Illicit/Prescription Drugs in Florida and Their Addictive Effects
The world of drug addiction is a complex world involving literally hundreds of different substances. In order to provide appropriate medical care, professionals need to be familiar with each of these substances in terms of how they affect the body, how they relate to addiction, and how to best break the cycle of tolerance and drug and alcohol addiction. This is no easy task.
To make the seemingly insurmountable volume of information more manageable, the government and the medical profession have teamed up to categorize different kinds of drugs. For purposes of law enforcement, drugs are classified according to what is known as the 'drug schedule'. For purposes of treatment, drugs are divided into different classes depending on their effects on the body.
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The Official Drug Schedule
Federal law allows for the classification of illicit and prescription drugs according to an official schedule. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) uses this schedule and other legal entities to investigate drug-related crimes, to levy charges, and to prosecute suspects.
Below is a list of the drug schedules taken from the DEA website:
It should be noted that drugs in each of the five schedules are controlled substances, meaning there are strict laws directing how they can and cannot be used. Every controlled substance has at least some potential for future drug addiction if not used according to the advice of a medical professional.
Drug Classifications
The medical community classifies drugs a little bit differently. Their different classes relate to the effect of individual drugs on the body, thereby determining each drug's potential harm as a result of drug addiction. For example, the first classification is that of cannabinoids. Drugs in this class include marijuana and hashish. Cannabinoids can be smoked or ingested orally, leading to pleasurable feelings of euphoria and relaxation.
Other drug classifications are as follows:
There are a few additional classes not listed here: club drugs, dissociative drugs, and what are known as 'other compounds'. Each has its unique effects on the body worthy of distinct classification.
What must be understood is that all of the drugs in these various classifications include some potential for tolerance and dependence. Some drugs are more addictive than others, but using any of them can lead to an eventual drug addiction. They are all drugs that should be avoided unless their use is directed and supervised by a doctor.
Sources:
1.DEA – http://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml
2.CASA – http://www.centeronaddiction.org/addiction/commonly-used-illegal-drugs
To make the seemingly insurmountable volume of information more manageable, the government and the medical profession have teamed up to categorize different kinds of drugs. For purposes of law enforcement, drugs are classified according to what is known as the 'drug schedule'. For purposes of treatment, drugs are divided into different classes depending on their effects on the body.
Florida
Treatment Center in Florida
Addiction Recovery in Florida
Jacksonville
Orlando
Miami
Tampa
The Official Drug Schedule
Federal law allows for the classification of illicit and prescription drugs according to an official schedule. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) uses this schedule and other legal entities to investigate drug-related crimes, to levy charges, and to prosecute suspects.
Below is a list of the drug schedules taken from the DEA website:
- Schedule I – Schedule I drugs are classified as those with no known, legitimate medical uses and with a large probability for addiction. Most illicit drugs fall into this category. Schedule I drugs include things such as cannabis (marijuana), heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.
- Schedule II – Drugs classified under this schedule are those with high potential for addiction and psychological damage. They may or may not have a legitimate medical use. Examples include Ritalin, Adderall, oxycodone, cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone and Vicodin.
- Schedule III – Schedule III drugs have a much lower potential for drug addiction compared to the drugs in the first two schedules. Most have legitimate medical uses though some do not. Examples of Schedule III substances include anabolic steroids, ketamine, and codeine.
- Schedule IV – Drugs classified under Schedule IV have a very low risk for dependence and abuse. However, they can be addictive in some people. Examples include Valium, Xanax, Darvocet, and Ambien.
- Schedule V – Schedule V drugs are considered the least likely to lead to eventual drug addiction. They include things such as narcotic cough suppressants and sleep medications like Lyrica.
It should be noted that drugs in each of the five schedules are controlled substances, meaning there are strict laws directing how they can and cannot be used. Every controlled substance has at least some potential for future drug addiction if not used according to the advice of a medical professional.
Drug Classifications
The medical community classifies drugs a little bit differently. Their different classes relate to the effect of individual drugs on the body, thereby determining each drug's potential harm as a result of drug addiction. For example, the first classification is that of cannabinoids. Drugs in this class include marijuana and hashish. Cannabinoids can be smoked or ingested orally, leading to pleasurable feelings of euphoria and relaxation.
Other drug classifications are as follows:
- Opioids – Opioids have a sedative effect and are often used to relieve pain. Some common examples include heroin and opium. They can be particularly challenging to deal with in an addictive situation because of how they affect the brain. Opioids can be injected, smoked, snorted and ingested. Overdose can lead to death.
- Stimulants – Drugs classified as stimulants increase blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. They also cause an increase in physical energy and mental alertness. Examples include cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. Stimulants can be ingested, smoked, snorted or injected.
- Hallucinogens – Hallucinogenic drugs take their name from the fact that they often induce hallucinations. These hallucinations can be dangerous in many cases. Common hallucinogens include LSD and Mescaline. They can be swallowed or smoked.
There are a few additional classes not listed here: club drugs, dissociative drugs, and what are known as 'other compounds'. Each has its unique effects on the body worthy of distinct classification.
What must be understood is that all of the drugs in these various classifications include some potential for tolerance and dependence. Some drugs are more addictive than others, but using any of them can lead to an eventual drug addiction. They are all drugs that should be avoided unless their use is directed and supervised by a doctor.
Sources:
1.DEA – http://www.dea.gov/druginfo/ds.shtml
2.CASA – http://www.centeronaddiction.org/addiction/commonly-used-illegal-drugs