Paper Topic:

Narcotic Drugs

Classification of Narcotic Drugs

The term narcotic ' was derived from the Greek word fro stupor or a substance that induces sleepiness . Today the term is used in a number of ways . Whereas some people define narcotics as substances that bind at opiate receptors others refer narcotic as any illicit substance . Though there may be no consensus as to the best method of classification of narcotics , as of the early 2000s narcotics were commonly classified into three main classes according to their origin , namely 1 ) natural derivatives of opium : - morphine and codeine

2 ) partially synthetic drugs derived from morphine : - heroin , oxycodone , hydromorphine , and oxymorphine , and 3 ) synthetic compounds that resemble morphine in their chemical structure : - fentanyl , methadone , and propoxyphene . [Addiction Science Network (1999 )]

In the US , the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 divided the substances into five schedules these schedules govern the legal distribution and use of most substances with a significant abuse liability . Schedule I substances have got a high abuse liability and are not approved for medical use , there is lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision , substance includes marijuana , heroin , and peyote schedule II substances have decreasing abuse liability , its abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence , have a current medical use in the US substance includes cocaine , methadone phencyclidine , and methamphatine Schedule III have less potential abuse liability than those in Schedule I and II , has currently accepted medical use in treatment in the US , abuse...

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