Drug Classification and Harms Flashcards
Understand how drugs are classified in the UK and international conventions, supposedly according to harms Learn about the many different harms of drugs which contribute to overall harms See the most modern and up-to-date approach to estimating the many different harms of different drugs Explore the flaws in current policy and consider new approaches
What is a drug?
A chemical which, when taken, produces physiological changes
In the UK, what regulates pharmaceuticals?
MHRA Medicines Act
In the UK, what regulates recreational drugs?
Home Office’s Misuse of Drugs Act (1971)
State 4 classes of illegal drugs
Depressants, stimulants, psychedelics, cannabis
What is the maximum penalty for possessing a class A drug?
7 years
What is the maximum penalty for possessing a class C drug?
2 years
Name at least 4 class A drugs
Heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, LSD, psilocybin
Name 4 class B drugs
Amphetamines, barbiturates, ketamine, cannabis
Name at least 4 class C drugs
Benzodiazepines, GHB, buprenorphine, steroids, growth hormone, clenbuterol
Can cannabis be prescribed in the UK?
No - November 2018 legislation permits medical use but it cannot be prescribed
Give 3 causes of drug harms
The drug itself, the route of use, and drug addiction
What is the most common cause of anthrax in the UK
Injecting heroin
How many smokers die of smoking-related diseases?
Half
How many deaths occur per million heroin users?
20,000
How many deaths occur per million cocaine users?
170
What proportion of heroin users die of a drug overdose?
1 in 50
State at least 3 possible consequences of acute drug toxicity
Respiratory depression, hyperthermia, hypothermia, hyponatraemia, cardiac symptoms, hepatitis
Which drugs cause respiratory depression?
Opioids, benzodiazepines
Which drugs cause hyperthermia?
Stimulants, e.g. MDMA
Which drugs cause hyponatraemia?
MDMA
Which drugs cause hepatitis?
MDMA
Which drugs cause cardiac symptoms?
Cocaine, amphetamine
How many young people in the UK die of alcohol poisoning every week?
3
What percentage of make deaths between 16 and 44 are due to alcohol?
Over 20%
What percentage of liver disease cases are due to alcohol?
80%
How much has alcohol consumption increased over the past 40 years?
It has doubled
Give a piece of evidence against a link between cannabis and schizophrenia
Cannabis use has increased 20x over the past 40 years, but the incidence of schizophrenia has remained relatively stable
Which drugs cause confusion?
Depressants, especially ketamine
Which drugs cause paranoia?
Cocaine, amphetamine, cannabis
Which drug causes bladder damage with chronic use?
Ketamine
Give 3 types of neurological damage caused by alcohol
Peripheral neuropathy, Wernicke’s encephalopathy, Krosakoff’s psychosis (all B1 deficiency)
Using the ICSD drug harms model, name the 3 most harmful drugs
Alcohol, heroin, crack cocaine
