Table of drugs, which are depressants vs stimulants and which plant gives what? I keep swapping heroin, cocaine and cannabinoids
Tanvi Deshmukh12th Sample
9 Oct 2026 Β· 1 min read
Chapter: Human Health and Disease, last section (adolescence, drug and alcohol abuse). It reads easy on the first read but when I make a table I realise I can't separate the three big groups. Here's my table so far, please correct it!!
| Group | Plant source | Examples | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opioids | Papaver somniferum (poppy) | morphine, heroin (smack) | ? |
| Cannabinoids | Cannabis sativa | marijuana, hashish, charas, ganja | ? |
| Coca alkaloid | Erythroxylum coca | cocaine | ? |
For effects I know opioids bind to opioid receptors in the CNS and gastrointestinal tract, cannabinoids bind to receptors in the brain, and cocaine interferes with the transport of dopamine. But which of them is a depressant and which a stimulant? And one doubt: is heroin the same as morphine? Also what do Atropa belladonna and Datura do, and what about nicotine?
Also, small thing: NCERT defines adolescence as 12 to 18 years, right? "A period and process" in which a child becomes mature in body and mind.
7 answers & replies
Sign in to join the conversation.
[+][β]Lakshmi TripathiDropperSampleΒ· 10d ago
Your table is right. Effects: heroin is a depressant, it slows down body functions. Heroin is chemically diacetylmorphine, a white, odourless, bitter crystalline compound, made by acetylation of morphine, which itself is extracted from the latex of the poppy plant. So not the same, but derived from it. Cocaine is a stimulant of the CNS (euphoria, increased energy), and too much can cause hallucinations. Cannabinoids affect the cardiovascular system, and they're abused for their effect on the brain.
[+][β]Tanvi Deshmukh12thSampleΒ· 10d agoAuthor
the "acetylation of morphine" line is exactly what I needed, thank you lakshmi! Filling the effects column now.
[+][β]Kavya NaikDropperSampleΒ· 10d ago
Others: Atropa belladonna and Datura are plants with hallucinogenic properties (they cause hallucinations), NCERT mentions them with the drugs list. Nicotine is in tobacco, and it stimulates the adrenal gland to release adrenaline and noradrenaline into the blood, which raises blood pressure and heart rate. Tobacco smoking is linked to cancers of lung, urinary bladder and throat, bronchitis, emphysema, coronary heart disease and gastric ulcer.
[+][β]Rahul DubeyDropperSampleΒ· 10d ago
Cocaine comes from Cannabis, I think? And marijuana is from the coca plant. I always confuse C-words. Cocaine = coca, cannabis = cannabis... hmm that doesn't help lol
[+][β]Zoya Khan12thSampleΒ· 10d ago
Rahul, I think those two are the other way: coca plant β cocaine; Cannabis sativa β cannabinoids (marijuana, hashish, charas, ganja). And since Tanvi asked about adolescence too: yes, it's 12 to 18 years, the bridge between childhood and adulthood. NCERT puts it as a vulnerable phase, which is why curiosity, experimentation, peer pressure, the wish to look "cool", stress, and problems at home can push some into trying drugs. If anyone reading this is dealing with something like that, talking to a parent, teacher, counsellor or doctor really helps. Dependence is a medical issue, not a character flaw.
[+][β]Rahul DubeyDropperSampleΒ· 10d ago
haha yes zoya, I realised after posting I wrote it wrong. Coca β cocaine, I'm putting it on a flashcard now.
[+][β]Ishita GoyalDropperSampleΒ· 10d ago
Prevention points that NCERT lists (they come as short answers): avoid undue peer pressure, education and counselling, seeking help from parents and peers, looking for danger signs (changes in sleep, appetite, grades, withdrawal from friends), and seeking professional/medical help. Also remember withdrawal syndrome: abrupt stopping after long use gives symptoms like anxiety, shakiness, nausea and sweating, which is a reason treatment should be supervised.
