introduction - Gemma Flashcards
what is the definition of a drug
A medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body
what is the definition of substance abuse
The continued misuse of any min-altering substance that severely affects a person’s physical and mental health, social situation and responsibilities
what are the 4 types of drug?
natural
semi-synthetic
synthetic
medically manufactured
what are natural drugs
Can be found naturally in certain plants/fungal species
what are semi-synthetic drugs
Starts off from a natural source but is then chemically altered or extracted
what are synthetic drugs
Manufactured in a lab from chemicals
what are medically diverted drugs
Come from legitimate sources but end up being sold on the illicit drug market
what are the 5 functional classifications of drugs
opiates depressants tranquillizers stimulants hallucinogens
give two examples of opiates
heroin
morphine
give two examples of depressants
alcohol
barbiturates
give an example of a tranquilliser
diazepam
give three examples of stimulants
cocaine
ecstasy
amphetamines
give two examples of hallucinogens
magic mushrooms
LSD
The Pharmacy Act 1868
first regulation put in place which restricted Opium sales to the pharmacist
history of drug legislation
The Pharmacy Act 1868
the Poisons and Pharmacy Act of 1908
In 1912 Britain was a signatory of the International Opium Convention in the Hague
Defence of the Realm Act 1914, Regulation 40B added in 1916
The Dangerous Drug Act of 1920
amendments to the dangerous drugs act 1925-1964
add cannabis and amphetamines
amendments to the dangerous drugs act 1967
restricted the prescribing of heroin for treatment of addiction to doctors licenced by the Home Office
misuse of drugs act 1971
Primary legislation for the UK, came fully into effect in 1973
Act established the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
Prevents the misuse of controlled drugs
Imposes a complete ban on the possession, supply, manufacture, import and export of controlled drugs
what is the misuse of drugs act classification
3 tier system of classification which provides a framework within which criminal penalties are set with reference to the harm a drug has or is capable of having when misused and the type of illegal activity undertaken with regard to that drug
give 6 examples of Class A drugs
heroin cocaine crack cocaine ecstacy methamphetamine LSD
give 3 examples of Class B drugs
amphetamines
cannabis
ketamine
give 3 examples of class C drugs
GHB
tranquillisers
anabolic steroids
changes to drugs classes
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs – review and give advice to the government
2004 Cannabis moved from Class B to Class C, moved back to Class B in 2009
2006 Ketamine Class C, moved to Class B in 2014
2007 Methamphetamine moved from Class B to Class A
misuse of drugs regulation 2001
Concerned with the therapeutic use of drugs
Regulates the availability of controlled drugs by placing them in 1 of 5 schedules
The schedule into which a drug is placed primarily dictates the extent to which it is lawful to import, export, produce, supply, administer and possess the drug
Imposes requirements around prescription writing, record keeping, labelling and safe custody
misuse of drugs regulation schedule 1
not authorised for medical use, can only be supplied, possessed or administered in exceptional circumstances under a special Home Office Licence e.g. LSD
misuse of drugs regulation schedule 2
can be prescribed, legally possessed and supplied by a pharmacist or doctor. Possession is lawful by anyone with a prescription. Registers must be maintained in relation to the drugs acquisition and use e.g. amphetamines, methadone
misuse of drugs regulation schedule 3
drugs are subjected to the same prescription requirements as Schedule 2, but without the requirement to maintain registers e.g. barbiturates
misuse of drugs regulation schedule 4i
drugs in this schedule can be lawfully possessed under prescription e.g. minor tranquilisers
misuse of drugs regulation schedule 4ii
drugs in this schedule can be possessed as long as they are clearly for personal use e.g. steroids
misuse of drugs regulation schedule 5
drugs in this schedule are usually low strength and can be sold over the counter, legally possessed without a prescription e.g. cough medicine that contains codeine
name 4 non-controlled substances
alcohol
solvents
cigarettes
amyl nitrates (poppers)
what are legal highs
Psychoactive substances which were designed to replicate the effects of illegal substances whilst remaining legal
wha is a psychoactive substance
any substance which is capable of producing a psychoactive affect in a person who consumes it
how does a substance produce a psychoactive effect
by stimulating or depressing the persons central nervous system, it affects the persons mental functioning or emotional state
temporary class drugs orders
On 15th November 2011, The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was amended
Enables the Home Secretary to place a new psychoactive substance causing sufficient concern about its potential harms under temporary control by invoking a temporary class drug order
Orders come into immediate effect and last for 12 months
Once a substance becomes a temporary class drug, it is illegal to import, export, produce or supply it
Possession of a temporary class drug is not an offence
when did the psychoactive substance act come into force
26th may 2016
what is the psychoactive substance act
Makes it an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess with intent to supply, possess on custodial premises, import or export psychoactive substances
Covers any substance intended for human consumption that is capable of producing a psychoactive effect
what is the maximum sentence for the psychoactive substances act
7 years
what does the psychoactive substances act exclude
legitimate substances, such as food, alcohol, tobacco, nicotine, caffeine and medical products, as well as controlled drugs, which continue to be regulated by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
what are the 4 aims of the psychoactive substances act
To put an end to the open sale in stores and online in order to protect people from the risks posed by the untested, unknown potentially harmful drugs
To put an end to the ‘cat and mouse’ game where new drugs with slight differences in chemical make-up appear
To reduce the number of people using the substances
To reduce the various health and social harms associated with psychoactive substances such as hospital admissions, deaths and violence
give an example of a legal high
spice
what is spice
generic term used for hundreds of synthetic versions of cannabis - herbal mixtures mixed with Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs)
what are SCRAs
have an effect on many of the body’s cells, not just the brain
spice price
spice solution costing a few pounds can be soaked into a single A4 sheet of paper, when dry it can be cut into 100 units which sell for around £5 each
4 problems with spice
Lack of quality control – the amount of synthetic cannabinoid in each unit is not known
Little if any safety data – long term effects of use are unknown
Many are much more potent than traditional cannabis, some up to 100x more
Some cannot be detected by current testing procedures – possibly why use is high in prison
