L1: Lecture_1_Intro_2026_HO__4_

Flashcards covering basic terminology, drug classifications, legal frameworks (UK/US), harm assessments, and definitions of abuse and addiction.

Drug (WHO definition)

A chemical entity, or mixture, other than those providing maintenance of normal health (e.g., food) that alters biological functioning.

Psychoactive substance (17th Century English definition)

A chemical substance other than a food that alters consciousness when absorbed into the body, regardless of medical use or legal status.

Narcotic (End of 1900s definition)

A plant or chemical substance that alters human consciousness and has been subjected to rigorous forms of control.

Naturally occurring drugs

Active ingredients derived directly from plants or fungi, such as Opium from poppies, Cocaine from the coca plant, and Ephedrine from the Ephedra plant.

Semi-synthetics

Drugs created by modifying naturally occurring compounds, such as Heroin from morphine and LSD from Ergot fungus.

Synthetics

Also known as designer drugs, these are entirely man-made substances such as Methadone, Amphetamine, Fentanyl, and MDMA.

Schedule I (US Drug Scheduling)

Drugs with the most potential for abuse and dependence with no medicinal qualities, including Heroin, LSD, Marijuana, and Ecstasy.

Schedule II (US Drug Scheduling)

Drugs with high potential for abuse and dependence but some medicinal qualities, such as Cocaine, Meth, OxyContin, and Adderall.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

Main UK drug-control instrument intended to prevent misuse by banning possession, supply, manufacture, import and export of controlled drugs except by license.

The Psychoactive Substance Act 2016

UK legislation regulating the production, sale, and supply of a new class of psychoactive substances, excluding alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and food.

Class A Drugs (UK)

A category under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 including Crack cocaine, cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), heroin, LSD, magic mushrooms, methadone, and methamphetamine.

Class B Drugs (UK)

A category under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 including Amphetamines, barbiturates, cannabis, codeine, and ketamine.

Class C Drugs (UK)

A category under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 including Anabolic steroids, benzodiazepines (diazepam), GHB, GBL, and khat.

Multi-criteria decision analysis (Drug Harms)

A ranking of 20 drugs along 16 criteria by David Nutt and colleagues which found Alcohol to have the highest overall harm score (72).

Self-Medication

The use of drugs to relieve unpleasant states such as anxiety, depression, or pain.

Substance Abuse (DSM-IV)

A maladaptive pattern of use leading to impairment or distress, manifested by failure to fulfill major roles, use in hazardous situations, or legal problems.

Tolerance

A need for markedly increased amounts of a substance to achieve intoxication or a markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount.

Withdrawal

A characteristic syndrome for a substance or the taking of a closely related substance to relieve or avoid physiological symptoms.

Addiction (General Definition)

A syndrome manifested by a behavioral pattern in which the use of a given psychoactive drug is given much higher priority than other behaviors that once had higher value.

Chronic relapsing disorder

A characteristic of addiction describing the high tendency for individuals to return to drug use after periods of abstinence.