CLASSIFICATION OF ILLICIT DRUGS
There are a wide variety of illicit drugs. They range from synthetic to naturally occur ring and can have a wide variety of psychoactive effects. They occur in a number of forms from plant materials and plant extracts to powders, tablets and capsules, liquids, and solids. Some can be easily grown, whereas others are manufactured using sophisticated chemistry. In order to make sense of all of these drugs, it is necessary to develop a useful classification system. In fact, there are several ways of classifying illicit drugs. As mentioned previously, the Federal laws put them in one of five schedules based upon their abuse potential and pharmacology, and the existence of a legitimate medical use. Another convenient way of classifying drugs is by origin. Under this scheme, drugs are put in one of four classes:
1. Naturally occurring. These substances are found in nature in plants. Part of the plant is ingested and the drug is extracted and used by the person. Examples include:
a. Marihuana – The leaves are dried and smoked
b. Psilocybin mushrooms – These are eaten. They contain psilocybin and psilocin, which cause hallucinations (hallucinogen)
c. Peyote cactus – The cactus buttons are eaten. They contain mescaline, a hallucinogen
2. Plant extracts. These are naturally occurring substances that are extracted from plants and then ingested. Examples include:
a. Cocaine – extracted from the coca plant
b. Morphine and codeine – extracted from the opium poppy
3. Semisynthetic. These substances are derived chemically from a naturally occur ring substance. Examples include:
a. Heroin – manufactured from morphine
b. LSD – manufactured from lysergic acid
4. Synthetic. These substances are totally manmade. Examples include:
a. Amphetamines
b. Barbiturates
c. Phencyclidine (PCP)
d.Oxycodone
This classification system is useful from the forensic chemistry standpoint as it helps in determining the proper scheme of analysis. Outside of the forensic science field, the most popular way of classifying drugs is by their psychoactive effects. Under this scheme, illicit drugs are put into one of four classes: stimulant, depressant, narcotic, and hallucinogen. Because of its popularity and acceptance by the public, this classification system will be discussed in more detail.
