Using Alcohol and Other Using Alcohol and Other DrugsDrugs

Classifying DrugsClassifying Drugs

Psychoactive DrugsPsychoactive Drugs

Chemical substances that serve to Chemical substances that serve to alter mood, thought processes and/or alter mood, thought processes and/or behavior.behavior.

Substances used to manage illness.Substances used to manage illness.

Classifying DrugsClassifying Drugs

Therapeutic vs. Non-therapeuticTherapeutic vs. Non-therapeutic Legal vs. IllegalLegal vs. Illegal Recreational vs. medicinalRecreational vs. medicinal Mechanism of actionMechanism of action Behavioral EffectsBehavioral Effects

Classifying DrugsClassifying Drugs

Ultimately as practiced the Ultimately as practiced the classification of drugs is classification of drugs is political/social as much as it is political/social as much as it is scientific.scientific.

Two main classificationsTwo main classifications• SchedulingScheduling• Behavioral EffectsBehavioral Effects

Drug ScheduleDrug Schedule

Current schedule system has 5 Current schedule system has 5 schedules based on:schedules based on:• SafetySafety• Medical UseMedical Use• Abuse PotentialAbuse Potential

Schedule I

Includes heroin, LSD, and marijuanaIncludes heroin, LSD, and marijuana• The drug or other substance has a high The drug or other substance has a high

potential for abuse.potential for abuse.• The drug or other substance has no currently The drug or other substance has no currently

accepted medical use in treatment in the accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.United States.

• There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical drug or other substance under medical supervision.supervision.

Schedule IISchedule II Includes morphine, used as a pain-killer, Includes morphine, used as a pain-killer,

and cocaine, used as a topical anestheticand cocaine, used as a topical anesthetic• The drug or other substance has a high The drug or other substance has a high

potential for abuse.potential for abuse.• The drug or other substance has a currently The drug or other substance has a currently

accepted medical use in treatment in the accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions.use with severe restrictions.

• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to severe psychological or physical to severe psychological or physical dependence.dependence.

Schedule III Includes anabolic steroids and Includes anabolic steroids and

MarinolMarinol..• The drug or other substance has a potential for The drug or other substance has a potential for

abuse less than the drugs or other substances abuse less than the drugs or other substances in Schedules I and II.in Schedules I and II.

• The drug or other substance has a currently The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.United States.

• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.high psychological dependence.

Schedule IVSchedule IV Includes Valium and other Includes Valium and other

tranquilizerstranquilizers• The drug or other substance has a low The drug or other substance has a low

potential for abuse relative to the drugs or potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule III.other substances in Schedule III.

• The drug or other substance has a currently The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.United States.

• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule III.or other substances in Schedule III.

Schedule V

Includes codeine-containing Includes codeine-containing analgesicsanalgesics..• The drug or other substance has a low The drug or other substance has a low

potential for abuse relative to the drugs or potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule IV.other substances in Schedule IV.

• The drug or other substance has a currently The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the accepted medical use in treatment in the United States..United States..

• Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule IV.or other substances in Schedule IV.

Behavioral Effects ClassificationBehavioral Effects Classification

Classified by effects on behavior Classified by effects on behavior and/or central nervous systemand/or central nervous system• DepressantsDepressants• StimulantsStimulants• OpiatesOpiates• PsychedelicsPsychedelics

StimulantsStimulants

Stimulate CNS leading to increases in Stimulate CNS leading to increases in physiological processes and motor physiological processes and motor behaviorbehavior• Cocaine – Illegal, TherapeuticCocaine – Illegal, Therapeutic• Amphetamine – Illegal, TherapeuticAmphetamine – Illegal, Therapeutic• Caffeine – Legal, Non-therapeutic Caffeine – Legal, Non-therapeutic • Nicotine – Lgal, Non-therapeuticNicotine – Lgal, Non-therapeutic

DepressantsDepressants

Depress CNS activity leading to Depress CNS activity leading to decreased physiological activity and decreased physiological activity and sedationsedation• Alcohol – Legal, Non-therapeuticAlcohol – Legal, Non-therapeutic• Barbiturates, Legal, TherapeuticBarbiturates, Legal, Therapeutic• Benzodiazepines Legal, TherapeuticBenzodiazepines Legal, Therapeutic

OpiatesOpiates

Act as agonists on endorphin and Act as agonists on endorphin and enkephalin receptors leading to pain enkephalin receptors leading to pain suppression, feelings of euphoria, well-suppression, feelings of euphoria, well-being, and respiratory depressionbeing, and respiratory depression• Heroin – Illegal, TherapeuticHeroin – Illegal, Therapeutic• Codeine – Legal, TherapeuticCodeine – Legal, Therapeutic• Morhphine – Legal, TherapeuticMorhphine – Legal, Therapeutic• Vicodan, Percocet, etc. – Legal, Vicodan, Percocet, etc. – Legal,

Therapeutic Therapeutic

PsychedelcisPsychedelcis

Alter mood state and perception via Alter mood state and perception via action on the CNS. Group by action on the CNS. Group by convenience. All illegal some with convenience. All illegal some with therapeutic use.therapeutic use.• Marijuana (THC)Marijuana (THC)• LSD (acid)LSD (acid)• Psylocybin (mushrooms)Psylocybin (mushrooms)• Phencycledine (PCP)Phencycledine (PCP)