Fun with Research

[asphaltcowgrrl]

You're going to get bored with this really quickly, I think.  But eh, that's the beauty of this format - you don't have to read it if you don't want to, either.  :D

I watch a lot of police dramas on television and also read a lot of police procedural novels, so I've heard a lot about schedule such-and-such drugs, but really only had a vague notion about what each schedule meant.  So, that's what I've been reading about this morning.

For reference, this is the official definition: Drugs and other substances that carry a risk of abuse are divided among five specific categories: Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V.

Okay, so that makes sense.  Now, to get into the specifics.

Schedule I: includes drugs such as PCP and ecstasy that have an extremely high potential for abuse and addiction by their users. Drugs in this category aren't recognized in the medical community as having any value; therefore, they're considered to be dangerous or harmful to the human body.

In other words, these are Very Bad Drugs.  Got it.

Schedule II: includes drugs such as heroin and cocaine that also have a very high potential for abuse, but these drugs are recognized as valid medications for medical treatments. The dispensing of these medications is closely supervised and monitored. As with the drugs in Schedule I, Schedule II drugs are highly addictive.

Okay, so again, these are more Very Bad Drugs.  But wait.. things like herion and cocaine are used as medical treatments?  I know that Freud supposedly gave cocaine to his patients, but in what other applications are these drugs used?  Not that I'm doubting it might be true, but still... anyone help me out here?

Schedule III: includes drugs such as anabolic steroids and codeine that are further down in the schedule yet still have the potential for abuse. The drugs in this category are most often prescribed by doctors and are generally not as addictive or habit-forming as the drugs in the higher categories.

Schedule IV: includes drugs such as diazepam (Valium) and phenobarbital that have similar characteristics to Schedule III drugs but have a lower potential for abuse. There's a limited potential for dependence on the drugs in this schedule,although psychological dependence is a possibility

Schedule V: includes all other drugs, such as cough syrup, that aren't listed in any of the upper four categories. The drugs in this category have a very low potential for abuse and addiction.

So, I've had an educational morning so far.  And really, I'm loving this book that I'm using for reference. Howdunit Book of Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers by Lee Lofland.

And yeah, I know... no one cares.  But if I put it here, I can find it again later.  Between this post and my Kindle Notes, I should be good.

Source:

*Lofland, Lee (2007-07-25). Howdunit Book of Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers (Kindle Location 3505-3517). F+W Media. Kindle Edition.

Comments

[kaige68.livejournal.com]

It is interesting!

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

It can be, but thanks for humoring me all the same. Hahahaha.

[kaige68.livejournal.com]

I've heard the term 'sked 2 narcotic' and been curious. So now I know!

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Exactly! And this post will make Miss H happy because it means I'm one step closer to giving her that naked pile of bodies she's waiting for. Hah.

[kaige68.livejournal.com]

Naked and narcotics! Nice!

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

You know... Naked Narcotics might be the future title for the story I'm working on. HAHAHAHA.

Nakey Narcos.

Oh god, I need some coffee.

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

*begs nicely*

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm making this fic my goal for November - to write it in all its smutty glory. Oh... and I just had another evil though in regards to the plot. A little revenge on James' part for all the jerkiness he's gotten from Zayne. :D

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I'm liking this more and more... (I may have a thing about threesomes. Just sayin')

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

You and me both. I've made a point to read a few lately for *cough* research purposes. But only for the sake of research. *innocent face*

:D

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

OH, I only read them for research too. *nods*

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Maybe we should compare notes then? *raises eyebrows* The one I'm reading right now is a bit... ugh. So, I might be looking for some new um, source material, soon.

OH! And your icon is reminding me that I got an e-mail about the 40th Anniversary Edition of Monty Python and the Holy Grail that's out on DVD now. :D

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

Oh, absolutely. I do hope you like them... how shall we say? Smutty? :D

Oooh, so very cool! My hubby & kids were introduced to Holy Grail this year and the kids have taken up quoting it ALL THE TIME. Favourites are the French taunting quotes followed by the Black Knight ones! My hubby thinks it's nuts, I'm sure (he enjoyed it all the same!), because I've been throwing out Constitutional Peasant remarks and French Taunts for years! ;-)

(I must put a Python icon back into circulation! You get a Princess Bride one in lieu today!)

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

OH yes. When it comes to menage, it HAS to be smutty. Regular m/m romances, not so much, but if you're piling three hot men into bed BRING IT ON.

My dad was a long time fan of British comedy so I was introduced at a young age. I once made my husband watch "And Now For Something Completely Different" and he still hasn't forgiven me for that. :D I don't know how you can not love Monty Python, but apparently it's possible. Seeing the group on Graham Norton a couple years ago had me in tears, I was laughing so hard.

