Basic Pharmaceutical and Forensic Chemistry

TOPIC:
Classification of narcotics
Submitted To:
PROF. YAWAR ALI
Submitted by:
46 MEHTAB AALIA
54 UMAIR AHMED
66 AYESHA JAVED
71 MUHAMMAD TALHA LATIF
81 AYESHA MANZOOR
82 ZOHAIB HASSAN

Section: CF2 GROUP: 3

Contexts:
 Define Narcotics

 Its advantages

 Its disadvantages

 Its sources

 Type of narcotics

 Its classification
Narcotics

 Term Narcotics is derived from Greek word ‘narkotikos’ which

implies a state of lethargy or sluggishness

Pharmacological definition
 Analgesic substance (ease pain without unconscious) that
bring relief from pain and produce sleep by depressing the
central nervous system
Advantages of narcotics

 When used properly narcotics valued medication in the

treatment of pain like (headaches, backaches, muscle pain and
long term health problem (cancer)
 skilfully prescribed narcotics do not make patient sleepy or
confused
 Climping action on cough and treat diarrhea (slowdown digestive
system and activity of intestine)
Disadvantages of narcotics

 In 17th century turkey natives use narcotics instead of eating plants

parts and to make tea for stress/ body relief
 Narcotics cause a type of dependence call addiction
 Narcotics can consume a person changing personality so drastically.
 Narcotics addict has suffered loss of family’s friends’ jobs and homes
 1960 janic Joplin, who died of an over dose
 Cause nausea and vomiting
Source of narcotics

 plant-based products such as opium and its derivatives morphine, codeine

and heroin (the primary category of drug listed in the Convention);
 Synthetic narcotics such as methadone and pethidine, cannabis, and coca

Types of Narcotics

1. Natural opium derivatives –

2. Partially synthetic
3. Synthetic compounds
Explanations of types

1. Natural Opiate Drugs (opiods)

Natural opioids, as their name implies, come from a natural source

known as the opium poppy plant. Natural opiates come directly
from this plant and the milk that comes from its seedpods. Though
they are often thought to be less harmful than synthetics, they can
still become addictive and cause dangerous respiratory depression.
Opium
 Source: Made from the white liquid found in poppy plants
(Papaver somniferum).

 Appearance: Opium has the appearance of black or brown tar

 Available as a powder or dark brown solid

 Intake: commonly smoked by the individual.

 Purpose used for both recreational and medicinal purposes

 Effect: Anesthetic and remedy for nervous disorders, cancers,

and migraines, among other conditions. Morphine, prescribed as a
pain reliever, is a natural opiate, but is frequently used to illegally
to get high.

 It is included in Schedule II
Morphine

 Source The most common alkaloid in opium is

morphine—named after Morpheus, the Greek god of
dreams.
 Appearance Morphine is odorless, tastes bitter, and
darkens with age
 Available in the form of white crystals, hypodermic
tablets, and injectable preparations.
 Effect Morphine is a very powerful painkiller, but it is
also very addictive.
 Prescribed for the treatment of serious pain.
Unfortunately, many people have come to abuse this
drug illegally, as they enjoy the effects it has on their
body.
 It is included in schedule II
Codeine

 Source: Codeine is found in very small amounts (1-3%) in the opium

poppy. Because these amounts are so small, codeine is often synthesized
from morphine

 Available: codeine may be in the form of tablets or can be combined

with other products (aspirin or Tylenol).

 Prescribed due to: safest of all the opioid analgesics.

 Intake: taken orally (pill, syrup), but can be injected into the muscle.

 Use: The most common medical use of Codeine is used to suppress

chronic coughing. Codeine is also used to treat pain, but the effects are
much less intense than morphine. Addiction to codeine can occur, if the
drug is misused.

 It is included in schedule II and schedule III

2.Semisynthetic Opiates

 Heroin, the most abused opiate drug, is a semisynthetic opiate

derived from morphine. Drugs like heroin and OxyContin are
often included with opiates. Although, they are actually
considered semisynthetic opioids because they are derived from
other naturally occurring opiates.
Heroin
 One of the most dangerous drugs in the world, heroin claims
countless lives each year.
 Source: it is an opiate. Processed from morphine
 Physical state: In its pure form, heroin is white and has a bitter
taste
 Available: heroin are diluted or “cut,” with other substances.
Heroin comes in different forms, ranging in color from white to
dark brown.
 Intake: Heroin can be snorted, smoked, or injected. While all three
methods are dangerous, injection is by far the most dangerous
(HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis).
 Effect Heroin may cause physical and psychological problems
such as nausea, panic, insomnia, and tolerance
 It is included in schedule I
Oxycodone /OxyContin
 Source:  found naturally in nectar extracts from the orchid family 
together along with another opioid:
 available as tablets and oral solutions
 Prescription: painkiller like Vicodin, but the drug is a time-release
medication –designed to distribute its active ingredients over time.
 Intake It is usually taken by mouth
 Effect: analgesic help relieve severe ongoing pain (such as due to
cancer)
 Side effects include constipation, nausea, sleepiness, dizziness, itching,
dry mouth, and sweating.
 It is included in schedule II drugs
Hydrocodone
 Available form of tablets
 Effect narcotic analgesic. It can be successfully used to relieve pain.

 prescription drug that is sold as Vicodin, Lorcet and other name brand
 Side effect Nausea. Vomiting. Constipation. Dizziness. Drowsiness.
 It varies from Schedule III to the more restrictive Schedule II. 

