32 The Encyclopedia of Addictive Drugs
Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number:This number (CAS RN) is unique
to every chemical, just like a fingerprint or a U.S. Social Security number is
unique to each person. Drugs, like people, may go by different names, but
different-sounding drugs having the same CAS RN are identical—that is,
chemically and structurally the same. The CAS RN can be used to search var-
ious databases for more information about a drug and can also be used to
confirm that a scientific report is indeed about the drug in question.
Formal Names:Entries in this section are a partial list of brand names and ge-
neric names. Some are for combination products including the drug. These
names are used by scientists and health care providers.
Informal Names:These are casual and slang terms for the drug. The lists are
not necessarily complete, but they do include typical informal names. Some
nicknames are used for more than one drug.
Type:The type of drug and its class are given so a reader can refer to pages
elsewhere in this book having background information about that substance.
Federal Schedule Listing:The status line gives the drug’s legal standing (see
page 6 for explanations of “schedules”) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Ad-
ministration Controlled Substances Code Number if the drug is a controlled
substance.
USA Availability:The availability line tells what must normally be done to ob-
tain the substance legally in the United States. Normally Schedule V substances
are prescription, but can be nonprescription in some state jurisdictions. A non-
prescription item may still have other regulations limiting its availability, such
as requiring a purchaser to be an adult or to register the purchase, as with
over-the-counter (OTC) codeine-containing cough medicines. A substance may
be legally available but may become illegal if used in prohibited ways.
Pregnancy Category:Not all drugs have an official pregnancy category desig-
nation. For example, such a rating does not exist for substances lacking official
approval for therapeutic use. See page 8 for an explanation of categories.Occasionally information in one of the above listings could not be verified
despite diligent search. In such cases the topic is omitted.
The detailed descriptions of each drug are arranged to cover:- uses
- drawbacks
- abuse factors
- (some but not all) drug interactions
- cancer (risks)
- pregnancy (effects)
- (in some cases) additional information
Reliable sources of additional scientific information are suggested at the end
of each individual substance entry. At the back of this book is a list of general
information sources, some of which may have additional data about the sub-
stance covered in the alphabetical entry. Many drugs have been studied for
decades, and some references reflect the venerable history of such studies.