Chemical Dependency and the Dysfunctional Family

The U.S. government organizes all illegal drugs into five categories, called schedules.

Schedule I

Schedule I includes drugs that are very addictive and have no medical use in the United States. They include heroin, a narcotic that can be injected, sniffed, or smoked; both marijuana and hashish, which are from the cannabis plant and can be smoked or eaten; and LSD, a hallucinogen that can be eaten.

Schedule II

Schedule II drugs are very addictive, but can be used for medical purposes if their use is strictly controlled by a doctor. Schedule II drugs include opium, a narcotic that can be eaten or smoked; morphine, a narcotic that can be eaten, smoked, or injected; cocaine, which includes crack and is a stimulant that can be sniffed, smoked, or injected; amphetamines, a stimulant that can be eaten or injected; and phencyclidine, also called PCP, which is a hallucinogen that can be smoked, eaten, or injected.

Schedules III, IV, V

Schedule III, IV, and V drugs are not as addictive as Schedule I and II drugs. However, they are still dangerous. Their use should be monitored closely by a doctor. Doctors often prescribe Schedule III, IV, and V drugs as medication for coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight control. They include Valium, Librium, some forms of codeine, and many others.

All drugs can be addictive, even prescription drugs. However, Schedule I and II drugs pose the most danger. Anyone taking them has a high risk of developing a severe chemical dependency.

Alcohol is not classified since it is a legal, non-prescription drug. However, it is severely addictive. Many alcohol abusers become chemically dependent on alcohol.