CNS Stimulants: Core Concepts

This course is part of our Core Concepts Series, which reviews potentially impairing drug classes from three scientific perspectives: Pharmacology, Forensic Toxicology, and Clinical Toxicology.

Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants encompass a range of drugs, both therapeutic and illicit, used to increase alertness and activation of the central and autonomic nervous systems. Pharmaceutical stimulants, such as those prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), can be misused for their euphoric and perceived performance-enhancing effects. Illicit preparations of cocaine and methamphetamine are well-known stimulants of abuse, joined in contemporary times by synthetic cathinones and a number of other designer drugs.

This course explores the mechanisms of action of various stimulants, their history and trends, pharmacokinetics, clinical effects, long-term impact, analytical challenges, and more.

Note: This course discusses a broad spectrum of drugs with sympathomimetic properties—those that mimic the actions of the sympathetic nervous system. While some of these may also be classified as hallucinogens or other categories in specific contexts, this course groups them based on their general pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action.