CUA Drug and Alcohol Awareness Program
Substance Abuse Health Risks and Legal Penalties
The types of drugs listed below and identified as Schedules I-V are classified as such by federal law (see 21 U.S.C. þ 812 and 21 CFR þþ 1308.11-15). For Maryland schedules, see Maryland Code Article 27 at 279. For Virginia schedules, see Virginia Code Annotated at 54.1-3446. For District of Columbia schedules, see D.C. Code 33-513 through 33-522.
| TYPES OF DRUGS | RISKS |
Schedule I: |
Schedule I: |
| High abuse potential and no approved medical uses. | Use may lead to physical and/or psychological dependence. |
| Heroin (a narcotic), opiates and opium and its derivatives (junk, horse, smack, scag, sugar) | Narcotics: Can cause dependence. Withdrawal from certain narcotics can be life-threatening. Single doses can produce impaired cognitive and motor functioning and fluctuations in mood and awareness. Higher doses can cause respiratory arrest. |
| Marijuana and all derivatives (THC, hashish, hashish oil, hash, pot, Acapulco gold, grass, weed, joint, Mary Jane, reefer) | Marijuana: Single doses can impair cognitive functioning, learning motivation and motor abilities. Very large doses can cause confusion, restlessness, hallucinations and panic reactions. Possible depression of the immune system, chromosome damage, reduced sperm count in males. |
| Hallucinogens, including LSD (acid, microdot, cubes), peyote, mescaline, psilocybin (mushrooms), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog, purple rain, crazy Eddie, hellraiser, untouchable, lethal weapon), MDMA (ecstasy) | Hallucinogens: Increased blood pressure, muscular weakness, trembling, nausea, chills, impaired motor skills and coordination, significant effects on perception, thought and mood. Rapid swings in mood and unpredictable changes in emotions and sensations. Possible ôflashbacksö some time after use. |
| Methaqualone (Quaaludes) | Barbiturates: Can cause dependence with withdrawal symptoms. Larger doses cause slurred speech, slowed reactions and excessive sleep. Large doses or doses with alcohol or other sedative hypnotics can result in respiratory depression and death. |
Schedule II: |
Schedule II: |
| High potential for abuse. Written prescriptions required, and no refill allowed. | Use may lead to severe physical and/or psychological dependence. |
| Narcotics, including morphine, methadone, meperidine (Demerol), codeine, oxycodone (Percodan, Percocet), fentanyl, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), opiates and opium and its derivatives | Narcotics: See above under Schedule I. |
| Barbiturates (reds, yellow jackets, barbs, downers), including secobarbital (Seconal), pentobarbital (Nembutal) | Barbiturates: See above under Schedule I. |
| Stimulants, including amphetamines (speed, bennies, uppers, black beauties, pep pills), cocaine and coca products (crack, coke, flake, snow, freebase, lady), cocaine hydrochloride (ice) | Stimulants: Can cause irritability, impaired judgment, impulsivity and grandiosity. Increased blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, respiration, sweating. Linked to cardiovascular problems and convulsions, which can be lethal. Repeated dosing can lead to dependence as well as a paranoid psychosis |
Schedule III: |
Schedule III: |
| Some potential for abuse. Prescriptions required, and up to five renewals within six months allowed. | Use may lead to low-to-moderate physical dependence or high psychological dependence. |
| Medications containing small amounts of narcotics, including Tylenol #3, Empirin with codeine, codeine-based cough suppressants such as Tusslonex and Hycomine | Narcotics: See above under Schedule I. |
| Medications containing small amounts of barbiturates, such as Florinal | Barbiturates: See above under Schedule I. |
| Anabolic steroids | Steroids: The liver and the cardiovascular and reproductive systems are most seriously affected. In males, can cause sterility and impotence; in females, irreversible masculine traits, menstrual irregularities, breast reduction and sterility. Psychological effects include aggression, combative behavior and depression. May also cause strokes, heart attacks, liver cancer, skin problems and arrested bone development during adolescence. |
Schedule IV: |
Schedule IV: |
| Low potential for abuse. Prescriptions required, and up to five renewals within six months allowed. | Use may lead to physical and/or psychological addiction. |
| Sedative-hypnotics (tranks, downers), including diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), triazolam (Halcion), tempazepam (Restoril), meprobamate (Equanil), ethchlorvynol (Placidyl) and oxazepam (Serax) | Sedative-hypnotics: Includes benzodiazepines and other similar substances. These can cause dependence with associated withdrawal symptoms; withdrawal can be life-threatening. Small doses tend to be relaxing; larger doses cause slurred speech, slowed reactions, and sleep. Can produce dependence. Large doses or doses in combination with alcohol and other sedative hypnotics can result in respiratory depression and death. |
| Stimulants, including phentermine (Loamin), and diethylpropion (Tenuate) | Stimulants: See above under Schedule II. |
| Narcotics, including pentazocine (Talwin) and propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet) | Narcotics: See above under Schedule I. |
Schedule V: |
Schedule V: |
| Abuse potential low. Prescriptions may or may not be required. | Use may lead to physical and/or psychological addition. |
| Compounds that contain very limited amounts of codeine, dihydrocodeine, ethylmorphine, opium, and atropine, such as Terpine Hydrate with codeine, Robitussin AC | Can cause nausea, gastrointestinal symptoms, drowsiness; withdrawal symptoms include runny nose, watery eyes, panic, chills, cramps, irritability. |
First Offense
For manufacturing, distributing, dispensing or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute or dispense (trafficking) (21 U.S.C. þ 841):
Schedule I and II Drugs:
heroin: one kilogram or more mixture with detectable amounts of heroin
cocaine: five kilograms or more mixture
cocaine base: 50 grams or more
PCP: 100 grams or more or one kilogram or more mixture
LSD: 10 grams or more mixture
fentanyl: 400 grams or more mixture
marijuana: 1,000 kilograms or more marijuana mixture or 1,000 or more
marijuana plants
methamphetamine: 100 grams or more or one kilogram or more mixture
Penalty for first offense for the above is not less than 10 years nor more
than life, and not less than 20 years or more than life if death or serious
bodily injury results. Fine of not more than $4 million for an individual,
and not more than $10 million if other than an individual.
