What category do drugs like amphetamines fall into?

Drugs like amphetamines are classified as stimulants because they increase the activity of the central nervous system, leading to heightened alertness, energy, and concentration. Stimulants enhance brain function and can temporarily elevate mood and increase physical activity. This pharmacological action distinguishes them from other categories of drugs.

Hallucinogens primarily alter perceptions, thoughts, and feelings, creating experiences that can distort reality. Depressants, on the other hand, slow down brain function and can create a calming effect, often leading to drowsiness. Analgesics are pain-relieving medications that can affect various pathways in the nervous system, but they do not necessarily stimulate or depress functions in the same way that stimulants do. Therefore, the classification of amphetamines as stimulants aligns with their known properties and effects on the body and mind.