History of Drugs and the Legislation made to control them

Toxicology: A History

Before we can learn History…

• We need to learn drug classifications and categories

Drug categories:• Depressants• Stimulants• Hallucinogens• Date-rape drugs• Steroids

Depressants

• Depressants slow down your central nervous system to make you sleepy and lethargic

Types of Depressants:

• Alcohol- the most commonly abused drug

• Alcohol is physically addictive with dangerous withdrawal symptoms

Alcohol Blood Levels• As the blood level rises, the toxic effects

become more pronounced• 0.03% = giddy emotions• 0.08% = legal limit- coordination, reaction time,

and judgment decline• 0.12% = nausea and vomiting• 0.25% = likely to enter coma• 0.30% = Deep Coma• 0.40% = Death

Types of Depressants

• Opiates: chemicals derived from the sap of poppies

Opiates• Opiates:• Are Narcotic Sedatives (sleep producing)• Are Analgesics (pain relieving)• Produce:• Euphoria• Lethargy• Coma and Death (in large doses)

Examples of opiates:• Morphine• Codeine• Heroine• Hydrocodone (vicodine)• Oxycodone (oxycotton)• Methadone

Barbiturates• Derived from barbituric

acid and used as sleeping pills and anti-seizure medicine• Most common form:

phenobarbital

Stimulants• Stimulants increase alertness,

lessen fatigue, and suppress appetite.• With continued use, they cause:

irritability, anxiousness, aggressive behavior, paranoia, fatigue, and depression

Stimulant side effects:

• Tachyphylaxis- the body gets used to the drug and lessens the effect. In order to get high, the user must take more and more

Type of Stimulants

• Amphetamines- increases the levels of hormones in the body• Meth (methamphetamines)

Examples of Stimulants:• Xanthine (Xanax)• Caffeine• Nicotine• Meth• Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine• Adderall• MDA and MDMA• Cocaine

Hallucinogens

• Alter perceptions and mood, lead to delusional thinking, and cause hallucinations

Hallucination v. delusion

• Hallucination: sensory experience that isn’t real and may affect any or all of the senses

• Delusion: false beliefs that have little or no basis in reality

Types of Hallucinogens:

• Marijuana

• Cacti and Mushrooms

• Chemicals

Marijuana

• Most commonly used and mildest hallucinogen• Derived from the Cannabis sativa plant• Active Ingredient: Tetrahydrocannibinol

(THC)

Cacti and Mushrooms

• Peyote- small Mexican cactus used in Native American rituals

• Mushrooms- possession isn’t illegal, but use is

Chemicals

• Made in a laboratory

• Common chemicals:• Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

• Phencyclidine (PCP)

Date-Rape Drugs

• Cause:• Sedation

• Compliance

• Poor Judgment

• Memory Loss

Common Date-Rape Drugs

• Rohypnol (flunitrazepam)

• Ecstasy

• GHB

• Ketamine

Steroids

• Appear natural in small amounts

• Cause muscle growth, increased strength, and improved reflexes when taken in large amounts

Negative effects of Steroids

• Hair Loss

• Impotence

• Liver Damage

• Aggressive Behavior

Controlled Substances Act

• 1970 act- made manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain substances regulated

Schedule I controlled substance

• High potential for abuse

• No accepted medical use

• Lack of safety for use of the drug

Examples of Schedule I• GHB• Heroin• LSD• Marijuana• Mescaline

Schedule II controlled substance

• High potential for abuse

• Has a currently accepted medical use

• Abuse of drug may lead to dependence

Examples of Schedule II• Cocaine• Opium• Oxycodone• Morphine• Adderall• Vicodin

Schedule III controlled substance

• Has potential for abuse less than other drugs in I and II• Currently accepted as medical

treatment• Abuse may lead to moderate or low

dependence

Examples of Schedule III

• Anabolic Steroids

• Ketamine

• Codeine when mixed with pain killer

Schedule IV controlled substance

• Low potential for abuse

• Currently accepted as medical treatment

• Lead to limited dependence

Examples of Schedule IV

• Phenobarbital

• Nuvigil (stimulant)

Schedule V controlled substance

• Low potential for abuse (lower than any other schedule)

• Currently accepted as medical treatment

• Very limited dependence

Examples of Schedule V

• Cough suppressants with codeine