Jane Nicole V. Tagayon.

Drug
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BT104A

August 10, 2013

A drug is a substance which may have medicinal, intoxicating, performance enhancing or other effects when taken or put into a human body or the body of another animal and is not considered a food or exclusively a food. What is considered a drug rather than a food varies between cultures, and distinctions between drugs and foods and between kinds of drug are enshrined in laws which vary between jurisdictions and aim to restrict or prevent drug use. Even within a jurisdiction, however, the status of a substance may be uncertain or contested with respect to both whether it is a drug and how it should be classified if at all. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations,medicine, and colloquial usage.
[3]

In pharmacology, a drug is "a chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being." limited duration, or on a regular basis for chronic disorders.
[4] [3]

Drugs may be prescribed for a

Recreational drugs are chemical substances that affect the central nervous system, such asopioids or hallucinogens.
[5] [4]

They may be used for perceived beneficial effects

[4][5]

on perception,consciousness, personality, and behavior. habituation.

Some drugs can cause addiction and/or

Drugs are usually distinguished from endogenous biochemicals by being introduced from outside the organism.
[citation needed]

For example, insulin is a hormone that is synthesized in the body; it is called a

[citation needed]

hormone when it is synthesized by the pancreas inside the body, but if it is introduced into the body from outside, it is called a drug. Many natural substances, such as beers, wines, and psychoactive

mushrooms, blur the line between food and recreational drugs, as when ingested they affect the functioning of both mind and bodyand some substances normally considered drugs such as DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) are actually produced by the human body in trace amounts.

Types of Drugs
From http://www.halton.ca

There are 3 main groups of drugs: depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens. Most drugs fit into one or more of these groups. Depressants These drugs slow down the central nervous system. They make people feel relaxed, less tense, and less aware of events around them. Examples of depressants are: Alcohol Heroin Inhalants Sleeping Pills Ketamine Prescription Pain Killers Opioids OxyContin: Straight talk

Stimulants These drugs speed up the central nervous system. They help people feel more alert and they increase the users physical energy. Stimulants are taken to make people feel happy and to decrease appetite. Examples of stimulants are: Tobacco Cocaine Crack Amphetamines Methamphetamine

Hallucinogens These drugs are sometimes called mind-altering or mind-expanding drugs. They can increase a persons awareness of sight, touch, taste, feeling and hearing. Objects may take on different shapes and sizes, sounds may be heard louder or softer. Hallucinogens can also alter a persons mood. Examples of hallucinogens are: Marijuana (Cannabis or Weed) Ecstasy LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide)

Other Drugs Steroids

Herbal

Top Ten Reasons People Use Drugs

From: http://addiction.narcononrehab.com This may seem like a no-brainer, but there are actually some surprising reasons why people may begin and continue to use drugs. Its for the following reasons that anyone who is using or addicted to drugs not be judged, but helped. Here are some of the top ten reasons people use drugs. 1. They are legal: Yes, you read that right. Some of the drugs that have the most users are completely legal. Nicotine and alcohol are not illegal and yet they are highly addictive. 2. They are prescribed: There are many different medications, which are prescribed for a specific purpose, but because of the reaction of the brain to these medications, people easily become addicted. Some examples of these are pain medications, anti-anxiety meds, muscle relaxers and more. 3. Rebellion: Chances are many who are now adults did the same thing, but teenagers often begin using drugs as an act of rebellion or peer pressure. They experiment with drugs and alcohol. Some become addicted, some do not. 4. Self Medication: People live with varying degrees of stressors in their lives. There are times when instead of seeking the advice of a doctor, they begin to medicate themselves with marijuana, street drugs, or even perhaps alcohol. 5. Boredom: There are those that begin to experiment with drugs simply because they are bored or they feel emptiness in their lives. They are searching for something and mistakenly think that the answer is drugs or alcohol. 6. Peer Pressure: Not only teens, but many adults begin to experiment with drugs because their friends do. They begin casually at a gathering or a party, and continue on from there. Many times, this leads to addiction. 7. It Feels Good: If addictive drugs made people deathly ill every time they tried it, people probably would not become addicted. However, this is not what happens. Cocaine, Meth, Marijuana, and many other drugs make a person feel very, very good when they begin using them. This leads to drug addiction even though the good feelings get harder and harder to experience with time. 8. Curiosity: The power of curiosity should never be underestimated. Many people, young and old try drugs simply to see what will happen. They are curious as to the effects of the drug and start using for no other reason than to find out what it feels like. 9. Availability: Prescription drugs and street drugs are extremely accessible to anyone who wants to find them. They can be purchased on the street, through doctors, on-line pharmacies, and even through black market websites. 10. Enhancement: Drug use and abuse very often starts with people drinking alcohol. When the effects of the alcohol arent enough, they branch out into using other drugs as well to enhance the effects of the alcohol. Of course, there are many other reasons why people may begin using drugs but the long and short of it is they like the way the drug makes them feel. The short-term effects for most drugs are extremely pleasant and that is what keeps the person going back for more.

TERRIFIED. You, by the light Is the greatest find In a world full of wrong You're the thing that's right Finally made it through the lonely To the other side You set it again, my heart's in motion Every word feels like a shooting star I'm at the edge of my emotions Watching the shadows burning in the dark And I'm in love And I'm terrified For the first time and the last time In my only life And this could be good It's already better than that And nothing's worse Than knowing you're holding back I could be all that you need If you let me try You set it again, my heart's in motion Every word feels like a shooting star I'm at the edge of my emotions Watching the shadows burning in the dark And I'm in love And I'm terrified For the first time and the last time In my only I only said it 'cause I mean it I only mean 'cause it's true So don't you doubt what I've been dreaming 'Cause it fills me up and holds me close whenever I'm without you You set it again, my heart's in motion Every word feels like a shooting star I'm at the edge of my emotions Watching the shadows burning in the dark And I'm in love And I'm terrifiedFor the first time and the last time In my only