The Abbreviations of drug administration

Recreational drugs are psychotropic substances used to bring about an altered state of consciousness, either for pleasuring oneself or for some other use or as an occasional hobby, altering the user’s perceptions, sentiments, and mental control. When psychotropic substances get into the body of an individual, they induce an intoxicating aftereffect. Recreational drugs are generally divided into three types, including hallucinogens (drugs that cause distortions of perception such as hallucinations), antidepressants (drugs that cause a relaxation and calmness), and stimulants (drugs that makes a person energetic and active).

In the current scenario, recreational drugs are generally tolerated and not considered as a medical anomaly of self-medication. However, the intensive and excess intake of certain psychotropic substances is not accepted in society. Recreational drugs include alcoholic beverages, which are beer, wine, and spirits; Cannabis and hashish (with legalities of possession that vary from country to country); Nicotine, which is commonly present in tobacco; Caffeine (tea, soda, coffee), and prescription drugs, cocoa containing products, and other drugs blacklisted by the United Nations single convention on narcotic drugs (1961) and the Convention on psychotropic substances (1971).

Common recreational drugs
The following substances comprise the most common and available forms of recreational drugs.

Most of the alcohol consumed is ethanol, \text{CH}_3\text{CH}_2\text{OH}CH
3
​
CH
2
​
OH, which intoxicates, relaxes, and inhibits an individual’s mental capacity. It is made by fermenting sugar by yeast to make beer, wine, and spirits (rum, vodka, gin). It is legalized for a specific age group in most parts of the world (most countries 18 and above). It is an International agency for research on cancer (IARC) group 1 teratogen and carcinogen. Alcohol can be life-threatening.

Energy drinks or soft drinks (Coca-cola, Mountain dew, Pepsi), and chocolate contain caffeine. It is the most popular and common psychotropic substance globally and has a slight long-term dependency on consumers.

Consumed in leisure time to convey a sense of energized consciousness, amphetamines are prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, narcolepsy, depression, and weight reduction.

Methamphetamine, a potent stimulant, was used by the Axis and allied forces during the Second World War and later by other military organizations and factory laborers of Japan from 1940 to 1950. It works for boosting muscle and fatigue resistance and improving the reaction time.

Chronic ingestion of methamphetamines can trigger post-acute withdrawal syndrome. In addition, they can be neurotoxic as it damages dopamine receptors resulting in brain damage.