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In the context of psychoactive substances, metabolites refer to by-products that are produced when the body processes and breaks down a psychoactive chemical, primarily through the liver's metabolic pathways. When a drug is ingested, it undergoes biotransformation, which transforms it into various metabolites. These metabolites can be either active, contributing to the drug's effects, or inactive, serving a different purpose in the body, including eventual excretion.

This understanding of metabolites is critical in the field of addiction counseling and substance use treatment, as it informs the way substances affect the body, how long they remain detectable in biological samples, and the implications for dependency and withdrawal. Recognizing how these metabolites can influence a person's experience with a substance aids professionals in developing effective treatment plans and understanding the pharmacokinetics involved in substance use.

The other choices do not accurately represent the definition of metabolites. Active ingredients refer to the primary compound providing therapeutic effects; the chemical structure before absorption represents the drug's unchanged form; and the original form of the drug in the body does not capture the meaning of metabolites, which are the result of metabolic processes.