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What are the 4 salient types of Drugs?

by | Jan 17, 2022

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AlQuranClasses recently shed light on the subject “Are drugs in Islam a taboo or not”? In this article, we shall explore the types of drugs and their categories. What are the Four types of drugs? Which types of drugs are legal or permissible drugs. What is meant by illegal or non-permissible drugs?

In Islam, the types of harmful drugs to the body, mind, or soul are illegal or non-permissible drugs, whereas the types of drugs beneficial to the body are part of legal or permissible drugs. 

كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا

Eat the good things and act righteously.

What Are the Four Types of Drugs?

There are four different types of drugs, all of which have impressive effects and impacts on the body. However, it is crucial to seek treatment whether you’re dealing with an addiction to them. 

  • Stimulants

Stimulants are the types of caffeine or nicotine that work oppositely. Stimulant types of drugs speed up the body’s central nervous system. Response times between the brain’s neurons increase, and the body’s systems respond with higher respiration rates and faster heart rates. The feeling of a burst of energy that comes from caffeine or nicotine may become addictive as your body becomes chemically dependent on the substance. While caffeine and nicotine are readily available for legal purchase, other highly addictive and dangerous stimulants such as ecstasy or speed are available illegally, as well.

  • Depressants

Depressants such as alcohol are commonly available for adults to use every day. However, despite the wide availability, they can become addictive, creating adverse outcomes when overused.

Alcohol slows the response time within the central nervous system. As the response time and function of the neurons in the brain slows down, you feel more relaxed and less inhibited. Depressants affect motor function, both gross motor and fine motor, as well as the brain’s ability to process information and react. When you consume too much drink, you can be in danger of alcohol poisoning and slip into death.

In addition to alcohol, there are a variety of additional depressants available today. Many of these substances are available at local pharmacies or doctor’s offices. For instance, depressants may include:

  • Luminal
  • Mebaral
  • Xanax
  • Ativan
  • Valium

It has a beneficial impact as well. It will make you feel relaxed, chilled out, mellow, decrease anxiety, nightmares, etc. But Allah says in Quran, 

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ كَذَلِكَ يُبيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

They ask you (o Muhammad) about wine and gambling. Say in both there are great sins and some benefits for the people. And their sin is more significant than their benefit. And they ask so to what they should spend. Say “The Surplus” this is how Allah makes His verses clear to you so that you may reflect. (Al-Quran 2:219)

  • Opioids

Opioids are a class of drugs that blocks or relieves pain. Many doctors legally prescribe opioids as pain medications. Opioids include medicine like Vicodin or OxyContin. These types of drugs are positively addictive and can lead to prescription abuse. These types of drugs can also lead to even worse addictions, such as heroin.

When doctors prescribe these opioids, they need to acknowledge how addictive these types of drugs can be, and they can also vary your mood and mind. Those who progress to or have a heroin addiction are at grave risk of death due to the impurities often found in street heroin and the risk of using heroin mixed with fentanyl, leading to death. 

  • Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens also act on the central nervous system and brain to create altered perceptions and moods. The most commonly recognized and abused hallucinogen is LSD. The use of LSD increases the brain’s production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter. As serotonin levels increase rapidly, your mood can fluctuate wildly, and your ability to perceive stimuli and process them also fluctuates. LSD and hallucinogens can cause the user to see things that aren’t there as the serotonin levels increase without regulation. 

Categories of Drugs

What are the categories of drugs into which the above four types of drugs are accommodated? The drugs have been categorized into either

  • legal or Permissible drugs
  • Illegal or non-permissible drugs. 

It depends on the drug itself, type of drugs, the way of intake, and the number of drugs. 

    What do Illegal Drugs mean? 

    The types of drugs that are considered intoxicants harmful to the body, mind, soul, or society are called illegal or non-permissible drugs. 

    The Holy Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) regarding this matter that not only Khamr (wine or alcohol) is haram in Islam but all types of drugs that are intoxicant is part of Khamr and are haram in Islam

    It is narrated in Hadith. 

     “Every intoxicant is Khamr, and every Khamr is haram.” 

    Which drugs are part of illegal drugs?

    The list of drugs that are haram in Islam include 

    • Alcohol or wine
    • Marijuana 
    • Cocaine
    • Opium 
    • Stimulant 
    • Narcotics
    • Hormone and metabolic modulator 
    • Cannabinoids
    • Beta-2 agonist 
    • Hashish 

    Islam takes a persistent stand in Prohibiting Intoxicants, whether the amount is tiny or more. All intoxicants are forbidden because of their physical-mental adverse effects on individuals and communities. Moreover, drug consumption causes moral immorality, body and intellect criminality, inflicts intense cultural, social, and economic failures, and finally ruins societies.

    Someone who suffers from drug addiction cannot oversee his behavior, loses his zeal, motivation, and common sense, and is ready to do anything to obtain drugs without any consideration. A Drug-addicted person cannot fully adhere to his Islamic practices since drugs turn him into an irresponsible and total inefficacious human.

    What is meant by Legal Drugs?

    The types of drugs beneficial to human physical-mental health are legal or permissible. Legal or medicinal drugs are considered permissible for the benefit and are prescribed by a physician. They are planned for medical purposes, such as pain-relief symptoms and treat health conditions. 

    OTC drugs are the types of drugs available to consumers without a prescription. OTC drugs include

    • Pain relievers
    • Cold and flu medicines
    • Allergy medications
    • Acne products
    • Weight-control products. 

    These types of drugs are usually secure when consumers follow the recommendations on the label and their health care professional recommendations. Each drug designation must contain medicinal and non-medicinal ingredients, drug use, applicable warnings or cautions, directions, and dosage.

    OTC drugs generally have the following characteristics 

    • Benefits outweigh their risks 
    • The potential for misuse and abuse is low 
    • The consumer can use them for self-diagnosed disorders 
    • Can sufficiently be labeled 

    Which types of drugs are part of permissible drugs? 

    The list of drugs that are allowed under medication 

    • Fluoride
    • Immunizations
    • Antibiotics
    • Aspirin or Tylenol 
    • Codeine 
    • Oxycodone 
    • Narcotic 

    Why are narcotics considered permissible and non-permissible drugs?

    Narcotics are called opioid pain relievers. These types of drugs are only used for severe pain that other pain killers are not cured. When used carefully under health care, these types of drugs can effectively reduce pain.

    Mainly common used narcotics include

    • Hydrocodone
    • Hydromorphone 
    • Morphine 
    • Tramadol
    • Fentanyl 
    • Oxycodone 

    These types of drugs can be manipulated and addictive. Always take narcotics as stipulated. Health Care may suggest that you take your medicine only when you feel pain or take it regularly.

    Side Effects of Narcotics

    Opioid overdose is a significant risk if you take a narcotic drug for a long time. The common side effects of narcotics include

    • Sedation
    • Dizziness
    • Nausea
    • Constipation 
    • Physical dependence
    • Tolerance 
    • Respiratory Depression 

    What is meant by Recreational Drugs?

    Recreational drugs are the types of drugs taken for fun or relaxation rather than for medical causes. Alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine can be classified as recreational drugs. Recreational drugs are usually started to provide pleasure, improve life somehow, or try them for joy. 

    Side Effects 

    However, these types of drugs can lead to addiction, health, social problems, and crime. The most common side effects of Recreational drugs include

    • Infections
    • Addictions
    • Cost 
    • Social Problem 
    • Mental Problems
    • Overdose
    • Accidents/ fights 
    • Increase in Rape Cases

     If you, or someone you know, have a drug problem, there are many ways to obtain help.

     

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