DRUG: Narcotics, stimulant and Hallucinogens
All substances are poisonous. It depends on the right dose that
differentiates a poison from remedy.
Definition – Drug is any substance liquid solid or gas that produces
effect after entering into the circulation.
Narcotics:
The word comes from Greek word narkotikos. That implies for state
of lethargy or sluggishness. (a lack of energy and enthusiasm & Slow
inactive).
Narcotics are pain reliever and produce sleep.
Opiates: Substance directly or indirectly comes from opium is known
as opiates.
1. Opiates are classified as analgesic that relief pain by depressing
CNS.
2. Regular use makes person physically dependent.
3. The source of most of the analgesic are opium.
Opium:
Opium is dried latex obtained from the seed capsules of the opium
poppy i.e., Papaver somniferous.
• Gummy milky white juice comes when a cut is made to until
pod of Poppy.
• Plant grows in Asia.
• 4-21% morphine content range.
Morphine:
• Morphine is the most abundant opiate found in opium. And it is
readily extracted from opium.
Heroin:
• Morphine+ acetic anhydride / acetyl chloride.
• Highly soluble in water. It’s also uses in analgesic and produce
“high” [sense of wellbeing]
• Quinine is the most common diluent for heroin.
• Other diluents are – starch lactose and mannitol.
Codeine:
• Present in opium but prepared synthetically from morphine by
methylation.
• Commonly used in cough syrups.
• It is 1/6 as strong as morphine.
Synthetic opiates:
Not naturally derived from opium but have similar psychological
effects.
1. Oxycodone
2. Methadone
Oxycodone:
• As the other opiates it is used in pain killers.
• It is famous for oxycontin. And produce similar effect like
heroin.
Methadone:
• It’s a synthetic opiate, prescribed for pain relief but later
methadone abuse comes in light as it’s closely related to
morphine and produce similar effects like morphine.
Depressant
Depressant, or central depressant, is a drug that
lowers neurotransmission levels, which is to depress or
reduce arousal or stimulation, in various areas of the brain.
Most widely used depressant is Alcohol.
Ethyl alcohol: Alcohol quickly enters the body and reached blood
stream and goes in brain, suppress thoughtful process and muscle
coordination.
Barbiturates:
Commonly known as “downers” because they relax, and create of
well-being and produce sleep.
• They suppress the vital function of CNS, and they are
derivatives of barbituric acid.
• First synthesis this done by French chemist – Adolf von Bayer.
• Slang term is “barb” yellow jacket, blue devils, reds.
• It enters in the blood stream through walls of small intestine.
Antipsychotic and antianxiety drug:
• They are considered Depressant and they differ from
barbiturates.
• They produce relaxing tranquillity without imparting high
thinking facilities and induced sleep.
• Antipsychotic – reserpine and chlorpromazine. (Reduce anxiety
and tension in mental patient)
These drugs include –
1. Meprobamate. (Milltown)
2. Chlordiazepoxide. (Librium)
3. Diazepam. (Valium)
4. Xanax.
Huffing
• Since early 1960s “huffing” that is practice of sniffing materials
containing volatile solvents.
• Sniffing of aerosol gas, propellants all material contain volatile
or gaseous substance that are primarily CNS depressant.
• Toluene – most popular to sniff and others including methyl
ethyl ketone (antifreeze), gasoline and trichloroethylene (dry –
cleaning)
• It endangers liver, heart, brain damage from the chemical
inhaled particularly halogenated hydrocarbons.
Stimulants:
These drugs stimulate or speed up the CNS. Increase alertness or
activity.
➢ Amphetamines
➢ Cocaine
➢ Caffeine
➢ Nicotine
These are some examples of stimulants.
Amphetamine:
• They are referred as “uppers” or “speed”
• 5-20 grams oral investigation give feeling of wellbeing and
alertness.
• Create less appetite and less fatigue
• Most serious form of abuse is IV form of derivative
methamphetamine. (initial sensation of flash and rush followed
by intense feeling of pleasure)
• For IV addicts they may inject 500-1000 milli gram. It creates
euphoria, hyperactivity.
• New smokable form is – ice, produced by slow evaporation of
methamphetamine.
• It produces large crystals like crack cocaine.
• It gives similar effect like crack cocaine but it’s effect lasts
longer.
Cocaine:
1884-1887 Sigmund Freud. He reported that substance of limitless
potential source of exhilaration and lasting euphoria.
The drug stimulant extracted from levels of Erythroxylon coca. This
plant grows in South Asia and south Africa.
• They stimulate CNS mostly it is sniffed or shorted and it absorb
into the body through mucous membrane.
Crack:
• Ordinary cocaine + baking soda + water. Then it’s heated into a
pot. Then dried and broken in chunks. After that they sell it as a
crack.
• Inhaling cocaine vapour gets large wallop of the drug to brain in
15 sec.
• From all the drugs cocaine produces the strongest
psychological compulsions for long use.
