HARD DRUGS VS. SOFT DRUGS
by GREEN NINJA on DECEMBER 29, 2009

Drugs are used for both medical treatment and for recreation, due to their euphoric and other mind-altering effects. Well known hard drugs include heroin, cocaine, morphine, alcohol, barbiturates, amphetamines, and nicotine, while soft drugs include caffeine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and even LSD.

Soft drugs are less inhibiting and addicting than hard drugs, often being defined as causing psychological, but not physical addiction. Hard drugs are often defined as being both physically and psychologically addictive, while also posing serious risks to users. These drugs can easily be overdosed and can also cause significant harm to a user’s health, sometimes even leading to death. - http://theweedbusiness.com/hard-drugs-vs-soft-drugs/

------

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

The class into which a drug is placed affects the maximum penalty for an offence involving the drug. For example, Class A drugs attract the most severe penalty as they are considered likely to cause the most serious harm. Drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act are illegal to have, produce, give away or sell.

• Class A drugs include: heroin (diamorphine), cocaine (including crack), methadone, ecstasy (MDMA), LSD, and magic mushrooms.

• Class B includes: amphetamines, barbiturates, codeine, cannabis, cathinones (including mephedrone) and synthetic cannabinoids.

• Class C includes: benzodiazepines (tranquilisers), GHB/GBL, ketamine, anabolic steroids and benzylpiperazines (BZP).

Not all drugs are illegal, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t harmful. For example, tobacco and alcohol can seriously damage your health. And recently 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, they can still have dangerous side effects.

Some drugs do have a legitimate use, as a medicine, in research or in industry. To use, import or produce these drugs you need to obtain a licence from the Home Office. - http://www.talktofrank.com/faq/what-drug-classification-syst...

----

"PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ARE CATEGORIZED IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT INTO FIVE SCHEDULES, OR CLASSES, BASED UPON THE GOVERNMENTS PERSPECTIVE OF THEIR POTENTIAL ABUSE."

SCHEDULE 1 (CLASS I) DRUGS are illegal because they have high abuse potential, no medical use, and severe safety concerns; for example, narcotics such as Heroin, LSD, and cocaine. Marijuana is also included as a Class 1 drug despite it being legal in some states and it being used as a medicinal drug in some states.

SCHEDULE 2 DRUGS (CLASS 2) DRUGS have a high potential for abuse and dependence, an accepted medical use, and the potential for severe addiction. These drugs include opiods based on high dose codeine, Fentanyl, and Oxycodone as well as Methamphetamine and the Barbiturates; also included are such drugs as opium, morphine. Adderall is even included in this category under "mixed amphetamine salts".

The main difference between a Schedule, or Class, 1 and 2 is whether or not the drug is deemed to have a valid medical application.

SCHEDULE 3 (CLASS 3) DRUGS have a lower potential for abuse than drugs in the first two categories, accepted medical use, and mild to moderate possible addiction. These drugs include steroids, Low-dose Codeine, and Hydrocodone-based opiods.

SCHEDULE 4 (CLASS 4) DRUGS have an even lower abuse potential than Schedule 3 Drugs, accepted medical use, and limited addiction potential. These include most of the anti-anxiety medications like the numerous Benzodiazepines, Sedatives, sleeping agents, and the mildest of the opiod type medications like Darvon and Talwin.

SCHEDULE 5 (CLASS 5) DRUGS have a low abuse potential, accepted medical use, and a very limited addiction potential. These consist primarily of preparations containing limited quantities of narcotics or stimulant drugs for cough, diarrhea, or pain. - http://www.rsdhope.org/schedule-or-classes-of-drugs.html