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HARD DRUGS Cocaine (in powder form or in smokable form as ''crack''), the Amphetamine s, and the Opiate s such as Heroin and Morphine , are most commonly referred to as ''hard drugs''. According to some researchers, Alcohol and Nicotine , while freely available for sale in many countries, should be described as hard drugs because they are both addictive and associated with high mortality rates. In most popular discourse, however, ''hard drugs'' refers to drugs illegal for nonmedical use associated with highly visible problematic users, namely heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. SOFT DRUGS The term ''soft drug'' is most usually applied to cannabis ( Marijuana or Hashish ) because it is not associated with deaths, crime or violence amongst users and is without evidence of physical addiction. This distinction between soft drugs and hard drugs is important in the Drug Policy Of The Netherlands , where Cannabis Production , Retailing and use come under official tolerance ( NL ''gedoogbeleid''), subject to certain conditions. HALLUCINOGENS Some consider certain Hallucinogens to be hard drugs, but as most hallucinogens are non-addictive, nor are they known for causing deaths, such drugs generally occupy a middle ground - neither hard nor soft. The possible exceptions are PCP and DXM . Being relatively new to the drug culture, more research is needed to ascertain the addictive potential and potential harms of these drugs. The drug policy of the Netherlands classifies synthetic hallucinogens such as LSD (acid) as hard drugs, although they have very similar action to naturally occurring drugs such as Mescaline , which is considered a soft drug in its natural form of Peyote , THC (the active ingredient in Cannabis ), or Psilocybin in its natural form as Psilocybe (magic mushrooms). All are sold legally in the Netherlands in their unprocessed natural form; the Dutch government is currently considering the licensed industrial-scale production of cannabis. EMPATHOGENS Phenethylamine -based Empathogen s such as MDMA , many of which are closely related to amphetamines, are often considered to be both hallucinogens and hard drugs, however this is misleading. Empathogens affect the emotions of the user, producing an intense sense of Euphoria and a combined form of Agape and Philia . This could be seen as a hallucination to the uninitiated, however while the effects of hallucinogens are typically external from the point of view of the user, Empathogens have a strongly internal effect. Whether or not Empathogens are hard drugs or not is questionable since, like hallucinogens, they are rarely addictive. While empathogens are dangerous - especially in combination with most substances which affect serotonin, such as SSRI s - most of the risk of use comes from either lack of knowledge of the risks, and the use of other more dangerous drugs in Ecstacy pills, such as Methamphetamine , Ketamine or Cocaine - a direct result of the prohibitioon on most empathogens. |
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