DRUGS AND THEIR

CHEMICAL
STRUCTURES
Nick Taylor

CANNABIS - THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main
psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

THC is non soluble in water. It is, however,

soluble in fats and alcohol.
THC has a molecular weight of 314.4 g/mol.

Molecular Formula: C21 H30 02

HEROIN
Heroin is basically a crude presentation of
Diamorphine.
It is semisynthetic, produced by acetylation of
morphine (which occurs as a natural product in
Opium).
Heroin has a molecular weight of 369.4 g/mol.
Molecular Formula: C21H23NO5

COCAINE AND CRACK

Cocaine and its base (Crack) are extracted
from the leaves of the Erythroxylon Coca Lam
(coca leaves).
Cocaine is structurally similar to atropine
(hyoscamine) and hyoscine (scopolamine),
substances used to help combat motion sickness
and naseua.
Molecular Formula: C17H21NO4

Cocaine has a molecular weight of 303.4 g/mol.

LSD
LSD is normally produced as a colorless, odorless,
tasteless, tartrate salt which is water soluble.
Has been used for research into the chemical causes of
mental illness in the past. Under government regulation
it was also used for research into the possibility of mind
control.
Unlike other semi-synthetic or fully synthetic drugs, no
dependency is formed for LSD by the user.
Molecular formula: C20H25N3O

LSD has a molecular weight of 323.4 g/mol.

HALLUCINOGENIC MUSHROOMS
After ingestion of Psilocybin (the main
psychoactive ingredient in hallucinogenic
mushrooms) it is converted into the
pharmacologically active form psilocin.
Psilocybin and psilocin are both indolealkylamines
and structurally similar to the neurotransmitter
serotonin.

Molecular formula: C12H17N204P

The molecular weight of psilocybin is 284.3 g/mol.

MDMA
Mainly used as a party drug, teens and
young adults take MDMA to dance all
night.
MDMA stimulates the central nervous
system, causes a feeling of euphoria, and
acts as a mild hallucinogen.

Molecular formula: C11H15NO2

MDMA has a molecular weight of

193.2 g/mol.

OBSERVATIONS
One observation I made while collecting data on these drugs was the similarities
of their compounds.
All of these drugs contain at least one carbon, hydrogen, and an oxygen
molecule.
A lot of these drugs also seem to mimic the structure of naturally produced
chemicals in the human body.
This helps explain the possibility of addiction to most of these compounds.

WORKS CITED
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Updated 2 December, 2014. Web.
Accessed 11 December, 2014.