Drugs are substances that modify the normal functioning of the nervous system and create addiction. Currently, drug use is considered a major health problem in the population. However, not all drugs are the same or produce the same effects. What types of drugs are there? There are different types of drugs, grouped according to different classification criteria. How are drugs classified? In this Psychology-Online article: classification of drugs according to the WHO and their effectswe will delve into the main classifications used to group drugs, especially in the classification proposed by the World Health Organization.
What are drugs
What is a drug? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “a drug is any substance which, introduced into the body by any route of administration, produces a alteration of the natural functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) of the individual and is also susceptible to creating dependence, whether psychological, physical or both.” In addition, drugs or psychoactive substances are capable of modifying a person’s consciousness, mood and thinking.
Let’s break down this definition of drugs given by the WHO:
- Drugs are substances, therefore, drug addictions are addictions to a substance. However, there are other behavioral addictions, such as .
- They are all substances that affect the CNS and create dependence. These substances can be both natural and artificial, and also legal or illegal.
- They can be introduced into the body by any route of administration. That is, they can be ingested orally, they can be smoked, they can be injected to be introduced intravenously and they can also be “snorted” or snorted through the nose.
- They alter the central nervous system, therefore, they can excite, they can calm, they can calm pain or they can distort the perception of reality.
- They create dependence, that is, all drugs have the capacity to generate dependence. Dependence is understood as the need to consume the drug and presents a series of symptoms that indicate that the person has lost control over the consumption of the substance and continues to consume it even if they are aware of its adverse consequences.
Drug classification
How are drugs classified? Drugs or psychoactive substances can be classified according to different parameters, such as, for example, according to their origin or provenance, according to their structure, by their effects on behavior, by their danger to health or by their social impact. As we see, there are different criteria for grouping drugs, but in this article we will focus on the most accepted classification and other common classifications:
- According to The effect produced by substances in the central nervous system, the most appropriate classification according to the WHO.
- According to the legality to produce, possess, market or consume the substances.
- According to the danger of substances, a popular classification.
Types of drugs according to legality
A classification of drugs is based on the criterion of the legality of the substances. Legality refers to the legislation of each country. In this way, we find two main types of drugs:
Legal drugs
Legal drugs are those psychoactive substances that are allowed, that is, whose use is not penalized by law. The legality of drugs varies according to the laws of each country; in addition, the consumption of said substance may be legal but not the sale of it.
On the other hand, the legality of drugs does not correspond to their danger. Even if they are legal, drug abuse is dangerous and harmful to health. So much so, that in our society, the drugs that are most consumed and cause the most health problems are, precisely, legal drugs such as tobacco and alcohol. Legal drugs are:
- The alcohol. This is the drug that has the greatest social acceptance. In Spain, its consumption is only legal from 18 years of age.
- Nicotine. Tobacco is one of the most consumed drugs. Here you can see the . It generates dependency, which can be evaluated with the .
- The caffeine. Caffeine has effects on the nervous system, therefore, it can be considered a psychoactive substance. However, its effects are much smaller and its consumption in normal quantities is not dangerous. Caffeine is found mainly in coffee, but also in soft drinks.
- Theobromine and theophylline. Like caffeine, they are not dangerous in normal amounts. They can be found in tea and chocolate.
- The drugs. Mainly, psychotropic drugs, which alter the CNS. Among them are benzodiazepines and amphetamines (under prescription). The use of drugs is medicinal and must be used with medical supervision.
illegal drugs
Illegal drugs are those psychoactive substances whose use is not allowed by the law of the country. Own consumption may be permitted in some circumstances, but sales are penalized. Illegal drugs are the rest of the drugs. Among the most consumed illegal drugs are:
- Marijuana. It is considered the most consumed illegal drug. It is obtained from the hemp plant called cannabis sativa. Its active ingredient is tetrahydrocannabinol. Here you can see the .
- hashish. It is obtained from the resin of the same plant and shares the same active ingredient.
- Cocaine. This illegal drug is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant called erythroxylum coca. In addition to consuming it, it is also illegal to grow and sell it.
- MDMA. It is known as ecstasy and is illegal due to the dangers and serious health consequences of its use.
- Amphetamines or speed. They are considered illegal when used without medical supervision for recreational purposes.
- the heroine. It is illegal to manufacture, sell, or be in possession of this substance. It was made illegal after observing its serious consequences.