Oxymorphone
 Physical state White to slightly off-white, odorless powder
 Intake : in the form of tablets and injection
 Used to moderate to severe pain, oxymorphone comes in an
 extended-release form that provides 24-hour relief from pain symptoms.
 Side effect of increased sleepiness, difficulty in breathing.
 It is a potent schedule II
3.Synthetic Opiates
 Synthetic opiates are man-made, and offer treatment therapies
for opiate addiction. They are created using chemicals not found
in the poppy plant or from morphine or opium. The actual
chemicals used vary from drug to drug and chemist to chemist

Cocaine:
 Cocaine is classified as a narcotic for legal purposes by the United
States government. It causes strong psychological dependence.
 Source: Cocaine, alkaloid obtained from leaves of the coca plant
 Used medically as a local anesthetic. It is also widely abused as a drug.
 Cocaine is a schedule II
 Cannabis:
 Source: The plant Cannabis sativa is the source of both marijuana and
hashish.
 Intake: usually smoked.
 Effect a state of relaxation, accelerated heart rate, perceived slowing of
time, and a sense of heightened hearing, taste, touch, and smell.
 Abused in various forms including bhang, ganja, charas, and hashish
oil.
 It is included in schedule I drugs

Carfentanil:
Carfentanil, in particular, is one of the strongest opioids; it is 10,000 times
more powerful than morphine
 Physical appearance powder form of the drug
 Used as a deadly cutting agent in heroin.
The rise in illicit already record-high numbers of  deaths due to overdose
Carfentanil is a Schedule II
Methadone:

 Methadone was synthesized due to a morphine shortage.

 Effects are same asheroin and morphine

 used for the treatment of a narcotic addiction,
 It is included in schedule II drugs

Fentanyl:
 One of the most common synthetic opioids in the is fentanyl. the
powerful drug (50 to 100 times more potent than morphine)
 Effect analgesic help relieve severe ongoing pain
 Prescribed for legal, surgical purposes.
 It is included in schedule II
The Classifications;
Schedule I
The drugs that are considered the most dangerous by the DEA are known as
Schedule I substances. These are drugs with no current medical use, per
analysis by the DEA and FDA. These substances also carry a high potential for
abuse and addiction.

Some Schedule I drugs include.

 Heroin
 LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
 Marijuana
 Ecstasy
 Quaaludes
 Bath salts
Schedule II
Schedule II drugs are also considered highly addictive with a dangerous potential for
abuse. What makes them different from Schedule I drugs? Unlike the group above,
Schedule II drugs are considered medically acceptable in particular cases, like for treating
chronic pain or addiction. For this reason, Schedule II drugs can be obtained with a
doctor’s prescription, but the risks of long-term use are still great.

 Examples of Schedule II drugs include

 Methadone
 Demerol
 OxyContin
 Fentanyl
 Morphine
 Codeine
Schedule III

The DEA classifies substances with a low to moderate potential for physical and
psychological dependence under Schedule III. When misused, these drugs can
still lead to abuse or addiction, but they are still less dangerous than drugs in
Schedules I and II. You can purchase these drugs at a pharmacy with a
prescription, but you generally will not find them available over the counter.

Schedule III drugs include: 

 Vicodin
 Tylenol with codeine
 Suboxone
 Ketamine
 Anabolic steroid
Schedule IV
 Schedule IV is the next classification level down in the DEA’s roster. Once again, these
drugs have clear evidence of viable medical use, and they also possess a low
probability for misuse and abuse. Of course, it is important to remember that a low
probability does not mean there is no probability. Schedule IV drugs could still lead to
addiction if they are seriously misused or mixed with other substances of abuse.

Schedule IV drugs include:

 Xanax
 Soma
 Valium
 Ativan
Schedule V
Finally, the DEA labels the least addictive substances under Schedule V. Most
Schedule V substances involve preparing the drug with a small quantity of some
narcotic. A common example is cough syrup. Schedule V substances have a
very low potential for abuse; however, if the substance is misused to a large
degree, physical or psychological dependency could develop.

 Schedule V drugs include:

 Robitussin AC
 Phenergan with codeine
 Ezogabine