S

sobriety The state of abstinence from ALCOHOL
and drugs. Sobriety is a marker of success in SUB-
STANCE ABUSE TREATMENT. Individuals who are in
recovery keep track of the length of time they
remain sober. When treatment and sobriety are
ordered through the courts, such as in connection
with the breaking of laws in regard to use or pos-
session of alcohol or drugs, it may be necessary for
the person to prove sobriety through BLOODand
URINEtests that check for the presence of prohib-
ited substances. Sobriety begins when the body is
clear of alcohol or drugs, which may take days to
weeks, depending on the substance, and continues
for as long as it remains so.
See also DETOXIFICATION; ILLICIT DRUG USE; INTOXI-
CATION; PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE.

stimulants Drugs that stimulate the CENTRAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM, producing heightened awareness
and alertness. Stimulants have therapeutic uses as
treatments for ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DIS-
ORDER (ADHD), NARCOLEPSY, sinus congestion, and
weight loss. All central NERVOUS SYSTEMstimulants
belong to the same general DRUG classification,
sympathomimetic amines, and elicit the same
kinds of responses though at varying levels. Stim-
ulants have moderate to high risk for DEPENDENCE
and ADDICTION.

Over-the-Counter Stimulants

Numerous stimulants are commonly available
without a doctor’s prescription, such as

• CAFFEINE, found in coffee, tea, cola, and energy
  drinks, gels, and food bars as well as in OVER-
  THE-COUNTER(OTC) DRUGSfor weight loss, alert-
  ness, and PAINrelief
  
  
  • NICOTINE, the primary active ingredient of
    tobacco
  
  
  • pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, decon-
    gestants found in OTC cold remedy and allergy
    relief products
  
  
  • GINSENG, guarana, and kola nut, which are com-
    mon ingredients in energy products
  
  
  
  

Though OTC and herbal products containing

stimulants are readily available, they are not

inherently safe. Herbal products, which are not

subject to regulation as drugs in the United States,

often contain numerous and sometimes poorly

identified ingredients that may interact with each

other or are of inconsistent potency and purity.

Ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine are formerly

common decongestants that are now banned in

the United States, though herbal products manu-

factured in other countries sometimes contain

them. Ma huang, a common Chinese herb, is a

natural source of ephedra, an ephedrine alkaloid.

Many states also limit the sale of pseu-

doephedrine, once the most commonly used

decongestant, because of its use in illicitly manu-

facturing METHAMPHETAMINE, to which it has key

chemical similarities.

Prescription and Illicit Stimulants

Federal law in the United States regulates most

stimulant drugs asSCHEDULED DRUGS; possession

and use require a physician’s prescription. Pre-

scription stimulants most commonly abused

include AMPHETAMINES, dextroamphetamine, and

methylphenidate. Illicit stimulants most com-

monly abused are COCAINEand METHAMPHETAMINE.

These drugs all have high risk for psychologic

dependence and addiction as well as for with-

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