frsc notes 12.

Drug

A natural or synthetic substance used to produce physiological or psychological effects in humans or higher-order animals.

Psychological Dependence

Emotional need for a drug influenced by user’s personality, expectations, society’s attitude, and the setting.

Physical Dependence

Physiological need for a drug caused by regular use; driven by withdrawal symptoms (abstinence syndrome).

Narcotic

Analgesic that depresses vital body functions; derived from opium and causes physical dependence.

Opiate

Medical term for narcotic drugs that relieve pain (analgesics).

Morphine

Non-synthetic narcotic with high abuse potential, extracted from opium; used to synthesize heroin.

Heroin

Synthesized from morphine; injected, smoked, or snorted for euphoric effects lasting 3–4 hours.

Codeine

Opiate found in opium, usually synthetically prepared from morphine.

OxyContin

Synthetic opiate (oxycodone); same physiological effects as opium narcotics; prescribed for chronic pain.

Methadone

Synthetic opiate related to heroin; reduces cravings with minimal side effects.

Hallucinogens

Drugs that alter mood, attitude, thought processes, and perceptions.

Marijuana

Hallucinogen containing THC; effects are debated; most widely used hallucinogen.

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)

Psychoactive chemical in cannabis; concentration varies.

Hashish

THC-rich resin from cannabis.

LSD

Hallucinogen synthesized from lysergic acid; causes long-lasting hallucinations.

PCP (Phencyclidine)

Hallucinogen synthesized in illegal labs; smoked, ingested, or sniffed.

Depressant

Substance that depresses CNS functions, calming irritability and possibly inducing sleep.

Alcohol (Ethyl Alcohol)

Most common depressant; suppresses brain control of thoughts and muscles.

Barbiturates

Oral depressants (“downers”) that induce sleep and relaxation.

Antianxiety Drugs

Tranquilizers (e.g., Valium, Xanax) that calm without impairing thinking or causing sleep.

Huffing

Sniffing substances like glue or aerosols for a high; can cause organ damage or death.

Stimulant

Increases alertness and activity, then causes fatigue loss and appetite suppression.

Amphetamines

Stimulants (“uppers” or “speed”) that cause a rush and then depression.

Methamphetamine

Injected stimulant causing an intense rush followed by depression.

Cocaine

Stimulant from coca leaves; increases alertness and suppresses hunger and fatigue.

Crack

Free-base form of cocaine mixed with baking soda and smoked.

Club Drugs

Synthetic drugs used at parties (e.g., MDMA, GHB, Rohypnol, Ketamine, Methamphetamine).

GHB and Rohypnol

Depressants linked to sexual assault and robbery.

Anabolic Steroids

Synthetic drugs related to testosterone; promote muscle growth and male traits.

Controlled Substances Act

U.S. law creating drug schedules based on abuse potential and medical use.

Schedule I

High abuse potential, no medical use (e.g., heroin, LSD, marijuana).

Schedule II

High abuse potential, restricted medical use (e.g., cocaine, PCP).

Schedule III

Less abuse potential, accepted medical use (e.g., codeine, anabolic steroids).

Schedule IV

Low abuse potential, accepted medical use (e.g., Valium, Librium).

Schedule V

Lowest abuse potential; contains limited narcotics with medical ingredients.

Screening Test

Preliminary drug test to narrow down possibilities (e.g., color tests).

Confirmation Test

Specific test to positively identify a substance (e.g., IR, GC-MS).

Color Tests

Quick tests using color change to suggest drug type.

Marquis Test

Detects heroin and amphetamines.

Duquenois-Levine Test

Detects marijuana.

Scott Test

Detects cocaine.

Dillie-Koppanyi Test

Detects barbiturates.

Van Urk Test

Detects LSD.

Microcrystalline Tests

Identify drugs based on crystal shapes formed with specific reagents.

Infrared Spectrophotometry (IR)

Identifies substances by their infrared light absorption pattern.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Separates and identifies compounds based on fragmentation.

Chromatography

Separates mixtures by passing them through stationary and moving phases.

GC (Gas Chromatography)

Uses gas to separate substances in a column; output is a chromatogram.

Retention Time

Time it takes for a substance to travel through the GC column.

TLC (Thin-Layer Chromatography)

Uses a solid stationary phase and liquid mobile phase to separate compounds.

Rf Value (Retardation Factor)

Numerical value representing how far a compound travels in TLC.

Spectrophotometry

Identifies substances by measuring light absorption at different wavelengths.

Spectrophotometer

Instrument that records light absorption and produces a spectrum.

Mass Spectrometry

Breaks substances into fragments using electrons; each drug has a unique pattern.

Chromatogram

Visual output showing separated substances from chromatography.

Carrier Gas

Gas used to move samples through a GC column.

Fingerprint Spectrum (IR)

Unique pattern of infrared absorption for each substance.

Heroin (molecular weight)

369.4 g/mol

Cocaine (molecular weight)

303.353 g/mol