For trafficking in the following amounts:
heroin: 100-999 grams heroin mixture
cocaine: 500-4,999 grams mixture
cocaine base: 5-49 grams mixture
PCP: 10-99 grams, 100-999 grams mixture
LSD: 1-10 grams
fentanyl: 40-399 grams mixture
marijuana: 100-1,000 kilograms or 100-999 marijuana plants
methamphetamine: 10-99 grams or 100-999 grams mixture
Penalty for first offense of the above is not less than five years nor more than 40 years. If death or serious injury results, not less than 20 years nor more than life. Fine of not more than $2 million if an individual, and $5 million if other than an individual.
Penalty for first-offense trafficking in a controlled substance in Schedule I or II not listed above is not more than 20 years, and if death or serious bodily injury results, not less than 20 years nor more than life. Fine of $1 million if an individual or $5 million if not an individual. This penalty also applies to 50-100 kilograms marijuana, 10-100 kilograms hashish, 1-100 kilograms hashish oil, and 50-99 marijuana plants.
Schedule III Drugs:
Penalty for first-offense trafficking in a controlled substance in Schedule III is not more than five years. Fine of not more than $250,000 if an individual or $1 million if not an individual. This penalty also applies to less than 50 kilograms marijuana, less than 10 kilograms hashish, and less than one kilogram hashish oil.
Schedule IV Drugs:
Penalty for first-offense trafficking in a controlled substance in Schedule IV is not more than three years. Fine of not more than $250,000 if an individual or not more than $1 million if not an individual.
Schedule V Drugs:
Penalty for first-offense trafficking in a controlled substance in Schedule V is not more than one year. Fine of not more than $100,000 if an individual or not more than $250,000 if not an individual.
Penalty for first-offense simple possession of cocaine base greater than five grams is not less than five years and not greater than 20 years. Fine of at least $1,000 (21 U.S.C. þ 844).
Penalty for first-offense simple possession of other controlled substances is not more than one year, and a fine of not less than $1,000 (21 U.S.C. þ 844).
Other Penalties, Second and Later Offenses
Enhanced penalties apply to second and later offenses, and also to trafficking within 1,000 feet of a school, including universities (21 U.S.C. þ 860). In addition, persons convicted of a controlled substance violation may be denied federal benefits, such as student loans, grants, contracts, and professional and commercial licenses (21 U.S.C. þ 862(a)). Forfeitures of personal and real property may also apply (21 U.S.C. þ 853(a)(2) and 889). The offender may also be ineligible to receive or purchase a firearm (18 U.S.C. þ 922(g)).
Malt beverage is beer, one half of one percent to six percent alcohol.
Unfortified wine is wine not more than 17 percent alcohol.
Fortified wine is wine of not more than 24 percent alcohol.
Spirituous liquor is distilled spirits or ethyl alcohol, including spirits of wine, whiskey, rum, brandy, gin, etc.
Mixed beverage is a drink composed in whole or part of spirituous liquor.
Beer means any brewed alcoholic beverage, and includes beer, ale, stout and porter.
Light wine means any naturally fermented wine containing not in excess of 14 percent of alcohol by volume (excluding Kent, Montgomery, St. Mary's, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties).
Wine means any fermented beverage, including light wines and wines, the alcoholic content of which has been fortified by the addition of alcohol spirits or other ingredients.
RISKS OF ALCOHOL
Single doses cause impaired coordination and motor control, impaired attention, cognitive function and judgment. Heavy drinking results in a hangover the next day. Long-term effects include depression, confusion, loss of memory, blackouts, loss of appetite, vitamin deficiencies and gastrointestinal problems. Also respiratory depression; depression of the immune system; increased risk of heart disease including alcoholic cardiomyopathy; accidents; hypertension; brain damage; damage to the unborn fetus; impotence; liver disease including cirrhosis and increased risk of hepatic cancer. Psychosis or death may result from withdrawal. If combined with other central nervous system depressants much lower doses of alcohol will produce effects described above.
| DC Alcohol Penalties | DC Drug Penalties |
| MD Alcohol Penalties | MD Drug Penalties |
| VA Alcohol Penalities | VA Drug Penalties |