Legal and Biological Aspects of Drug Use

Study Notes

Legal Dimensions of Drug Use

Drug use disproportionately affects people of color, resulting in harsher sentencing.
Incarceration rates for women due to drug use have increased tenfold over the past decade.
Recent laws emphasize punishment over treatment for drug use during pregnancy.

Stimulant Drugs

Examples include caffeine, cocaine, crack, amphetamines, and anabolic steroids.
Physiological effects comprise increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, stronger heart contractions, heightened blood glucose levels, and increased muscle tension.

Depressants and Anxiety Drugs

Common examples are alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Valium.
These substances relax the central nervous system (CNS) and diminish various bodily functions.

Narcotics

Key narcotics include opium, heroin, morphine, and codeine.
Effects involve slowed respiration and reduced pain perception; high potential for abuse. Long-term use may lead to heart infections, skin abscesses, and lung congestion.

Designer Drugs

MDMA (ecstasy) serves as a primary example.
Chronic use can result in brain damage and significant impairments in visual and verbal memory.

Psychedelics and Hallucinogens

These drugs alter thoughts, perceptions, reality, mood, and sensations, potentially affecting heart rate and body temperature.
May induce acute anxiety attacks in some users.

Inhalants

Use leads to slowed bodily functions, posing serious health risks over time.
Long-term effects include liver failure, kidney failure, respiratory failure, and destruction of bone marrow and skeletal muscles.

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

Opioids prescribed for pain management include morphine, codeine, and oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan).
Depressants for anxiety and sleep disorders consist of benzodiazepines and barbiturates (Valium, Librium, Xanax).
Stimulants used for sleep disorders and ADHD include Dexedrine and Ritalin.

Description

Explore the complex legal dimensions and physiological effects of various drug categories, including stimulants, depressants, and narcotics. This quiz highlights the impact of drug laws on marginalized communities and the bodily effects of substance use. Test your knowledge on both legal implications and drug classifications.