Ch. 3: A History of Drug Policy in the United States

Morphine

A narcotic; the primary active chemical in opium. Heroin is made from morphine

Patent medicines

Proprietary medicines. Originally referred to medicines that were, in fact, treated as inventions and patented in Great Britain. In America, the term came to refer to medicines sold directly to the public

Cocaine

A CNS stimulant and local anesthetic; the primary active chemical in coca

NDA

In FDA procedures, a New Drug Application. This application, demonstrating both safety and effectiveness of a new drug in both animal and human experiments, must be submitted by a drug company to the FDA before a new drug can be marketed

IND

Approval to conduct clinical investigations on a new drug, filed with the FDA after animal tests are complete

Uncontrolled study

A clinical study that lacks a comparison group (i.e., a control group)

Surrogate endpoint

An indicator or sign in place of another to tell if a treatment works. For example, instead of having to wait to learn if a drug actually extends survival for cancer patients, the FDA may approve a drug based on evidence that it shrinks tumors

DEA

United States Drug Enforcement Administration, a branch of the Department of Justice