Psychoactive drugs are those drugs which change mood, perception, understanding and/or behaviour. They may be made from plants (e.g. heroin or cocaine), or in a laboratory (e.g. amphetamines or LSD), and may be legal (e.g. alcohol) or illegal (e.g. cannabis).
Some drugs may be prescribed for medical conditions in which case it is important the directions are followed carefully. The effects of drugs depend on many qualities in individuals (e.g. age, gender, state of health etc.) and the place and manner in which they are taken.
Family history and genetics can be a risk factor for some forms of mental illness (e.g. depression, psychoses), but many people do not suffer any symptoms. However, it is known that drug use (e.g. cannabis, amphetamines) can trigger features of mental illness in certain individuals.
Occasional use of small amounts of most drugs is unlikely to cause long term health problems, however other aspects of a person's life can be affected (e.g. job loss, relationship difficulties). For some people, even small doses of particular drugs can have serious consequences.
Refer to the Queensland Health website for easy-to-print brochures on the following drugs:
The Department of Industrial Relations website has more information on workplace health and safety including advisory standards, brochures and guides.
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