Such drugs include those classified as
narcotics
,
stimulants
,
depressants
,
hallucinogens
, and
cannabis
.
In illegal trade, controlled substances are known as “drugs” or “dope.” Commonly known controlled substances can be classified as follows: cannabis this class includes marijuana, hashish, and hashish oil. Normally smoked, this drug is essentially an intoxicant, and has no mind-affecting (psychoactive) effect or hallucinogenic effect. Between 1850 and 1937, marijuana was used medicinally as a treatment for a wide range of conditions, from insanity to gout.
During Prohibition, recreational use of marijuana became widespread as a response to the lack of alcohol.
After Prohibition ended, the Bureau of Narcotics campaigned against marijuana and the substance was outlawed. Currently, approximately 30 percent of states have allowed the legalization of marijuana when prescribed by a physician for use in the amelioration of nausea and vomiting, hunger stimulation, glaucoma treatment, and generalized pain relief.
depressants this class includes barbiturates and tranquilizers such as Librium and Valium. These drugs are used to produce sedation, to induce sleep, to combat anxiety, and to treat epilepsy. Excessive doses cause a drunken-like state, and have side effects similar to alcohol, including a hangover.
hallucinogens this class includes LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), mescaline, and peyote. These drugs are often described as psychoactive, that is, affecting the mind. While hallucination is common, other effects of the drug depend upon the conditions surrounding the taker while using the drug. LSD is sometimes used in psychotherapy, but its ultimate effectiveness has not yet been established. These drugs are nonaddictive. Peyote has been used in American Indian rituals since before America was colonized.
LSD was discovered in 1938, and has been regulated since the early 1950s. It became very popular during the 1960s counterculture, at which time numerous restrictive laws were passed.
narcotics can be broken into two groups—opiates, including opium, heroin, morphine and codeine, which are derived from the opium poppy, and nonopiate synthetic narcotics such as Demerol and methadone.
Their major medicinal use is as a painkiller and a tranquilizer. Outside of medicine, the recreational use of the drugs produces euphoria, although the exact pleasurable effect has not been identified. All narcotics are physically addicting, with the likelihood of addiction depending upon the drug, the frequency and duration of its usage, and its dosage.
Symptoms of withdrawal from the addiction include weakness, depression, nausea, vomiting, irritability, insomnia, and anorexia. During the 19th century, opiates were common as a pain-reliever and as an ingredient in patent medicines. The U.S. first outlawed the sale of opiates except for medicinal purposes through the Harrison Act in 1914 because of trade difficulties with China and Britain.
stimulants this group includes cocaine, a drug extracted from the leaves of the South American coca plant; amphetamines, synthetic drugs first developed during the late 1800s; and other amphetaminelike synthetic drugs. These drugs stimulate the central nervous system and are used medicinally to combat depression and narcolepsy.
Excessive doses produce hyperactivity, paranoia, and other psychotic symptoms. Prolonged use and large doses are followed by fatigue and depression. Cocaine can be psychologically addicting, with withdrawal resulting in depression. Cocaine was first outlawed with narcotics in 1914; sale of amphetamines was first regulated in 1954.
Law Dictionary. Copyright © 2003 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. All rights reserved.
