Based on this title you might expect that we would list all the laws pertaining to drugs. But that is not our interest here. This section of the lecture is more focused on how chemistry is used to control both legal and illegal drugs. What can we, as chemists, do to keep society safe?
The responsibilities that chemistry has in keeping both legal and illegal drugs under control:
- Analysis and identification of ALL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (legal and illegal)
- Identify all substances greater than 1%
- Determine Salt, Isomer and Purity as appropriate
- Identify Adulterants and Diluents
Starting with analysis and identification of all controlled substances. Chemists are responsible for the quality control of all chemical substances. The analysis of drugs of all types is completed to make sure that the products being sold to consumers contain the correct formulations and dosages allowed and prescribed. These analyses are completed using the same processes we have already described in earlier lectures and your lab:
- GC-MS
- LC-MS
- FTIR Spectroscopy
- UV-VIS Spectroscopy
Below is a typical production scenario with the quality control steps labeled:
Drug Schedules
Joanne Heck (YouTube)
Chemical Identification of drugs, even those known as adulterants and diluents (Drugs with slightly different chemical structures or concentrations than the "name brand" version, respectively) has allowed for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to develop what is known as the Controlled Drug Schedule. This scheduling only applies to controlled substances. Scheduling is from 1 to 5 based on the severity of the effects of the drugs and their danger to society. A brief description of the schedule is shown below:
Drugs not listed on the controlled substances list include most over the counter (OTC) medications. Although these drugs do not require a prescription for use, they still fall under strict regulations for purity and quantity that are maintained and guaranteed by chemists. The Food and Drug Administration regulates the amounts of contaminants deemed safe for consumption and they employ thousands of chemists that test both food products and drugs daily through both systematic and spot inspection methods.