Drug Type Overview
What are the types of drugs?
“A drug can be classified as illegal or legal, however the properties and effects of both illegal and legal drugs can be very similar. “
Some of the more common legal drugs include; alcohol, tobacco, and over the counter medications. Some of the more common illegal drugs include; cocaine; heroin and cannabis.
Classification of Drugs
The classification of drugs goes beyond just the illegal and legal ramifications. Drug classification dive into the differences between hard vs soft drugs.
The major differences between a hard drug and soft drug is the impact it has on your central nervous system. Your central nervous system impacts your stimulant alertness and mood while altering your frame of mind.
According to the DEA, drugs are classified into 5 different segments, referred to as schedules. The rate of abuse and the potential for dependence are the determining factors for which drug falls into what schedule. Schedule 1 drugs have the highest potential for addiction where as schedule 5 have the least. Here is a chart to highlight which drugs fall into what schedule.
| Classification | Drugs |
|---|---|
| Schedule 1 | Heroin, LSD, Marijuana, Ecstasy |
| Schedule 2 | Vicodin, Cocaine, Meth, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Dexedrine, Adderall, Ritalin |
| Schedule 3 | Ketamine, Anabolic Steroids, Testosterone |
| Schedule 4 | Xanax, Soma, Valium, Ativan, Ambien, Tramadol |
| Schedule 5 | Lomotil, Couch Prescriptions, Lyrica, Parepectolin |