u  Correct medication and medical consultation

I. Both “Controlled Drugs” and “(Abused) Drugs” are classified into 4 classes. However, they are governed by two different authorities and regulations. The regulation for controlled drugs is defined by “Controlled Drugs Act” (Ministry of Health and Welfare); and that for abused drugs is “Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act” (Ministry of Justice).

II. The scope of controlled drugs is broad that cannot be introduced one by one here. However, as long as you follow doctors’ medical instructions and prescriptions, and take medicines accordingly, you can avoid risks of breaking the law and damages to your health.

III. According to the extent of causing addiction, abuse and risks for society, abused drugs are classified into 4 classes. Class 1 drugs will cause most serious addiction and risks that is the most difficult to overcome drug abuse problems.

IV. There are dozens of abused drugs in each class and some but not all listed. The common abused drugs are listed as the following:

   (1) Class-one drugs: heroin (smack, No. 4), morphine, opium and cocaine (crack)

   (2) Class-two drugs: amphetamine, MDMA (3,4-methylene dioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy), marijuana and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

   (3) Class-three drugs: FM2, ketamine and erimine

   (4) Class-four drugs: alprazolam and diazepam

V. “Heroin” is a central nervous system inhibitor (slowing down breaths and heart beats). Over-dose usage will cause death, and intravenous injection will bring easily infection of diseases, such as AIDS.

VI. “Amphetamine” is a central nervous system stimulant (accelerating breathing rates and heart beats) that makes you feel refreshing (can causing insomnia at the same time). Long-term administration may cause symptoms, such as hypochondriasis (suspicion), auditory hallucination (supposed hearing of a thought) and persistence. When conditions become serious, the symptoms mentioned above may not be improved, even you stop using.

VII. In addition to the four-class drugs mentioned above, alcohol and cigarettes (nicotine) will also cause problems of addiction and dependency.

VIII. No matter the four-class drugs, cigarettes or alcohol, they will cause withdrawal symptoms when you stop using. Please consult the qualified medical institutions and ask doctors to give you appropriate medications to ease your discomforts.

IX. Heroin, class-one drug, is with intense addiction and severe withdrawal symptoms that are too painful to be bearable. Now, it is first detoxified with registered medications to relieve physiological discomforts, then treated with methadone and buprenorphine (sublingual tablet). The protocol will increase the success chances for quitting drug abuse.

X. Methadone is taken once a day. Addicts must go to the hospitals and receive medications every day. Buprenorphine (sublingual tablet) is taken once in one to two days. Various doses of medications, for days or weeks, can be brought back according to addict’s conditions for addicts to arrange their daily schedules conveniently.

XI. “Methadone” and “Buprenorphine” are the alternative medications of heroin. As soon as stop taking, there will still be withdrawal symptoms as well, but the symptoms and durations are weaker and shorter compared to heroin. (However, it must be noted that combining administration of two drugs, i.e. taking methadone constantly and injecting heroin occasionally, will cause problems of over-dose. The withdrawal symptoms will be more severe and it will take longer to overcome withdrawal.)

XII. Common medicines are classified into three classes:

    (1) Prescription drugs: doctor’s prescriptions required.

    (2) Instruction drugs: must be taken under the instructions of doctors, pharmacists or assistant pharmacists.

    (3) Over-the-counter drugs: can be purchased at drugstores and used according to the instructions of package inserts.

XIII. Notes for taking medicines:

    (1) Don’t lie down when taking medicine for avoiding choke.

    (2) Don’t take medicines without drinking water.

    (3) Avoid taking medicines with juice (grape juice), milk, tea and alcohol to prevent from affecting drugs interaction.