Pharmacology
In this paper the author will discuss the effects of different substances of abuse on the user’s body, depending on the method of administration and different pharmacological principles that are in effect. (Doweiko, 2015).
Effects of Drugs of Abuse
All chemicals or pharmaceutical agents have a biological impact on the body. They all change “the biological function of target cells through chemical actions” (Doweiko, 2015, p. 16). In cases of drugs of abuse the target is most often the central nervous system. There is always a primary effect or the desired effect and then there is also the side effects and usually undesired effect. Some side effects are minor while others can be fatal (Doweiko, 2015)
Drugs classifications can be categorized in a couple of different ways for different applications. In the medical world a drug can be classified by its chemical activity or by the symptom it treats. In the world of addiction treatment and recovery the drug classifications most used are the five classes of drugs regulated by the Controlled Substances Act (U.S. Department of Justice, n.d.).
The chemical classifications of the ones that act on the central nervous system (CNS) and alter feelings and perceptions are: narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens and anabolic steroids. Narcotics (often referred to as opioids) reduce pain, induce a state of sedation and can cause unconsciousness. Depressants suppress the activity of the brain and nerves and cause a sedative effect. They are taken to relieve anxiety, promote sleep and can create a sense of overall well-being (U.S. Department of Justice, n.d.).
Stimulants speed up the activity of the (CNS). They can make people feel energetic and focused to edgy and paranoid. Hallucinogens may cause people to hear or see things that don’t exist and imagine situations that aren’t real. There are also legal classifications set forth in the Controlled Substances Act. These classifications are ordered by the substances potential for abuse. Schedule “I” are highly habit forming, unsafe for general use and serve no medical purpose. Schedule “II”, “III”, “IV” and “V” range from highly addictive and approved for medical purposes to drugs that have low potential for abuse (U.S. Department of Justice, n.d.).
Routes of Absorption
Absorption into the body is what is necessary for the substance to have the desired effect, with the exception of topical agents (Doweiko, 2015). Absorption is influenced directly by the method of administration. Nicotine is delivered to the user by chewing, smoking, or inhaling a tobacco product and reaches the brain within 8 seconds. The user will only absorb 1 – 2 mg. of the 10 mg present in a cigarette. If the user were to have one single drop of pure nicotine, it would be fatal (Clinton & Scalise, 2013).
Two different methods of administration for drugs of abuse are enteral (through the gastrointestinal tract) and parenteral (injection or inhalation directly into the body). In any method the compound must enter the body in adequate strength and must reach the site of action in the necessary concentration to achieve the desired effect. This process is referred to as the bioavailability of a compound (Doweiko, 2015). For substances of abuse the site of action is the CNS.
The process of absorption begins when the compound enters the body, then moves through various cell boundaries, into the circulatory system, and ultimately transported to the site of action. If a compound is inhaled it is only necessary to pass through one single layer of tissue to begin circulating into the body towards the CNS. If a compound is ingested orally it must first pass through the cell walls of the intestine and then the cell walls of the blood vessels to reach circulation as well as be impacted by the first-pass through the liver metabolism (Doweiko, 2015).
Other factors that influence absorption include the rate of blood flow at the site of entry, the molecular characteristics of the compound itself, and other compounds in the body that might compete with delivery and distribution factors. Factors such as the age and sex of the individual as well as the person’s lean body mass, state of hydration, genetic heritage and health (Doweiko, 2015)
Conclusion
Administration, absorption, distribution, transport, and biotransformation all have a set of factors that influence their process and each of those processes interact together and play a role in the therapeutic or illicit effect of a compound that enters a body. All compounds whether pharmaceutical, naturopathic or illicit originated from God’s creation. Some were stumbled upon and used naively for therapeutic and recreational purposes. Over time it was discovered there could be dangerous side effects and regulations and controls have been set in place. Once the regulations (the law) were in place, sinful man developed illicit routes of use.
Before studying about the history of current day illicit substances I had an inaccurate perception of some of the current day popular drugs of abuse. Thinking meth was somehow new and more evil than drugs of the past. When in fact it is just a variation of something that has been around since creation. In Ecclesiastes we are told “what has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl. 1:9, NIV). In reading the history of illicit and regulated substances it is evident that they all come from something created by God and manipulated by man for good and for evil.

References
Clinton, T. & Scalise, E. (2013). Addictions and recovery counseling. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
Doweiko, H.E., (2015). Concepts of chemical dependency, 9th ed. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning
U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency. Controlled substance schedules. Retrieved from: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/schedules/index.html