Classification of Drugs

Question 1: How are drugs classified to be scheduled?

Answer 1: The findings that the government must make in order to classify a drug in a certain schedule are specified at 21 U.S.C. § 812(b). The specific classification of any given drug is usually a source of controversy, as is the purpose and effectiveness of the entire regulatory scheme.Tobacco, beer, wine, and spirits are explicitly exempt from the Controlled Substances Act. Some have argued that this is an important omission, since alcohol and tobacco are the two most widely abused drugs in the United States, and have no accepted medical uses. Caffeine is also not on the list, although it is a psychoactive drug and it technically meets the requirements for schedule IV or V: it is often abused and it can lead to limited physical dependence. This is largely a result of the substantial political and economic investments in these drugs.

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Question 2: What does congress state as a major purpose of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)? Explain the implications.

Answer 2: A major purpose of the CSA is to enable the United States to meet all of its obligations under international treaties—specifically, the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Both the CSA and these treaties set out a system for classifying controlled substances in several Schedules in accordance with the binding scientific and medical findings of a public health authority; In the US, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and under the two aforementioned conventions, the World Health Organization. A provision for automatic compliance with treaty obligations is found at 21 U.S.C. § 811(d), which also establishes mechanisms for amending international drug control regulations to correspond with HHS findings on scientific and medical issues. If control of a substance is mandated by the Single Convention, the Attorney General is required to issue an order controlling such drug under the schedule he deems most appropriate to carry out such obligations, without regard to the normal scheduling procedure or the findings of the HHS Secretary. However, the Secretary has great influence over any drug scheduling proposal under the Single Convention, because 21 U.S.C. § 811(d)(2)(B) gives the Secretary the power to evaluate the proposal and furnish a recommendation to the Secretary of State which shall be binding on the representative of the United States in discussions and negotiations relating to the proposal.

Question 3: Discuss several schedule I drugs:GHB, Ibogaine, Cannabis, Heroin, MDMA, Psilocybin.Discuss various scheduled opioids used for the relief of pain.

Answer 3: GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate): GHB has been used as a general anesthetic with minimal side-effects in a limited safe dosage range. It was placed in Schedule I in March 2000 after widespread recreational use. Uniquely, this drug is also listed in Schedule III for limited uses, under the trademark Xyrem; 12-Methoxyibogamine (Ibogaine): Ibogaine has been used in opiate addiction treatment and psychotherapy. Cannabis (Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and substances containing THC): Controversy exists about its placement in Schedule I. Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which is found in small quantities in the human brain but is pharmacologically active in larger quantities. Heroin (Diacetylmorphine), which is used in much of Europe as a potent pain reliever in terminal cancer patients. It twice as potent as morphine. MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Ecstasy): Continues to be used medically, notably in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (approved by the FDA for PTSD use in 2001). Psilocybin: The active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms.Other strong opiates and opioids used in many other countries, or even in the USA in previous decades for palliation of moderate to severe pain include Vilan, Palfium, Ketalgin, Paramorfan, Dipidolor, Paralaudin, Wellconal, Heptalgin and many others. Weaker opioids include Peronine, Tusscodin, Thebacon, Valoron, Meptid, Algeril, and acetyldihydrocodein.

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