There are two broad types of drugs: depressants and stimulants. Depressants, also known as “downers,” slow down the brain and nervous system. Stimulants, or “uppers,” speed up the brain and nervous system. Mixing drugs can be dangerous. Taking two depressants at the same time can slow down your body extremely and make it hard to control your movements. Taking a stimulant and a depressant together can make your body work harder to deal with both of the effects. Taking two stimulants can speed your body up by increasing your heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature to dangerous levels. Mixing drugs of any kind can make you more likely to overdose.
Depressants and Stimulants
Where to Go for More Information
- Related Topics
- Alcohol
- Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs Lesson Plan
- Categories of Substance Use
- Cocaine
- Hallucinogens
- Harm Reduction
- Heroin
- Inhalants
- Marijuana
- MDMA
- Methamphetamine (Meth)
- Prescription Pain Medication (Opioids)
- Related Resources
- Alaska
- Alaska Behavioral Health
- Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance
- Alaska Native Heritage Center
- Alaska Native Knowledge Network
- Alaska Native Stories
- Alaska Native Values
- Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
- Alaska Quit Line
- Alaska Tobacco Control Alliance
- Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (4As)
- ANTHC Early Intervention Services
- ANTHC Harm Reduction Toolkit
- ANTHC MAT Toolkit
- ANTHC Tobacco Program
- AWAIC | Abused Women's Aid In Crisis
- Careline Alaska or call 1-877-266-4358 or text 4help to 839863
- First Alaskans Institute
- Integrated Medical and Behavioral Health Care, Mat-Su Health Services, Inc.
- Interior AIDS Association
- NAMI Anchorage
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- NorthStar Behavioral Health System
- Southeast Alaska Gay & Lesbian Alliance
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- State of Alaska Suicide Prevention Council
- Walk-in Clinic at ANMC
- National and Beyond
- 3 Ways to Talk about Consent with Your Teen
- Above the Influence
- Advocates for Youth
- Al-anon/Alateen
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- AMAZE.org
- Awkward or Not?
- BMI calculator for kid and teens
- Boys Town Suicide and Crisis Line or call 800-448-3000
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
- Child Abuse and Neglect
- ChildHelp Hotline or call Call 1-800-422-4453 or text 1-800-422-4453
- Circle of Life
- Condom Finder
- Crash Course: Anatomy & Physiology
- Do Something
- Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking
- Emotional Intelligence Toolkit
- FAQs Alcohol - CDC
- LGBT National Help Center
- Genderpalooza
- GLSEN
- Healthy Native Youth
- How to Prevent Bullying
- HPV Information
- I think I might be gay
- I think I might be transgender
- IHS Native-specific anti-bullying posters (for communities)
- IMALIVE
- It's Your (Sex) Life
- Just Think Twice
- Khan Academy: Human Body Systems
- Learn the Link - Drugs and HIV
- Let's Move
- Love Is Respect
- Marijuana: Facts for Teens
- Mending the Sacred Hoop (N/A DV/SV Project)
- Narcotics Anonymous
- National Association for Children of Alcoholics: Kid's Page
- National Cancer Institute
- National Child Abuse Hotline or call 800-25-ABUSE
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- National Domestic Violence Hotline or call 800-799-7233
- National Drug Information Treatment and Referral Hotline or call 800-662-4357
- National HIV and STD Testing Resource
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- National Native American AIDS Prevention Center
- National Runaway Switchboard
- National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline or call 866-331-9474
- Nationwide RAINN National Rape Crisis Hotline or call 800-621-4000
- NIDA For Teens: The National Institute on Drug Abuse For Teens
- Order your free STI self-testing kit
- PFLAG
- PFLAG - Need Support?
- Planned Parenthood
- Project Know Understanding Addiction
- Publications by the National Institute on Drug Abuse
- QuitALcohol
- Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
- Ready or Not? Scarleteen Sex Readiness Checklist
- Relationship Quiz by loveisrespect.org
- Scarleteen
- Sex, Etc.
- Sexual Health - CDC
- Smokefree Women
- SmokefreeTXT
- Southcentral Foundation Health and Wellness Center
- Stages of Coming Out
- STIs - DHHS
- StopBullying.gov
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator listing
- Suicide Prevention and Care Program, I.H.S. or call 1-800-273-8255
- Syphilis Fact Sheet - CDC
- Teen.smokefree.gov
- TeensHealth
- That's Not Cool: Decreasing Teen Dating Violence Online
- The National Institutes of Health National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- The Partnership at drugfree.org
- The Trevor Project or call 1-866-488-7986
- Truth
- Two Spirit
- Ulifeline
- We Are the Youth
- WeRNative
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