Hallucinogens:
Hallucinogens are a class of drugs that can cause hallucinations or
sensations and images that seem real even though they are not. e.g.,
A rope may look like Snake.
• They cause marked alteration of mood, attitude, thought
process, and perception.
• And the most controversial drug is marijuana.
Marijuana:
• The preparation comes from plant cannabis sativa L.
• The preparation consists of crushed leaves and mixture of
plants, seed, stem.
• The plant secrets a sticky reason that is – hashish.
• This can extract by soaking the plant in alcohol.
• The potent form is known as – sinsemilla. This is made from
unfertilized flowering tops of female plant.
• Plant grows 5-15ft. And number of leaves is 5 or 9.
• 1964 chemical substance responsible for hallucinations isolated
that is THC – tetrahydrocannabinol.
• Its content varies in different parts –
1. Resin, flower, leaves. – High.
2. Stem, root, seed. – low.
• THC content in loose vegetation – 3-4.5%
• Sinsemilla – 6-12%
• Hashish his preparation – 2-8%
• Liquid hashish or oil – 8-20%
Effect:
• Increased heart rate, dry mouth, impart motor skills, frequent
hunger, increase desire for sweet.
• Used as anti-cancer, muscle relaxant.
Another hallucinogen:
• Includes –
1. LSD (lysergic acid diethyl amide).
2. PCP (phencyclidine).
3. MDMA (methylene dioxy-methamphetamine). AKA Ecstasy AKA
Molly.
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LSD: Lysergic acid diethyl amide
• LSD is derived from ergot (fungus).
• It’s first hallucinogen effect is described by – swiss chemist
Albert Hofmann in 1943. He accidentally ingested some
material in lab.
• Drug is very potent 25 micrograms is enough to start vivid
visuals hallucinations can last for 12 hours.
PCP: phencyclidine
• Its synthesis is done by simple chemical process. PCP also
combine with LSD or Amphetamine and sold as powder (Angel
dust) capsule and tablets.
• The drug is smoked, ingested and sniffed.
• The oral intake moderate dose is 6-1 milligram.
• At first, they feel strength and good but after that depression,
isolation, audio visual hallucinations, paranoia.
Club drugs
• Synthetic drugs which are used in night clubs, rave parties.
• They are
1. MDMA (methylene dioxy-methamphetamine)
2. GHB (gamma hydroxy butyrate)
3. Rohypnol (roofies)
GHB & Rohypnol
• Both are CNS depressant, also related with drugs facilitated
sexual assault. (Naturally occurring neurotransmitters)
• They create effect of dizziness, sedation, headaches, nausea.
• Rohypnol cause muscle relaxation, loss of consciousness and
inability to remember.
• They are colourless, odourless and tasteless.
MDMA & Ecstasy
• Synthetic in nature, mind altering, may exhibit hallucinogenic-
Amphetamine like effect.
• Appetite suppressant, happiness and relaxation.
• Ecstasy leads to serious damage to brain. (Thought and
memory).
• Psychological difficulties, confusion, anxiety with paranoia
episodes.
Ketamine:
• veterinary medicine as animal anaesthetics cause euphoria,
visual hallucinations.
• Compared motor function, high BP, respiratory depression.
• People after abuse it with methamphetamine
• Methamphetamine + ketamine
Tranquilizer
• A tranquilizer refers to a drug which is designed for the
treatment of anxiety, fear, tension, agitation, and disturbances
of the mind, specifically to reduce states of anxiety and tension.
• Tranquilizer, as a term, was first used by F.F. Yonkman
(1953), from the conclusions of investigative studies using the
drug reserpine, which showed the drug had a calming effect on
all animals it was administered to.
• Reserpine is a centrally acting Rauwolfia alkaloid. The word
directly refers to the state of tranquility in a person and other
animals.
• The term is considered popular or common, meaning it is not
generally in use in the field of medicine. Specifically, it is used in
reference to antipsychotic or neuroleptic medications.
• The term is generally used as a synonym for sedative. When
used by health care professionals, it is usually qualified or
replaced with more precise terms:
1. minor tranquilizer usually refers to anxiolytics.
2. major tranquilizer might refer to antipsychotics.
3. Mood stabilizers might also be considered to belong to the
classification of tranquilizing agents.
Hypnotic:
Hypnotic (from Greek Hypnos, sleep), or soporific drugs, commonly
known as sleeping pills, are a class of psychoactive drugs.
Whose primary function is to induce sleep and for the treatment
of insomnia (sleeplessness), or for surgical anesthesia.
Sedative:
Prescription drugs used to treat anxiety (antianxiety drugs) and
induce sleep (sedatives, or sleep aids) can cause dependence.
These drugs include benzodiazepines (such as diazepam and
lorazepam), barbiturates, zolpidem, eszopiclone, and others. Each
works in a different way, and each has a different potential for
dependency and tolerance.
Sedative vs Hypnotics
The term sedative describes drugs that serve to calm or relieve
anxiety, whereas the term hypnotic describes drugs whose main
purpose is to initiate, sustain, or lengthen sleep.
