What Is a Drug?

Question 1

What is a drug:

Psychoactive Substances?

Answer 1

Alters the way the mind or body works, may or may not be ‘approved’ for medical purposes.

Cannabis can apparently help pain that cancer victims face.

Question 2

Synthetic Substances?

Answer 2

Synthetic drugs are chemically laced substances similar to marijuana (cannabinoids), cocaine and methamphetamine (Crystal meth) that are sold over the counter at some convenience stores, gas stations and tobacco shops. Also include natural sources, produces similar effects to the ‘usual drug’.

Question 3

Legal Drugs/Legal Highs (Medico-Legal)

Answer 3

Sold, possessed, consumed
Tobacco
Alcohol
Caffeine
Volatile substances (glue)
Over-the-counter
Prescription

Restrictions (ie. age)
All can be ‘problematic’ and potentially ‘dangerous’

Question 4

Illegal or ‘Controlled’ Drugs (Medico-Legal)

Answer 4

Illegal Market:
Production, distribution (‘dealing’), possession and sometimes consumption is governed by national and international laws

Typical form of ‘governance’ is prohibition
Scheduled or classified according (allegedly!) to ‘harm’
Classifications bring varying penalties, as does possession and suply

What is controlled, how and to what extent (eg. law enforcement) varies from place to place (locally, nationally, internationally)

Question 5

Quasi-Legal/ illicit (Medico-Legal)

Answer 5

Grey area of law of definition and in the law.

Prescription Drugs - Medicines Act 1998:
Possession w/o prescription is illegal under Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Ketamine:
Illicit then illegal under the Drugs Act 2005

Question 6

Pharmacological Drugs

Stimulants and Depressants.

Answer 6

Stimulants:
Cocaine. Amphetamines (speed, crystal meth)
Nicotine, Caffeine, MDMA

& Depressants:
Alcohol, Opiates (opium, morphine, heroin, codeine, methadone)
Sedatives/hypnotics (Valium, diazepam)

Question 7

Typologies of Drug Use - Use Misuse abuse

Answer 7

Social acceptability of use (eg. alcohol, weed)

Differentiates between:

         - Perceptions of legitimate drug use
         - Legally or medically or socially sanctioned ‘misuse’ (medical mrarajuana) 

Problematic

           - ‘Addiction’
           - ‘Dependency’

Question 8

Typologies of Drug Use - Problematic/Recreational

Answer 8

Social acceptability of use (eg. alcohol, weed)
Russell Newcombe (2000) ‘group model’ approach
1. Consumption patterns and consequences
2. Demographic and personal characteristics
3. Nature and extent of contact with drug services

Groups simplified into:
Problematic = 5% of drug using population
Recreational = 95%