Cocaine is excitatory and stimulates the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

Throughout human history, people have utilized naturally occurring substances to reach altered states of consciousness. These substances range widely among the categorizations that modern Western science has created, including stimulants (e.g. coffee), depressants (e.g. wine), and hallucinogens (e.g. certain mushrooms). Generally, drug addiction and abuse has only become a problem with the advent and manipulation of synthetic drugs, along with social changes and stresses.

Amphetamines affect the neurotransmitter dopamine, which has a direct link to alertness and circadian rhythms. Amphetamines are also stimulatory; therefore, they can aid in increasing metabolism.

Stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines primarily raise the physiological arousal of the body and boost mood resulting in elation, excitement, increased energy and focus, and reduced fatigue. Other drugs, such as barbiturates, alcohol, and hallucinogens have different effects. 

Narcotics/opiates include morphine, heroin, and pain pills such as oxycontin. Narcotics are often used for pain relief in medicine, but are also commonly abused and used recreationally for their relaxation and pain relieving effects. 

Ted is most likely experiencing tolerance. Tolerance occurs over time when individuals take a drug regularly and their body starts to adapt to the presence of the drug. Over time, it needs more of a drug to achieve the same desired initial effect. Tolerance is a sign of physiological dependence. 

Prolonged alcohol use is associated with many negative health outcomes including accidents, liver disease, malnutrition, brain damage, neurological disorders, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, ulcers, cancer, and birth defects. 

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a hallucinogen, which means it alters the user's perception of reality and can cause psychotic symptoms. LSD use in particular can result in synesthesia, dissociation, and other hallucinogenic effects. Synesthesia is defined as experiencing one sensory experience through another sensory pathway (e.g. "seeing" music in terms of color). Contrastingly, amphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine are considered stimulants, because they speed up bodily processes. 

Alcohol and benzodiazepines can be a potentially lethal combination. Benzodiazepines are psychotropic medications commonly prescribed for anxiety. Both drugs are nervous system depressants, and they have been known to have increased effects when taken together. Another significant side effect of combining alcohol and benzodiazepines is blackouts.

Consuming opiates can result in small pupils, slowed breathing, loss of alertness, dry mouth, itchy skin, nausea and vomiting. Opiates include heroin, morphine, codeine, and other prescription drugs. Consuming alcohol and benzodiazepines can result in delayed reaction time, impaired memory and judgement, and slurred speech. Consuming cocaine can cause euphoria, increased energy, and loss of appetite. Marijuana use can result in relaxation, dry mouth, increased appetite, and red eyes.