A cup of coffee and a hit of cocaine—they seem as different as day and night. Yet coffee (which contains caffeine) and cocaine are chemical relatives, two members of a group of drugs called stimulants. Stimulants are a diverse collection of chemicals that share one important characteristic: They rev up the action of the central nervous system, increasing energy and improving mood. However, that is the only similarity found in this eclectic group, which includes caffeine, nicotine, and amphetamines, among others. Stimulants vary tremendously in their sources and strengths. Some are extracted from plants, while others are made in a lab. Several are so mildly stimulating that they have few physiological effects; many, however, deliver a serious jolt to the body. But stimulants most differ in how socially acceptable they are.

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