The Three Ants were born on a late spring day in 1987. Their purpose was to help lay-people understand the basic pharmacology of psychoactive drugs. The name of the three ants describes the actions produced by each of three general groups of psychoactive drugs. The Three Ants thus, began as a memory mnemonic for the understanding of psychoactive drug action.

Depress-Ant^®  (depressant) drugs depress, or decrease thinking, feeling and behavior. 

Stim-U-Ant^®  (stimulant) drugs stimulate or increase thinking, feeling and behavior.

Confuse-Ant^®  drugs confuse or distort thinking, feeling and behavior.