Health 9 Quarter 2

THE SIX
CLASSIFICATIONS OF
DRUGS AND ABUSE
l
DRUGS –
WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT
A drug, is any
THEY DO ?
substance that, when
absorbed into the body
of a living organism,
alters normal bodily
function. Drugs are
chemicals that change
the way a person's body
works by altering
emotions and thoughts.
Drugs
Drugs
Dependen Drugs
ce Abuse
(Addiction)
Drug abuse is an intense desire to obtain increasing amounts of a particular

substance. Drug dependence is the body's physical need, or addiction, to a
specific agent. Over the long term, this dependence results in physical harm
and behavior problems which causes tolerance and cross tolerance. Thus, it
creates a vicious cycle.
WHY DO SO MANY TEENAGERS START DOWN THIS
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PATH ?
THE SIX
CLASSIFICATIONS
OF DRUGS AND
ABUSE
1. GATEWAY DRUGS
• Are legal drugs that a non-drug
user might try, which can lead
him/her to more dangerous drugs
such as marijuana and shabu.
• Teenagers who engage in early
smoking & drinking have
higher chance of using and
experimenting with dangerous
drugs of abuse.
2. DEPRESSANT DRUGS
• Slows down a persons central nervous
system (brain, spinal cord, nerves).
• Doctors commonly prescribe
depressants to help people who have
anger management issues, stressed or
tensed.
• Depressants relax muscles and nerves.
• These drugs make patients feel sleepy Examples are: alcohol,
barbiturates & tranquilizers.
and light headed.
A barbiturate is a drug that acts
as a central nervous system
depressant, and can therefore
produce a wide spectrum of
effects, from mild sedation to total
anesthesia. They are also effective
as anxiolytics, hypnotics, and
anticonvulsants.
3. STIMULANT DRUGS
• Speed up a persons central
nervous system.
• Has the opposite effect of
depressants.
• Makes a person’s energy high
Examples are amphetamines
(shabu, caffeine, nicotine,
cocaine)
• Side effects are depression and tiredness.
• Amphetamine is a potent
central nervous system
stimulant that is used in the
treatment of Attention Deficit
Disorder (ADD), narcolepsy,
and obesity.
• Methamphetamine
(SHABU) is a strong central
nervous system stimulant
that is mainly used as a
recreational drug and less
commonly as a treatment for
attention deficit hyperactivity
• Caffeine is a central nervous
system stimulant of the
methylxanthine class. It is the
world's most widely
consumed psychoactive
drug. Unlike many other
psychoactive substances, it
is legal and unregulated in
• Nicotine is a potent
parasympathomimetic
stimulant and an alkaloid
found in the nightshade
family of plants.
• Cocaine, also known as
coke, is a strong stimulant
mostly used as a
recreational drug. It is
commonly snorted, inhaled
as smoke, or as a solution
injected into a vein.
4. NARCOTICS
• Are drugs which relieve pain
and induce sleepiness.
• These are prescribed to
patients with mental disorders
or with patients dealing with
severe pain like cancer. • Examples are cocaine, heroin
• These drugs are illicit and and marijuana.
dangerous if taken.
• Heroin, also known as
morphine among other
names, is an opioid most
commonly used as a
recreational drug for its
euphoric effects. Medically it
is used in several countries to
relieve pain.
• Marijuana refers to the dried
leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds
from the Cannabis
sativa or Cannabis indicaplant.
The plant contains the mind-
altering chemical THC and other
similar compounds. It is also
called weed, herb, pot, grass, bud,
ganja, Mary Jane, and a vast
number of other slang terms.
5. HALLUCINOGENS
• Drugs which distort
reality and facts.
• Affects all senses; makes a
user feel, hear, see things that
don’t exist in the time being.
• Came from the word
• Examples are: Lysergic Acid
hallucinate
illusions) (to perceive diethylamide, psilocybin (obtained
from mushrooms and mescaline
• Lysergic acid diethylamide,
also known as acid, is a
psychedelic drug known for
its psychological effects.
• Psilocybin mushrooms, also
known as psychedelic
mushrooms, are a
polyphyletic group of
mushrooms that contain the
psychedelic compounds
psilocybin, psilocin and
baeocystin. Common
colloquial terms include
magic mushrooms and
6. INHALANTS
• Found in ordinary household
chemical products and anesthetics.
• Readily available and accessible to
young children
• Inhalant toxins are similar to those
of alcohol, the only difference is
the foul smell. • Examples are acetone, rugby
• Abuse can lead to delusions, brain (solvent), spray paints, cleaning
fluids and air conditioner fluids
damage, liver damage, comatose
(Freon).
and death.
• Examples are acetone, rugby
(solvent), spray paints, cleaning
fluids and air conditioner fluids
(Freon).
6 CLASSIFICATIONS OF DRUGS
ARE:
1. Gateway Drugs 4. Narcotics
2. Depressant Drugs 5. Hallucinogens
3. Stimulant Drugs 6. Inhalants
GUIDE
1.
QUESTIONS
Why is it important to know
☺
the classifications of drugs?
2. Do you think knowing the
classification of drugs will help us
someday in our
lives?

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THE SIX

Drug abuse is an intense desire to obtain increasing amounts of a particular

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