- Phencyclidine or PCP. Although it had been used for analgesic purposes, today, it is an illegal drug.
- LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide. It had psychiatric use, but was made illegal due to its hallucinogenic effects.
- ketamine. It was used for anesthetic purposes, but was also made illegal due to its hallucinogenic effects.
- The popper or amyl nitrite. It is a vasodilator that was made illegal after being consumed for recreational purposes.
- hallucinogenic mushrooms. They contain psilocybin and psilocin and are illegal because they cause hallucinations.
Classification of drugs according to the effect on the CNS
Grouping substances according to their effect on the central nervous system is considered the most correct way to classify drugs. This classification is proposed by the World Health Organization and separates psychoactive substances into depressants, stimulants and disruptors. The three types of drugs are explained below:
depressant drugs
Depressant drugs are substances that They decrease the activity of the CNS. They do this by repressing the presynaptic structures, resulting in a lower amount of neurotransmitter, also decreasing the function of the postsynaptic receptors. The main groups of CNS depressant substances are:
- Sedatives/hypnotics
- opiates
- The neuroleptics
Some examples of depressant drugs are:
- The alcohol
- cannabis
- Benzodiazepines
- the heroine
Stimulant drugs
Stimulant drugs are substances that They stimulate the activity of the CNS. They do this by blocking inhibition or by exciting neurons directly. The stimulation is explained by the increase in neuronal depolarization, the increase in the amount of neurotransmitters (NT) available, the lengthening of the action of the NT, the weakness of the neuronal membrane and the decrease in synaptic recovery time. In this way, they can cause symptoms such as tachycardia, pupillary dilation, sweating, increased blood pressure, etc. They can also be called sympathomimetics. Stimulant drugs are the following:
- amphetamines
- Cocaine
- The caffeine
- Theobromine and theophylline
- Nicotine
Disruptive drugs
CNS-disrupting drugs are those substances capable of modify psychic activity and produce alterations in perception such as hallucinations, as well as altering mood and thought processes. Some examples of disruptive drugs are:
- LSD
- hallucinogens
- cannabis
- MDMA
- ketamine
Popular drug classification
There is a popular and colloquial way of classifying drugs into two types: hard or soft. This classification is made according to their perception of danger and social and health impact. However, this classification is not considered appropriate since it leads to error by underestimating the risk of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis.
soft drugs
Drugs considered soft are those that are most socially accepted, since they are perceived as less harmful. Something totally misleading, as we have already mentioned before, tobacco and alcohol are the drugs that entail the most health and human problems. Although some soft drugs do not produce physical dependence, they do produce psychological addiction. Soft drugs are considered to be:
- tobacco
- The alcohol
- Marijuana
- hashish
- Anabolic steroids
- The caffeine
- The popper
hard drugs
Drugs considered hard are perceived to have a greater social and health impact, given that their consumption is more dangerous in the short term. These types of drugs correspond to:
- Psychotropic drugs
- the heroine
- morphine
- Cocaine
- amphetamines
- MDMA or ecstasy
- LSD
- hallucinogenic mushrooms
- The PCP
- ketamine
- barbiturates
- Methadone
Types of drugs according to psychoanalytic models
Following this criterion, they proposed the following types of drugs:
- Alcohol and barbiturates.
- Amphetamines.
- Cannabis (marijuana, hashish).
- Cocaine.
- Hallucinogens (LSD and similar).
- Opioids
- Volatile solvents (glues, industrial products)
- Tobacco.
In the models with higher rates of rehabilitation and maintenance of abstinence from drugs and alcohol, psychoanalytic positions are not used and the classic positions of S. Freud and J. Lacan are not included because they are systems of prolonged psychotherapies, which do not have the psychological objective of changing behavior or eliminating a habit or addiction and therefore the effectiveness is further limited.
The complication of psychoanalytic treatment When addressing cocaine addiction, specialists use creativity and improvisation in many situations to try to provide help to the patient. The results achieved by psychodynamic currents have been unfortunate, their theory and methodology is not configured for the treatment of human alterations and disorders of these characteristics. We have known considerable cases of psychiatrists and psychoanalysts who attempt the psychological treatment of drug users with the same psychodynamic methodology, without getting them to stop using.
During the psychotherapeutic approach to an addict or drug abuser, the first objective is the necessary urgency that exists for…