What are they? Anti-anxiety medication, opioids, sedatives and sleeping pills (central nervous system depressants), antidepressants and antipsychotics (psychotherapeutic medications).

Also called… Benzodiazepines (benzos), buprenorphine, Xanax (Xan), Ambien, Ativan, codeine, morphine, oxycodone (Oxy), etc.

What do they look like? Liquid medication containers (vials), capsules or tablets.

How are they used? Taken orally – by mouth

Someone might choose to use psychoactive medications to…

• feel unusually calm or euphoric

• feel sleepy or drowsy (zzzzzz)

• alter their mood, attention, judgment, and/or memory

• relieve anxiety

• treat sleep difficulties

• slow down their movement

• relieve pain

However, psychoactive medications can also…

• cause memory loss (amnesia) 

• cause dry mouth

• lead to tolerance (needing higher doses to obtain the same effect)

• create physical and psychological dependance

• cause constipation

• reduce inhibition and ability to speak clearly

• cause involuntary eye movements (blurred vision)

• trigger panic (during withdrawal)

• lead to sexual dysfunction

• in the event of an overdose: deep sleep, amnesia, nausea and vomiting, coordination problems, agitation, delirium, stupor, respiratory depression, or death