Classification of Drugs
DRUG According to “WHO“ can be defined as “A Drug is any substance that is used or proposed to be used to modify or explore physiological structures or pathological states for the benefit of the recipient.” A drug is a stuff which may have medicinal, intoxicating, performance augmenting or other effects, when taken or inserted into a human/animal body and which is not considered a food or a food supplement.
On the basis of the purpose of their use, different drugs can be classified into following categories –
- Sedatives/Depressant
- Stimulants
- Hallucinogens
- Narcotics
- Inhalant/Solvent
- Designer Drug
Sedatives or Depressant
Sedatives are a broad class of prescription medications that slow your brain’s activity. Sedatives drugs have depressant effect upon the body and make it insensitive. They relieve the drug user from pain, treating anxiety and insomnia to anesthesia purposes. These drugs shows many effects on body like metabolic rate is reduce, blood pressure falls, respiration slows down, reduce sexual activity in both male and female, weight loss and reduce in hunger.
Most common example are – Opium, Morphine, Heroin, Codeine and Barbiturates.
Stimulants
The term stimulants cover a broad class of drugs that increase the activity of the central nervous system. These drugs are used by a very high percentage of the general population for various reasons, including performance enhancement, medical benefits, and recreational purposes. Most commons effects cause by these drugs are counteract the effect of redditives, insomnia, speed up CNS and boast energy and confidence.
Most common example are – Cocaine and Amphetamine
Hallucinogens
Drugs which affect the mental process of the human being, This category comprises all those substances that produce distinct alterations in normal thought processes, perceptions and mood. There are a number of substances with varying chemical compositions that have hallucinogenic properties They are also known as psychedelics or psychotomimetic drugs. This are mostly from plant origin. Hallucinogens drugs are usually non – additive drugs.
Examples: LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), PCP (phencyclidine), DMT (dimethyltryptamine), mescaline, psilocybin and Cannabis.
Narcotics
Also known as “opioids,” the term “narcotic” comes from the Greek word for “stupor” and originally referred to a variety of substances that dulled the senses and relieved pain. Basically drugs depress the CNS to produce marked reduction in sensitivity, reduce pain and create downiness. Narcotic analgesics relieve pain, induce euphoria, and create mood changes in the user.
Examples of narcotic analgesics include opium, codeine, heroin, Demerol, Darvon, morphine, methadone, Vicodin, and oxycontin.
Inhalant or Solvent
The term inhalants refers to the various substances that people typically take only by inhaling. Most inhalants affect the central nervous system and slow down brain activity. Short-term effects are similar to alcohol and include slurred or distorted speech, lack of coordination (control of body movement), euphoria (feeling high) and dizziness.
These substances include – solvents (liquids that become gas at room temperature), aerosol sprays, gases, paint, petrol and nitrites.
Designers Drugs
A designer drug is a structural or functional analog of a controlled substance that has been designed to mimic the pharmacological effects of the original drug, while avoiding classification as illegal and/or detection in standard drug tests. In simple terms designer drug are modified drugs of the existing drugs. These drugs are sold in crystal, powder and pill form and can be eaten, snorted or injected. Similar to substances such as amphetamine, cocaine, and ecstasy, they have a significant stimulant effect and can produce a euphoric high.
Some designer drugs are – MDMA (Ecstasy, Molly), Rohypnol (Roofies or a date rape drug), LSD (Acid), Methamphetamine (Meth or Crystal Meth), Ketamine (K, Special K), Alpha-PVP (Flakka) and Synthetic marijuana (Spice, K2).