7 Drug Categories
- Central Nervous System Depressants
- Inhalants
- Dissociative Anesthetics
- Cannabis
- Central Nervous System Stimulants
- Hallucinogens
- Narcotic Analgesics
- Important notes about categorization: The DRE program categorizes substances based on their effects on the central nervous system (CNS) rather than chemical structure, scheduling, or legal status. An example of this would be having the drug MDMA (MethyleneDioxyMethAmphetamine) in the Hallucinogens category when someone outside the program might call it a CNS stimulant. MDMA does have strong stimulant properties, but also causes hallucinations in its users, which is one of the chief reasons for its use. Hence, for DRE purposes it is an Hallucinogen. Additionally, the DRE program classifies some substances as "drugs" that are not commonly thought of in society as such. A good example of this could be found in the Inhalants category of drugs in paint, gasoline, and lacquer thinner, which affect the CNS.
Also, the DRE program does not consider some substances to be drugs that society would classify as a drug. An example of this would be acetaminophen (Tylenol). It is commonly used to relieve body aches and improve the human condition. However, it is not recognized as a drug within the program because it is not psychoactive (affecting CNS function) and would not be considered a "drug".
Read more about this topic: Drug Recognition Expert
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