Prescription drugs are divided into three classes, based on what conditions they are used to treat. Prescription drugs are then divided further into what are called schedules, with regard to their potential for abuse by the general public. Prescription drugs have the potential to be addictive and should only be used for their intended purpose.
Effects
The class of prescription drug most often abused is the Opoids. Opoids, also called analgesics, are prescribed by a doctor to ease the symptoms of moderate to severe pain. Opoids are favored by drug abusers because they have the ability to give the person a sense of a euphoric high. This class of prescription drug can be abused to the point that the person will have terrible withdrawal problems when he tries to stop using them. Some examples of Opoids are Vicodin, Percocet, and Oxycontin--all powerful painkillers.
Function
Depressants are the second class of prescription drugs. They work by relaxing muscles and affect the central nervous system of an individual. Most depressants are classified as barbiturates or benzodiazepines. Barbiturates are the stronger of the two and have been heavily abused since their advent. Benzodiazepines were actually created because they would be able to perform many of the same functions as barbiturates but be less addictive. Depressants are used to treat symptoms of anxiety and many sleep disorders. These include such drugs as Valium and Xanax.
Significance
The third class of prescription drugs is the stimulant. This type of drug is used to treat conditions such as narcolepsy, asthma and brain dysfunction in children. Stimulants will increase the heart rate and blood pressure, increasing physical activity and alertness. They are very dangerous when abused, as they can result in seizures or heart failure. Among the well-known stimulants are drugs such as cocaine. Historically, stimulants have been used by drug abusers to counter some of the effects of depressants.
Warning
The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 divided prescription drugs into categories based on their potential to be abused, with the lowest numbers reflecting the greater potential for it. A Schedule I drug is one that has no recognized medical use in the United States and cannot be safely used even under medical supervision. Heroin and hasish are examples. A Schedule I drug has a very high potential to be abused, as does a Schedule II drug. These drugs have an accepted use medically but have the ability to lead to great dependence by the user, which can mean drug addiction. Some schedule II drugs are morphine, oxycodone and phenobarbital.
Types
Schedule III drugs have less potential for addiction and abuse, but the possibility still exists. Some of these include ketamine and anabolic steroids. The Schedule IV drugs' abuse potential is less than those of Schedule III; some Schedule IV drugs are Ambien and Valium. Schedule V drugs have far less probability of being misused, such as cough suppressants.
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