For narcotics such as heroin, the physical and mental effects include euphoria, drowsiness, and respiratory depression. For stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines, the effects include an increase in pulse rate and blood pressure, insomnia, and loss of appetite. LSD and other hallucinogens produce illusions and hallucinations. With all of these drugs, overdose or accidental overdose can cause death. The negative physical and mental effects of the use of alcohol are well documented.
Alcohol consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior.
Even low doses significantly impair the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely, increasing the likelihood that the driver will be involved in an accident. Low to moderate doses of alcohol also increase the incidence of a variety of aggressive acts, including sexual violence and spouse and child abuse. Moderate to high doses of alcohol can cause marked impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person's ability to learn and remember information. Very high doses cause respiratory depression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effects just described.