5.6 Drug and Substance Abuse
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5.6.2 Classes of Drugs
Drugs may be categorized in various ways. In pharmacology and medicine, a drug
can be categorized by the chemical activity or the condition that it treats. For
instance, anticonvulsant medications are often used for preventing seizures, whereas
mucolytic drugs relieve congestion.
Drugs are commonly classified into five major categories: narcotics, stimulants,
anabolic steroids, depressants, and hallucinogens. All these drug categories, apart
from anabolic steroids, are psychoactive, which means that they affect more
than one mental faculty, including thoughts, feelings, cognition, behavior, and
perception. In addition, the use of these drugs is related to various mental health
as well as personal complications.
The chemical classification of drugs includes depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, opioids, inhalants, cannabis, and new psychoactive substances (Neubig et al.
2003). Depressants are the drugs that slow brain activity as well as nerves, while
stimulants accelerate brain activity. Hallucinogens influence the central nervous
system to change one’s perception of space, time, and reality. Inhalants are usually
abused by children and include glue, pen ink, and gasoline. Furthermore, the legal
classification of drugs yields five classifications that are regulated in the United
States by law: Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, and Schedule
V. These classifications are categorized based on their potential to be abused and in
case they have a legitimate medical use.
5.6.3 Addiction and Dependence on Drugs
The terms addiction and dependence are often used interchangeably but have stark
differences. From a medical perspective, dependence entails a physical condition
whereby the body adapts to a drug. In case a person with drug dependence suddenly
stops taking that drug, they experience measurable and predictable symptoms called
withdrawal syndrome. Despite dependence being part of addiction, it is common
to find non-addictive drugs also yield dependence among patients. Furthermore,
dependence is attributed to changes in the body that result from consistent drug
exposure.
The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA 2018) defines addiction as a
“chronic, relapsing disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and
use, despite harmful consequences.” This means that addiction is the overwhelming
need to utilize a drug. The compulsion takes an extended period and can come
back unexpectedly after some period of recovery (Volkow 2014). Addiction is a
psychological condition. It is the feeling one has when taking a certain drug. People
may develop an addiction to illegal street drugs or even prescription medications.
The two primary characteristics associated with addiction are the inability to cease
123
5.6.2 Classes of Drugs
Drugs may be categorized in various ways. In pharmacology and medicine, a drug
can be categorized by the chemical activity or the condition that it treats. For
instance, anticonvulsant medications are often used for preventing seizures, whereas
mucolytic drugs relieve congestion.
Drugs are commonly classified into five major categories: narcotics, stimulants,
anabolic steroids, depressants, and hallucinogens. All these drug categories, apart
from anabolic steroids, are psychoactive, which means that they affect more
than one mental faculty, including thoughts, feelings, cognition, behavior, and
perception. In addition, the use of these drugs is related to various mental health
as well as personal complications.
The chemical classification of drugs includes depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, opioids, inhalants, cannabis, and new psychoactive substances (Neubig et al.
2003). Depressants are the drugs that slow brain activity as well as nerves, while
stimulants accelerate brain activity. Hallucinogens influence the central nervous
system to change one’s perception of space, time, and reality. Inhalants are usually
abused by children and include glue, pen ink, and gasoline. Furthermore, the legal
classification of drugs yields five classifications that are regulated in the United
States by law: Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, and Schedule
V. These classifications are categorized based on their potential to be abused and in
case they have a legitimate medical use.
5.6.3 Addiction and Dependence on Drugs
The terms addiction and dependence are often used interchangeably but have stark
differences. From a medical perspective, dependence entails a physical condition
whereby the body adapts to a drug. In case a person with drug dependence suddenly
stops taking that drug, they experience measurable and predictable symptoms called
withdrawal syndrome. Despite dependence being part of addiction, it is common
to find non-addictive drugs also yield dependence among patients. Furthermore,
dependence is attributed to changes in the body that result from consistent drug
exposure.
The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA 2018) defines addiction as a
“chronic, relapsing disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and
use, despite harmful consequences.” This means that addiction is the overwhelming
need to utilize a drug. The compulsion takes an extended period and can come
back unexpectedly after some period of recovery (Volkow 2014). Addiction is a
psychological condition. It is the feeling one has when taking a certain drug. People
may develop an addiction to illegal street drugs or even prescription medications.
The two primary characteristics associated with addiction are the inability to cease