugs of abuse: A review of preclinical findings.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2017;43(2):155-170. doi:10.1080/00952990.2016.1209513Alcohol and Drug Foundation.Nicotine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.More than 2.5 million youth reported e-cigarette use in 2022.Roetto H.What a lark! What a plunge! The influence of Sigmund Freud on Virginia Woolf.Int J English Lit. 2019;10(3):21-30. doi:10.5897/IJEL2015.0889National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is cocaine?National Institute on Drug Abuse.How is cocaine addiction treated?Stephenson RJ, Toth I.Anti-cocaine vaccine development: Where are we now and where are we going?J Med Chem. 2023;66(11):7086-7100. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00366Northrop NA, Yamamoto BK.Methamphetamine effects on blood-brain barrier structure and function.Front Neurosci. 2015;9:69. doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00069National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are the immediate (short-term effects of methamphetamine misuse?National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is methamphetamine?Delgado Morais AP, Roque Pita I, Fontes-Ribeiro A, Costa Pereira F.The neurological mechanisms of physical exercise in methamphetamine addiction.CNS Neurosci Therap. 2017;24(2):85-97. doi:10.1111/cns.12788National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are prescription stimulants?

American Psychological Association.Stimulant.

Temple JL, Bernard C, Lipshultz SE, Czachor JD, Westphal JA, Mestre MA.The safety of ingested caffeine: A comprehensive review.Front Psychopharmacol. 2017;8:80. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080

National Library of Medicine.Caffeine.

Addicott MA.Caffeine use disorder: A review of the evidence and future implications.Curr Addict Rep. 2014;1:186-192. doi:10.1007/s40429-014-0024-9

Bae EJ, Kim EB, Choi BR, et al.The relationships between addiction to highly caffeinated drinks, burnout, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019;30(4):153-160. doi:10.5765/jkacap.190015

Cleveland Clinic.Caffeine: How to hack it and how to quit it.

Kohut SJ.Interactions between nicotine and drugs of abuse: A review of preclinical findings.Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2017;43(2):155-170. doi:10.1080/00952990.2016.1209513

Alcohol and Drug Foundation.Nicotine.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.More than 2.5 million youth reported e-cigarette use in 2022.

Roetto H.What a lark! What a plunge! The influence of Sigmund Freud on Virginia Woolf.Int J English Lit. 2019;10(3):21-30. doi:10.5897/IJEL2015.0889

National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is cocaine?

National Institute on Drug Abuse.How is cocaine addiction treated?

Stephenson RJ, Toth I.Anti-cocaine vaccine development: Where are we now and where are we going?J Med Chem. 2023;66(11):7086-7100. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00366

Northrop NA, Yamamoto BK.Methamphetamine effects on blood-brain barrier structure and function.Front Neurosci. 2015;9:69. doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00069

National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are the immediate (short-term effects of methamphetamine misuse?

National Institute on Drug Abuse.What is methamphetamine?

Delgado Morais AP, Roque Pita I, Fontes-Ribeiro A, Costa Pereira F.The neurological mechanisms of physical exercise in methamphetamine addiction.CNS Neurosci Therap. 2017;24(2):85-97. doi:10.1111/cns.12788

National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.

National Institute on Drug Abuse.What are prescription stimulants?

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