Drug Classification
(See: Drugs in American Society,
5th, 6th, 7th and 8th editions, Erich Goode, McGraw-Hill, 1999/2005/2008/2012. Chapter 1)
- How many types of drugs are there?
- What do we see as relevant: Problem
of the Observer vs. The Drug
- See the DEA's Drugs of Abuse, 2011
CNS (central nervous system): Relevant
for our purpose
- Stimulant
- Depressant
- No effect
- Complex effect
1. Stimulants:
Amphetamines, Caffeine, Nicotine Cocaine
- Excite, arousal, increase
alertness, elevate mood. Speed up signals to the brain. (Some newer drugs
(Prozac) work mainly as mood elevators and do not
(supposedly) produce the other effects).
2. Depressants
Analgesics: relieve pain
(block signals?)
- Narcotics:
Opiates and Opioids
- Non-narcotics: Aspirin, etc.
- Alcohol
(ETOH)
- Anti-anxiety agents, tranquilizers
- Non-Barbiturates: Qualude, Halcion
- Long acting Barbiturates: Phenobarbital
- Short acting Barbiturates: Seconal
Legal Classification: Controlled
Substances Act 1990
(original 1970)
(http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Legislation/ucm148726.htm)
(DEA listing, See the DEA's Drugs of Abuse, 2011)
(The following is only a partial
listing. Decisions as to scheduling may also include amount of a particular
substance in a preparation, etc.)
Schedule 1: High Abuse, No Recognized
Medical Use, Lack of Safety
- Heroin
- LSD
- MDMA
- Marijuana
- Methaqualone
Schedule 2: High Abuse, Medical
Utility, High Dependency Risk
- Opium
- Morphine
- Coca
- Cocaine
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
Schedule 3: Lower Abuse, Medical
Utility, Moderate Dependency Risk
- Amphetamine
- Barbiturate
- Valium
- Xanax
- Anabolic Steroids
- Codeine
Schedule 4: Limited Abuse, High
Medical Utility, Limited Dependency Risk
- Chloral Hydrate
- Meprobamate
- Paraldehyde
- Phenobarbital
Schedule 5: Minor Problems
- Typically includes preparations
of the above drugs in limited amounts
Legal
Status:
- Some drugs are legal,
some are not
- Some drugs are available
only by prescription, some are OTC
- Cross-Cultural variation:
Relativity of Situation
Purpose/Goal
of Use
- Drugs are used for
a variety of reasons
- Drugs have multiple
effects
- Purpose of use varies
based on the effect sought
| |
Goal approved, means
not necessarily. |
| |
Drug use is end in itself,
not means to an end: Get High |
| |
OTC and Pharmaceuticals |
| |
ASC, Social use |
Drug
Effects
Drug Abuse and Social Problems
URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/180/classify.html
Owner: Robert O. Keel rok@umsl.edu
References and
Credits for this Page of Notes
Last Updated:
Friday, January 20, 2012 10:09 AM