ZERRIA ASHLEY M PATOC 9-DIAMOND

SIX CLASSIFICTIONS OF DRUGS

1.GATEWAY DRUGS-A gateway drug is a habit-forming drug that can lead to the
use of other, more addictive drugs. The theory that consuming "softer" drugs can
lead to using stronger substances has existed for decades. Studies suggest that this
transition is real. Educating youths and identifying treatment options can help
them avoid and overcome drug use.

This brief guide addresses three of the most common gateway drugs that anyone
should be wary of:

Alcohol

Marijuana

Prescription medication.

2.DEPRESSANT DRUGS- Sometimes called “downers,” these drugs come in

multicolored tablets and capsules or in liquid form. Some drugs in this category,
such as Zyprexa, Seroquel and Haldol, are known as “major tranquilizers” or
“antipsychotics,” as they are supposed to reduce the symptoms of mental illness.
Depressants such as Xanax, Klonopin, Halcion and Librium are often referred to as
“benzos” (short for benzodiazepines1). Other depressants, such as Amytal,
Numbutal and Seconal, are classed as barbiturates—drugs that are used as
sedatives and sleeping pills. Some of the well-known brand and street names can
be found here.

3.STIMULANTS DRUG- Stimulants (also often referred to as psychostimulants or

colloquially as uppers) is an overarching term that covers many drugs including
those that increase activity of the central nervous system and the body,[1] drugs
that are pleasurable and invigorating, or drugs that have sympathomimetic
effects.[2] Stimulants are widely used throughout the world as prescription
medicines as well as without a prescription (either legally or illicitly) as
performance-enhancing or recreational drugs. The most frequently prescribed
stimulants as of 2013 were lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate, and
amphetamine.[3] It is estimated that the percentage of the population that has
abused amphetamine-type stimulants (e.g., amphetamine, methamphetamine,
MDMA, etc.) and cocaine combined[clarification needed] is between 0.8% and
2.1%.[4]

Types

*Alcohol

An alcoholic beverage is a drink that contains alcohol (also known formally as

ethanol), an anesthetic that has been used as a psychoactive drug for several
millennia. Ethanol is the oldest recreational drug still used by humans. Ethanol can
cause alcohol intoxication when consumed. Alcoholic beverages are divided into
three general classes for taxation and regulation of production: beers, wines, and
spirits (distilled beverages). They are legally consumed in most countries around
the world. More than 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale,
and consumption.[2]

*Barbiturates

Barbiturates are effective in relieving the conditions that they are designed to
address (insomnia, seizures). They are also commonly used for unapproved
purposes, physically addictive, and have serious potential for overdose. In the late
1950s, when many thought that the social cost of barbiturates was beginning to
outweigh the medical benefits, a serious search began for a replacement drug.
Most people still using barbiturates today do so in the prevention of seizures or in
mild form for relief from the symptoms of migraines.

*Benzodiazepines

A benzodiazepine (sometimes colloquially "benzo"; often abbreviated "BZD") is a

drug whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine
ring. The first such drug, chlordiazepoxide (Librium), was discovered accidentally
by Leo Sternbach in 1955, and made available in 1960 by Hoffmann–La Roche,
which has also marketed the benzodiazepine diazepam (Valium) since 1963.

*Cannabis

Cannabis is often considered either in its own unique category or as a mild

psychedelic.[4][5] The chemical compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is
found in cannabis, has many depressant effects such as muscle relaxation,
sedation, decreased alertness, and less tiredness.[citation needed] Contrary to the
previous statement, activation of the CB1 receptor by cannabinoids causes an
inhibition of GABA, the exact opposite of what central nervous system depressants
do.[6]

*Opioids

Contrary to popular misconception, opioids are not depressants in the classical

sense.[citation needed] They do produce central nervous system depression,
however, they also excite certain areas of the central nervous system. To remain
true to the term 'depressant' – opioids cannot be classified as such. For opioid
agonists and opium derivatives, these are classified differently. Analgesic or
narcotic correctly identifies these drugs. However, they do have depressant actions
nonetheless.

Morphine

Heroin

Codeine

Hydrocodone

Oxycodone

Methadone

*Miscellaneous

Alpha and beta blockers (Carvedilol, Propranolol, atenolol, etc.)

Anticholinergics (Atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine, etc.)

Anticonvulsants (Topiramate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, etc.)

Antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, doxylamine, promethazine, etc.)

Antipsychotics (Haloperidol, chlorpromazine, clozapine, etc.)

Hypnotics (Zolpidem, zopiclone, chloral hydrate, eszopiclone, etc.)

Muscle relaxants (Baclofen, phenibut, carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine, etc.)

Sedatives (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate, etc.)

4.NARCOTICS- Narcotics are also called opioid pain relievers. They are only used
for pain that is severe and is not helped by other types of painkillers. When used
carefully and under a health care provider's direct care, these drugs can be
effective at reducing pain.Narcotics work by binding to receptors in the brain,
which blocks the feeling of pain.

You should not use a narcotic drug for more than 3 to 4 months, unless your
provider instructs you otherwise.

NAMES OF COMMON NARCOTICS

Codeine

Fentanyl -- available as a patch

Hydrocodone

Hydromorphone

Meperidine

Morphine

Oxycodone

Tramadol

5.HALLUCINOGENS-Hallucinogens are a class of drugs that cause profound

distortions in a person's perceptions of reality, otherwise known as hallucinations.
While under the influence of hallucinogens, users might see images, hear sounds
or feel sensations that seem to be real but aren't.

Almost all hallucinogens contain nitrogen and are classified as alkaloids. Many
hallucinogens have chemical structures similar to those of natural
neurotransmitters (acetylcholine-, serotonin-, or catecholamine-like).
The most commonly abused hallucinogens are:

LSD

Mescaline

Psilocybin

PCP

DMT

Ayahuasca

Hallucinogens can be man-made, or they can come from plants or mushrooms or

extracts from plants and mushrooms. Generally, they are divided into two types:
classic hallucinogens (LSD) or dissociative drugs (PCP). Either type of hallucinogen
can cause users to have rapid, intense emotional swings.

6.INHALANTS- Inhalants are volatile substances that produce chemical vapors

that can be inhaled to induce a psychoactive, or mind-altering, effect. Although
other abused substances can be inhaled, the term "inhalants" is used to describe a
variety of substances whose main common characteristic is that they are rarely, if
ever, taken by any route other than inhalation. This definition encompasses a
broad range of chemicals that may have different pharmacological effects and are
found in hundreds of different products. As a result, precise categorization of
inhalants is difficult. One classification system lists four general categories of
inhalants — volatile solvents, aerosols, gases, and nitrites — based on the forms in
which they are often found in household, industrial, and medical products.