This document provides a classification of drugs of abuse based on their effects and origin. It discusses how drugs can be categorized based on their effects on the central nervous system as stimulants, depressants, or hallucinogens. Drugs are also classified based on their origin from plants or animals. They are classified legally based on their abuse potential and medical utility. Dependence is discussed, distinguishing between psychological and physical dependence. Miscellaneous drug categories like designer drugs, club drugs, and over-the-counter drugs are also mentioned.

1. CLASSIFICATION OF
DRUGS OF ABUSE
TEJASVI
BHATIA

2. CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• HISTORY
• CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS OF ABUSE
DRUGS EFFECTING CNS
ON THE BASIS OF ORIGIN
LEGAL CLASSIFICATION
ON THE BASIS OF DEPENDENCE
MISCELLANIOUS
• REFERENCES

3. INTRODUCTION
• Drugs: A drug can be defined as a natural or
synthetic substance that is used to produce
physiological or psychological effects in humans or
other higher order animals.
• Drugs of Abuse: Drugs which produce a
physiological or psychological feeling of well-being,
excitation or altered state of awareness that creates a
tendency in people to desire a continued use of that
substance to the detriment of themselves, their
families and society in general.

4. HISTORY
DRUG ABUSE
1) Began as soon as drugs were discovered.
2)Rough Timeline:
- 6000 BC: Sumerian brewing of beer and Egyptian
fermentation of wine.
- 4000 BC: Use of narcotics (sp. opium) in India.
- 2337 BC: Medical and recreational marijuana in China.
- 3000 BC: Coca chewing was practiced throughout
South America.
- 1600 BC: Pre-Columbian Mexicans use substances, from
tobacco to mind expanding (hallucinogenic)
plants in their medicinal collections.
- 400 BC: Hippocrates became interested in inorganic salts
as medication (plant extract).

5. CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS OF
ABUSE
• Drugs are classified on following basis:
• Their effect on CNS
• On the bases of source of origin
• Legal classification
• On the bases of their dependence
• Miscellaneous

6. DRUGS EFFECTING CNS
• STIMULANTS
• DEPRESSANTS
• HALLUCINOGENS

7. DEPRESSANTS
A substance that depresses the functions of the
central nervous system. Depressants calm irritability
and anxiety and may induce sleep.
• Ethanol was the first CNS Depressant.
• Depressants lower blood pressure, pulse
rate, and respiration rate.
• They impair higher order brain functions
and divided attention capability.
• Used to facilitate theft.

8. • CNS Depressants
• Alcohol
• Barbiturates
• Benzodiazepines
Valium
Compose
• Methaqualone
• Inhalants

9. STIMULANTS
A substance which stimulate CNS, and is taken to increase
alertness or activity.
• Next to alcohol, the most commonly abused drug in the U.S.
• Produce changes in brain neurochemistry .
• Affects the dopamine centers of the brain.
• Increases blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration rate.
• Dilates pupils.
• Affect ability to judge passage of time.
• Causes divided attention impairment.
• Generates excess talkativeness & nervousness.

10. • CNS Stimulants
• Amphetamines
Amphetamine
Methamphetamin
• Cocaine
Cocaine hydrochloride
Free-base cocaine (crack)
• Caffeine
Coffee
Tea
Chocolate

11. HALLUCINOGENS
A substance that induces changes in mood, attitude,
thought-processes and perceptions. Perceptual changes
include visual, auditory, kinesthetic (skin) and temporal
(time) effects.
• Marijuana was probably the first hallucinogen
discovered.
• Most hallucinogens affect the serotonin system in the
brain.
• In general, hallucinogens are very potent.

12. • Hallucinogens
• Psychedelics
LSD
Phencyclidine
• Cannabis
Marijuana
Hashish
• Indole-amines
MDMA (Ecstasy)

13. ON THE BASIS OF SOURCE OF
ORIGIN
• From plants: opiates (papavers somniferum),
cannabinoids (cannabis), cocaine
(erythroxylon cocca).

14. • From animals: lizards and snakes are dried and
powdered and then smoked.

15. LEGAL CLASSIFICATION
• Schedule 1: High Abuse, No Recognized Medical Use, Lack
of Safety
Heroin
LSD
MDMA
Marijuana
• Schedule 2: High Abuse, Medical Utility, High Dependency
Risk
Opium
Morphine
Cocaine
Methadone
Methamphetamine

16. • Schedule 3: Lower Abuse, Medical Utility, Moderate Dependency
Risk
Amphetamine
Barbiturate
Valium
Anabolic Steroids
Codeine
• Schedule 4: Limited Abuse, High Medical Utility, Limited
Dependency Risk
Chloral Hydrate
Phenobarbital
• Schedule 5: Minor Problems
• Typically includes preparations of the above drugs in limited
amounts

17. ON THE BASIS OF DEPENDENCY
• Drug Dependence
1) The key to drug abuse lies in drug dependence.
2) Drugs that are abused are typically “habit-forming”.
- the desire and need to re-use the drug.
• Psychological Dependence: Conditioned use of a drug caused
by underlying emotional needs. This dependence is due to
psychoactive drugs.
• Physical Dependence: Physiological need for a drug that has
been brought about by its regular use. Dependence is
characterized by withdrawal sickness when administration of
the drug is abruptly stopped.

18. MISCELLANEOUS
Designer drugs: these are created to get around existing drug
laws, usually by modifying molecular structure of existing
drugs to varying degree or by finding drugs with entirely
different chemical structure that produce similar subjective
effects to illegal recreational drugs .e.g. China white (fremoyl),
Ecstasy (MDMA).
Club drugs: Substances (usually stimulants or mild
hallucinogens) associated with the current nightclub (“rave”)
and clandestine club.
• Rave drugs typically sold on-site.
• Several club drugs associated with sexual assault.
e.g. LSD, GHB, ecstasy, methamphetamine, heroine etc.

19. Anabolic Steroids: Steroids that promote muscle growth.
• steroids typically injected into the muscle group being worked.
• steroid effects are very widespread and long-lasting.
• steroids can induce permanent physiological changes in areas as
diverse as brain cell integrity, bone density, and sexual hormone-
controlled characteristics.
• Anabolics are known to induce unexplained or uncontrollable anger .
• E.g. Testosterone, Testosterone derivatives.
OTC drugs: over-the-counter drugs. These are medicines that may be
sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a health care
professional, as compared to prescription drugs, which may only be
sold to consumers possessing a valid prescription.
• E.g. ephedrine, aspirin, codeine .

20. REFERENCES
• Saferstein,R.: Forensic Science Handbook, Vol I,II,III, Pretince Hall,NI,1982.
• Sharma, B.R.: Forensic Science in Criminal Investigations & Trials, Central Law
Agency,2003.
• Saferstein,R.:Criminalistics,2002.
• Woods James H.,Winger Gail, Hoffmann F.G.,A Handbook on Drug & Alcohol
Abuse, Oxford University Press,2004.
• http://www.drugpolicy.org
• http://www.usml.edu/~keelr/180/classify.html
• http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/drugs of abuse.html
• http://www.addictionindia.org
• http://www.nida.nih.gov
• http://www.communibuild.com/cyber/drugs-on-brain.jpg
• http://www.allaboutaddiction.com/addiction/alcohol.jpg
• http://www.scienceblogs.com/retrospectacle/2520kid.jpg
• http://www.kobos.com/resources/caffeine.jpg
• http://mamasite.net/visit/images/pam_inhalants.jpg