Drug Rehabilitation Glossary of “D”
Depressants: Drugs that reduce the activity of the nervous system (alcohol, downers, and narcotics).
Designer Drugs: Illegal drugs are defined in terms of their chemical formulas. To circumvent these legal restrictions, underground chemists modify the molecular structure of certain illegal drugs to produce analogs known as designer drugs. Most are related to amphetamines. This can cause neurochemical damage to the brain.
Detection Limit: Lowest concentration of a drug that can be reliably detected.
Detoxification: A process of allowing the body to rid itself of a drug while managing the symptoms of withdrawal; often the first step in a drug treatment program.
Dissociative anesthetic: Compound, such as phencyclidine or ketamine, that produces an anesthetic effect characterized by a feeling of being detached from the physical self.
Dopamine: a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, motivation and feelings of pleasure.
Downers: Barbiturates, minor tranquilizers, and related depressants.
Drug Abuse: Pathological use of a prescribed or unprescribed chemical substance.
Dual Diagnosis: Substance abuse or chemical dependency in addition to or co-existing with a psychiatric disorder
DXM: Common street name for dextromethorphan.
