Classification of Drugs

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, illegal drugs are placed into one of 3 classes. This is based on the harms they cause either to the user or to society when they are misused.

• Class A Drugs

This class of controlled drugs is the most harmful and addictive drug. Possession of class A drugs carries a penalty of  7 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine. Supplying and producing this class of drug carries a penalty of life imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Examples of Class A drugs: Heroin (diamorphine), Cocaine (including crack), Methadone, Ecstasy (MDMA), LSD, and Magic Mushroom.

• Class B Drugs

This class of controlled drugs is the second harmful and addictive drug. Possession of class B drugs carries a penalty of 5 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine. Supplying and producing this class of drug carries a penalty of 14 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Examples of Class B drugs: Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Codeine, Cannabis, Cathinone (including mephedrone) and Synthetic cannabinoids.

• Class C Drugs

This class of controlled drugs is the least harmful and addictive drug. Possession of class C drugs carries a penalty of 2 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine except for anabolic steroids, which is not an offence to possess them for personal use. Supplying and producing this class of drug carries a penalty of 14 years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Examples of Class C drugs: Benzodiazepines (tranquillizers), GHB/GBL, Ketamine, Anabolic steroids and Benzylpiperazine (BZP).

Not all drugs are illegal, but that doesn’t mean they’re not harmful. For example, tobacco and alcohol can seriously damage health. A recent study also shows that a new ‘legal highs’ have been developed to mimic the effects of illegal drugs like cocaine and ecstasy but are structurally different enough to avoid being classified as illegal substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act. However, these drugs can have dangerous side effects,

These controlled drugs are not completely illegal. Some of them have legitimate use such as a medicine, industrial uses, and research.

Types of Drugs

There are several types of drug. The main types of drugs are depressants, hallucinogen, painkiller, performance enhancer, and stimulant.

• Depressant

This type of drugs impacts the body’s central nervous system (CNS), slowing down brain activity. Hence, the user who uses this type of drug feels like things are “slowing down”. This kind of drugs also called “downers” in the street.

Examples of depressants: Alcohol, Temazepam, Barbiturates, Valium, and Solvents.

• Hallucinogen

This type of drugs works by disrupting communication within the brain, causing hallucinations. It alters what the user’s hear and see, causing the user to see and hear things that do not actually exist.

Examples of hallucinogen: Cannabis, LSD, MDMA, Salvia, and Peyote.

• Painkiller

This type of drug blocks nerve impulses, relieving pain. This drug normally used to relieve pain. But, without a prescription, this drug can cause addiction.

Examples of painkiller: Heroin, Morphine, Opium, Oxycontin, and Codeine.

• Performance Enhancer

This type of drug improves any activity performance. Some athletes used this drug to improves muscle development.

Examples of performance enhancer: Anabolic steroids.

• Stimulant

This type of drug also impacts the body’s central nervous system (CNS), but unlike depressant, stimulant works in the opposite way by increasing brain activity. Hence, the user will feel like things are speeding up,

Examples of stimulant: Caffeine, Ecstasy, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Synthetic marijuana.