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Drugs pose a significant risk to the health of an individual mainly because of the chemical compounds used during manufacturing. In this case, it is important to classify drugs based on the chemical composition due to the relational risks and impact. Researchers argue that there is a significant possibility of an individual addicted to a substance becomes dependent on a drug with similar synthetic compositions (Dewhirst & Secomb, 2017). Therefore, the categorization of medicine provides an insight regarding the peril to abuse. The legalization of drugs refers to the level of abuse and the impact on the victims (Dewhirst & Secomb, 2017). Despite the similarity or differences in the compounds, individuals showcase dynamic body responses such as relaxation, anxiety, violence, and excitement. The classification of drugs as either legal or illegal provides a baseline foundation for the effect on victims and the attribute of addiction.
Chemical Make-Up Classification of Drugs
There are different categories of drugs based on chemical make-up. These constitute alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, and barbiturates. Alcohol is highly addictive mainly because of the significant impact on the body leading to inhibitions and euphoria. The major effect rendered by the consumption and abuse encompasses compromising the individual’s perception, reactionary behavior, and judgment. It is a depressant to the central nervous system but causes profound damage to the liver, a condition referred to as liver cirrhosis. Patra et al. (2018) argue that alcoholism is a perspective that fosters the dependence of the victims on other family members. The main reason that leads abusers to seek support from family involves the overutilization of financial resources, loss of jobs, and health issues. The unproductive and reliance rate among the addicts causes psychological abuse among the family members since they resolve violence for a desperate solution.
Opioids is a drug with a chemical compound of opium or other synthetics that mimic the consumption effects. The intake of opioids affects the brain’s neurotransmitters by blocking the transmission of impulses to the different sections, such as the frontal lobe. The function of the particular part of the brain contributes to decision-making and reasoning. Therefore, the substance acts as a strong and efficient painkiller and boosts the intense feeling of pleasure among the victims. An excellent example of an opioid is heroin, with a significant dependence rate among the users. In research by Tanweer et al. (2019), the researcher stipulates that heroin compromises the brain’s proper functioning by influencing the dopamine receptors. The consumption leads to an elevated release of the dopamine hormone to the body system and ensures the significant association between the dopamine release and the drug’s consumption. Primarily, it is an element highly abused among Americans due to the effect on the body.
Benzodiazepines is another drug with a different chemical composition but pose a significant addictive rate among the users. The main reason for the abuse of the element encompasses its influence on the brain’s neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA-A). As a result, the compounds foster a dynamic effect on the victim’s sleeping pattern and psychiatric conditions (de Wit & Sayette, 2018). Therefore, it is harmful to the body due to the dependence rate and the alteration of the brain’s functioning. Excellent examples include Xanax, Ativan, and valium with high amounts of benzo. The abuse of the substance is a high risk to a person’s body and behavioral response.
Cannabinoids is a different drug with chemical compounds similar to the active element in marijuana: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The composition leads to elation among the victims, a condition considered as high due to the impairment of physical and mental functioning. Although a significant percentage of the American states consider legalizing the drug, it is significantly addictive and causes damage to the victims’ health (Gordon, 2019). An excellent example is marijuana, whose utilization is an ongoing controversy in America mainly because of the medicinal value. Although it provides pharmaceutic help, it is a health risk to the human body once consumed in large amounts.
Barbiturates comprise the barbiturate compounds that affect the body’s system by slowing down the functioning of the central nervous system. On the one hand, it is a drug mostly used to treat sleeping disorders, psychiatric conditions, epilepsy, headaches, and anesthesia (Gordon, 2019). On the other hand, the element causes a profound risk of abuse due to its impact on the body system shutdown and an excellent example is amytal. It is crucial to establish the restricted consumption amount to avoid the likelihood of dependence.
Classification of Drugs Based On the Effect
The different categories regarding the drug effect spectrum enshrine the stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and inhalants. Depressants cause the relaxation of the body from anxiety and stress hence the significance to the mental and physical health conditions. However, the elements that mainly include opioids, barbiturates, and alcohol cause a high risk of abuse due to the chemical compounds. The substances affect the brain functioning, thus leading to dependence based on the consequential feeling. The consumption of stimulants causes a rush in the body system that boosts the wakefulness and energy among the users. Excellent examples include cocaine and meth that enhance productivity and elevated pleasure feeling, a condition that enhances the high addiction rates (Dewhirst & Secomb, 2017). In a different spectrum, hallucinogens pose less addiction among the users despite the negative dissociative behavior through visual and auditory receptors. Examples include LSD and PCP, whose intake is an immediate serious effect on the body’s functioning. Inhalants are a category of drugs that encompasses the ingestion by puffs of dangerous materials such as gasoline, nail polish remover, and paint thinner. Although they cause relaxation, substance abuse poses serious health issues.
Classification of Drugs based on Legal Framework
The legal framework in the U.S classifies drugs under five schedules based on the level of addiction and impact on the health of an individual. In 1970, the government developed the Controlled Substances Act that addresses the issue of utilization of medicine across American society (Aday et al., 2020). Schedule (I) addresses the illegalization of highly addictive drugs, that is, ecstasy, quaaludes, and GHB. Schedule (II) focuses on the unlicensing of second-degree addictive substances from the first schedule, including methadone, codeine, and Ritalin. In Schedule (III), the drugs banned comprise anabolic steroids, ketamine, and Vicodin. Schedule (IV) establishes that the drugs prohibited enshrine, tramadol, Ambien, and Darvocet. Finally, Schedule (V) includes the legitimatization of drugs such as Lyrica, motofen, and Lomotil. Primarily, the American legal framework addresses the ban of drugs based on the addictive properties under the different levels of schedules. The government’s decision on drug categorization relates to the chemical compounds in the drugs and the addictive rate. The classification is a spectrum that continues to be warranted today mainly because of the objective classification rationale.
Consequently, the classification of drugs is a concept that provides a profound insight into the impact based on chemical composition. The important element for the U.S. government is the promotion of human health. Therefore, over the decades, different sectoral groups pose debates based on the legalization of drugs due to the medicinal properties. An excellent example is marijuana. Although marijuana is highly addictive, it is a drug, which offers therapeutic value to patients for effective recovery. In this case, it is vital to focus on the compounds constituting particular drugs to justify its utilization among the Americans while preventing addiction as the emergent consequence.
References
Aday, J. S., Mitzkovitz, C. M., Bloesch, E. K., Davoli, C. C., & Davis, A. K. (2020). Long-term effects of psychedelic drugs: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 113, 179-189.
Dewhirst, M. W., & Secomb, T. W. (2017). Transport of drugs from blood vessels to tumour tissue. Nature Reviews Cancer, 17(12), 738-750.
de Wit, H., & Sayette, M. (2018). Considering the context: social factors in responses to drugs in humans. Psychopharmacology, 235(4), 935-945.
Gordon, H. W. (2019). Differential effects of addictive drugs on sleep and sleep stages. Journal of Addiction Research (OPAST Group), 3(2). Web.
Patra, P., Prakash, J., Patra, B., & Khanna, P. (2018). Intimate partner violence: Wounds are deeper. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 60(4), 494.
Tanweer, H., Batool, Z., Shabbir Chudhary, M., & Mahmood, S. (2019). The social impact of substance abuse on males livelihood in Punjab, Pakistan. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 8(4), pp-777.
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