(I can live with The Princess Bride!!!!)

[skyesurfer12.livejournal.com]

Huh. I swear there must be a handy-dandy guide for writers on everything. This one would actually be quite a good one to have though. I love this kind of thing, too, and how many times have I had to look up various drugs and effects? Of course, in the late 1800s its had to be other forms, but still ... hm!

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I love my Kindle Unlimited subscription... there are so many e-books published for writers on so many topics and most of them are available through KU. I've got a few on crime/mystery writing that I'm working my way through right now.

[thtwzjustadream.livejournal.com]

I used to hear those terms a lot more often way the heck back when - my mom ran the city court in our hometown, and I was in there and out of there a lot. Watched quite a few court sessions.

The first career I thought I might want to pursue was to be a lawyer - but in retrospect, very glad I didn't go in that direction! The people you have to deal with, i.e. your clients........ nope.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

That's actually really fascinating!

Ugh - no kidding. I had an uncle who started as a police officer in San Diego and then went on to become a very successful lawyer who represented a lot of law enforcement officers. But for the most part? Yeah, your clientele wouldn't exactly be the best most days.

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

I Imagine that heroin as it is used by drug addicts is not a medical drug as such, but it is an opiate and derives from the same source as morphine, so it may be that they have to have it under the same category. Cocaine may be similar - I'm not sure how that works exactly.

Go you for doing your research, baby! (I'm often much too lazy and skim over what doesn't seem make-up-able!) ;-)

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Gotcha - and that makes perfect sense. Thank you for explaining that to me. The only thing I could think of was that they use those drugs to help addicts come off their addictions, but other than that, I had no clue.

Hahahaha... I'm one of those geeks/nerds/weirdoes who love to learn about things so research is one of my favorite things to do. I just have to be careful though because sometimes I get off topic and wind up reading about hallucinogenic cactus. :D

Oh... and see my reply to Kaige. :D

[haldoor.livejournal.com]

HAHA! I do know the feeling - when it happens to me, I wind up all over the place - from British Monarchs to which kings were gay and who their hangers-on were... but something less interesting to me, not so much! Obsessed much? Moi? ;-)

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Agreed 110%!

I love how the internet can lead you from something so innocent to things that you never even knew existed. :D

[c8h7n3o2]

S C I E N C E !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

YES! It always was my favorite subject. :D

[c8h7n3o2]

I was a science major lol


ok unrelated but does it annoy you too when bad guys gag the vics but only tie it around their head and the vics act like they can't scream?! Like.... you aren't actually gagged!!

Sorry I tend to break down stuff like that.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

That's right - I remember you telling me that!

Hahaha... yes, because if it was that easy to keep someone quiet, I'd have used it on my kids years ago. LOL (I'm kidding... sort of!)

Heh. No biggie, I love a little bit of randomness. :)

[c8h7n3o2]

:D

So what are you planning on doing with that bit of knowledge? Is it for a story?

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

:)

I've actually been writing some very lame detective fiction lately. The last story I just finished focused more on a narcotics officer working undercover, although I failed most epic in working any of this information into the story. Ooops.

[c8h7n3o2]

Lame? I doubt it. You're a talented writer. I love all things detective lol. Maybe next time around then.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Only lame in the sense that, while I do well with slice-of-life kind of fics, an actual mystery is more than I can properly plot and execute. But, I'm still trying. My first was a bit ridiculous, the second was very light on the mystery, heavy on the relationship, but this third one I just finished, I think it's decent. Not James Patterson worthy, but better than the first two. Hah!

And thank you so much. :D I know - I never read police procedurals until about ten or so years ago when a co-worker left an Alex Cross novel on my desk. :D

[c8h7n3o2]

you said Alex Cross!

Love the movie.. intimidated by the books.

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

YES! I love James Patterson. OMG, you should look into the books. For mysteries, JP's books are really quick and easy reads. I think it's because his chapters are like 3-5 pages long. And he has a very reader friendly way of writing. His Women's Murder Club books are my favorite though. :)

Err... yeah. Don't get me started on books. :)

[c8h7n3o2]

Haha for me I think it's the fact that I like reading I just don't like the work it takes to read.. do you kinda get it? Like.. the time it takes. I wish I was a speed reader.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[asphaltcowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I absolutely get it. I love fantasy novels. LOVE. THEM. But... because there are always new worlds, new creatures, new everything, a fantasy novel takes so much more brain power to read than say, a contemporary romance or even an urban fantasy novel. But all books/stories/whatever take focus and dedication and we don't always have that available to give.

Welcome! Let me know if you try any of them. :)