Drugs can be divided into three groups according to their mental effect - as excitants, sedatives or hallucinogens - in so-called therapeutic doses for medicines and active doses for street drugs.

Each of these three groups comprises several categories.

Each category comprises numerous products or active ingredients.

In the table opposite, street drugs are listed under their appear under the name of their active ingredient.

Medicines, shown in bold type, are designated by the under the specialty name given by the laboratory.

When a laboratory's exclusivity expires after ten years or so, other laboratories may release the same product under different names. the same product under other names or under that of its active ingredient (generics).

There's no such thing as a truly targeted action for psychotropic drugs, and the exciting, sedative and hallucinogenic effects of the products are intermingled, depending on the size of the dose and the sensitivity of each individual.

They all have multiple, unpredictable and dangerous physical and mental effects, called "side effects" by the manufacturers.

Example of classification

GROUP: STIMULANT
CATEGORY: ANTIDEPRESSANT
ACTIVE INGREDIENT: FLUOXETINE
TRADE NAME: PROZAC