What type of drug can appear as pills or crystalized powder?

Amphetamines can indeed appear in various forms, including pills or crystallized powders. This versatility in their physical form is significant because it influences how the drug is perceived and used in different contexts. As a central nervous system stimulant, amphetamines are often manufactured for both medical use (such as in the treatment of ADHD and certain sleep disorders) and illicit recreational use, which can further lead to varying appearances.

In contrast, narcotic analgesics primarily exist in pill form or liquid formulations used for pain management and are less commonly found as crystallized powders. Dissociative anesthetics, while they can be powdery, are more often encountered as liquids or in other various specialized forms for medical use, and inhalants are typically those substances that are inhaled in their gaseous or vapor form rather than presented in solid forms like pills or crystals. Understanding these differences is essential for recognizing and detecting various types of substances in law enforcement and substance abuse contexts.