Classification of Drugs

1
Classification of Drugs Chemicals

• For more information
• www.nida.nih.gov

2
Central Nervous System Depressants

• Act on CNS to slow down neural activity
• Why would someone be motivated to use downers?
• Desire to move apart from the world
• Desire to reduce stress and anxiety

3
Downers contd

• Low doses ? feelings of relaxation and calmness
• Mid-level doses ? muscle relaxation,
  disinhibition, impairment in motor coordination,
  decrease in pulse rate and blood pressure
• High doses ? slurred speech, staggering, sleep
  and coma

4
Downers contd

• Chronic use ? permanent memory loss, gastrisis
  and weakened heart muscles
• Risk of O/D ? inhibition of respiratory control
  leads to asphyxiation
• Synergy magnifying effects when used in
  combination

5
Types of Downers

• Alcohol ? GABA increases (inhibits neural firing)
• Barbiturates ? sedative-hypnotics
  anti-spasmatics (sleep and seizures)
• Seconal (red devils)
• Nembutal (yellow jackets)
• Amytol (blue heaven)

6

• Non-barbiturate sedatives ? calm nervousness
  excitement
• Doriden (goofballs)
• Quaalude (ludes)
• Benzodiazepines (tranquilizers) ? anti-anxiety
  drugs
• Valium
• Librium
• Ativan
• Xanax

7

• OTC meds ? cold, cough, and allergy containing
  antihistamines or alcohol
• Rohypnol (roofies) ? date rape drugs

8
Central Nervous SystemStimulants

• Speed up neural activity
• stress state (increasing respiration, heart
  rate, motor activity, alertness)
• Increased energy and awareness
• Why would someone be motivated to take stimulant
  drugs?
• Desire to be stronger, faster, more confident
• Desire to be more attuned to the world

9
Uppers contd

• Low doses ? increases alertness
• Mid-level doses ? agitation, euphoria, inflated
  self-confidence, tremors, sweating
• High doses ?anxiety, insomnia, paranoia,
  convulsions, (OD ?heart attack, stroke)
• Chronic use ? risk of stroke and cardiovascular
  problems, depression, symptoms of paranoid
  schizophrenia, formication

10
Types of uppers

• Cocaine ? increased dopamine leads to intense
  pleasure ? sympathetic system excited
• Amphetamines ? used to treat narcolepsy,
  depression, asthma, obesity ?increase dopamine
  and decrease re-uptake
• Methedrine (speed, crystal meth)
• Benzedrine (bennies)
• Dexedrine (peps)

11

• Ritalin (used for ADHD) Preludin (obesity) ?
  increase dopamine and norepinephrine (overall
  arousal)
• Caffeine ? inhibits adenosine (involved in
  sleepiness, dilation of blood vessels, and
  constriction of bronchial passageway)
• Nicotine ? mimics acetylcholine (involved in
  release of adrenalin, memory, inhibition of GI
  activity and muscle contraction)

12
OPIOIDS

• Natural synthetic drugs commonly used for pain
  relief cough-suppressing ? often a sedating
  effect occurs
• Also referred to as opiates and narcotics
• High doses ? slow breathing decrease of blood
  pressure, pulse rate, temperature and reflexes
• Fit into the receptor cites of endorphin (natural
  pain killer works with dopamine to create a
  dream-like state of well being

13
Opioids include

• Morphine, codeine ? natural components extracted
  from dried juice of the opium poppy
• Heroin ? chemical derivative of morphine (3x more
  potent and more rapidly absorbed into the brain)
• Percodan, Demerol, Darvon ? most commonly
  prescribed analgesics
• Methadone ? synthetic opiate analgesic

14
HALLUCINOGENS

• Traditionally derived from natural sources
• More recently appearing in synthetic forms which
  may not be pure and may be more potent
• Produce an altered state of consciousness
  including altered sensory perceptions (visual,
  spatial, auditory, etc.)
• May experience increased suggestibility,
  delusion, depersonalization and dissociation

15

• Physiologically, hallucinogens produce rise in
  pulse and blood pressure
• Higher doses may lead to panic reactions,
  paranoid ideation, depression, and undesirable
  hallucinations
• Insensitivity to pain may result in
  self-inflicted injury
• Chronic use may lead to psychiatric disorders
  including depression, anxiety and paranoid
  psychosis

16
Hallucinogens include

• LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) ? number
  location of neural pathways triggered unknown ?
  chemically similar to serotonin
• Magic mushrooms (psilocybin) ? chemically similar
  to serotonin
• Ecstasy (MDMA) ? chemically similar to
  amphetamine and mescaline ? increases levels of
  serotonin

17

• Mescaline ? derived from the peyote cactus
  ?amphetamine-like stimulant
• PCP (phencyclidine)? also known as the
  "miscellaneous" hallucinogen b/c it can act as
  depressant, stimulant, hallucinogen and analgesic
  ? affects several major neurotransmitters at once
• All hallucinogens increase level of
  norepinephrine (related to overall neural
  firing/opposite effect of GABA)

18
CANNABINOLS

• Any drugs with the main ingredient being THC
  (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol)
• Marijuana most commonly used in this category
• Enhances sensory perception aids in relaxation
  increases appetite slows down motor skills and
  reaction times
• Some medicinal uses suggested (i.e. relieve
  nausea, stimulate appetite, relieve eye pressure
  (glaucoma)

19

• Chronic use associated with general feelings of
  apathy, impaired motor skills, decreased lung
  capacity, lowering of immune system, decreased
  sperm count in males, impairment in ovulation in
  females
• Research suggests that THC fits into its own
  receptor cite exact function unknown
• Inhibits acetylcholine (which transfers impulses
  from one nerve cell to another when processing
  information)

20
Inhalants andVolatile Hydrocarbons

• Chemicals not intended for recreational or
  medical use
• Reduce inhibition, produce euphoria, dizziness,
  slurred speech, unsteady gait and drowsiness
• Nitrites used in some substances may alter
  consciousness and enhance sexual pleasure

21

• O/D may produce hallucinations, muscle spasms,
  headaches, loss of balance, irregular heartbeat
  and coma from lack of oxygen
• Chronic use associated with respiratory arrest,
  cardiac arrhythmia, liver damage and damage to
  brains and lungs due to toxicity
• Includes Gasoline, kerosene, chloroform (used in
  refrigerants), glue, nail polish remover, lighter
  fluid, paint and paint thinner