Aim: How are the different drugs classified?
How would you define the word, drug?
A DRUG is a substance, other than food, that changes the structure or function of the body or mind.
Class notes:
Types of Drugs
o Medicine- legal drugs that help the body fight injury, illness or disease
Over the counter- purchased legally without a prescription
Prescription- written consent by a physician needed
o Psychoactive drugs- Chemicals that affect the activity of brain cells and alter perception, thought and mood, and possibly create illusions in the mind of the user.
o Illegal Drugs- Chemicals that are forbidden by law because their dangerous and unpredictable effects outweigh any useful purposes they may have. Many psychoactive drugs are illegal.
o Drugs are classified into the following categories:
• Stimulants- Speeds up the systems of the body (heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure); user feels excited and alert; examples- cocaine, amphetamines, nicotine, caffeine.
• Depressants- Slows down the systems of the body (heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure); user feels relaxed, tension relieved; examples- narcotics (drugs made from opium plant- heroin, codeine, morphine, opium), alcohol, barbiturates, sedatives.
• Hallucinogens- Alters perception and can create visual or auditory hallucinations; examples- LSD, PCP, ecstasy, ketamine.
• Inhalants- Inhalation of volatile substances, causing the user to feel light-headed and "giddy"; examples- spray paint, markers, glue.
• Marijuana- Acts as a stimulant, depressant, and hallucinogen; examples: hashish
• Anabolic Steroids- used to quickly increase size and muscle strength; can cause random outbursts of anger and rage ("roid rage").
How drugs are classified: Drugs are classified based on their:
• Drug action- what a drug does to your body (speeds things up, etc.)
• Drug effect- what you feel- the physical and mental response to the drug’s action (makes user feel alert)
o Types of Drug Use:
Drug Use- use of legal drugs correctly for specific purposes
Drug misuse-improper use of a drug
Drug abuse- When people intentionally misuse any kind of drug for non-medicinal purposes
There are several factors that contribute to the way drugs work in the body. These factors include:
1. The user's state of mind: if a user feels happy or depressed before using the drug, these moods will alter their experience and the effects of the drug.
2. How a drug is taken: drugs can be taken orally (ingested through the mouth), injected (into a muscle or vein), topically (rubbed into the skin or mucous membrane of the nose or throat), or inhaled into the lungs.
3. How much of the drug is taken.
4. Combining more than one drug: drug interactions can cause increased effects or can cancel out the effectiveness of one drug. For example, drinking alcohol with sleeping pills can be a lethal combination.