Drug

A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. 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." Recreational drugs are chemical substances that affect the central nervous system, such as opioids or hallucinogens. They may be used for perceived beneficial effects on perception, consciousness, personality, and behavior. Some drugs can cause addiction and/or habituation. Drugs are usually distinguished from endogenous biochemicals by being introduced from outside the organism. For example, insulin is a hormone that is synthesized in the body; it is called a 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 some mushrooms, blur the line between food and recreational drugs, as when ingested they affect the functioning of both mind and body and some substances normally considered drugs such as DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) are actually produced by the human body in trace amounts.

Medication
A medication or medicine is a drug taken to cure and/or ameliorate any symptoms of an illness or medical condition, or may be used as preventive medicine that has future benefits but does not treat any existing or pre-existing diseases or symptoms.

Dispensing of medication is often regulated by governments into three categories over-the-counter (OTC) medications, which are available in pharmacies and supermarkets without special restrictions, behind-the-counter (BTC), which are dispensed by a pharmacist without needing a doctor's prescription, and Prescription

only medicines (POM), which must be prescribed by a licensed medical professional, usually a physician.

Recreational drug use

Recreational drugs use is the use of psychoactive substances to have fun, for the experience, or to enhance an already positive experience. National laws prohibit the use of many different recreational drugs and medicinal drugs that have the potential for recreational use are heavily regulated. Many other recreational drugs on the other hand are legal, widely culturally accepted, and at the most have an age restriction on using and/or purchasing them. These include alcohol, tobacco, betel nut, and caffeine products in the west, and in other localised areas of the world drugs such as Khat are common. Because of the legal status of many drugs, recreational drug use is controversial, with many governments not recognising spiritual or other perceived uses for drugs and classing them under illegal recreational use.

Alcohol
Alcohol is created when grains, fruits, or vegetables are fermented. Fermentation is a process that uses yeast or bacteria to change the sugars in the food into alcohol. Fermentation is used to produce many necessary items everything from cheese to medications. Alcohol has different forms and can be used as a cleaner, an antiseptic, or a sedative.

So if alcohol is a natural product, why do teens need to be concerned about drinking it? When people drink alcohol, it's absorbed into their bloodstream. From there, it affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), which controls virtually all body functions. Because experts now know that the human brain is still developing during

our teens, scientists are researching the effects drinking alcohol can have on the teen brain.

How Does It Affect the Body?

Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows the function of the central nervous system. Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing.

In very small amounts, alcohol can help a person feel more relaxed or less anxious. More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication. People who have overused alcohol may stagger, lose their coordination, and slur their speech. They will probably be confused and disoriented. Depending on the person, intoxication can make someone very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry. Reaction times are slowed dramatically which is why people are told not to drink and drive. People who are intoxicated may think they're moving properly when they're not. They may act totally out of character.

When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, alcohol poisoning can result. Alcohol poisoning is exactly what it sounds like the body has become poisoned by large amounts of alcohol. Violent vomiting is usually the first symptom of alcohol poisoning. Extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood sugar, and even death may result.seizures,

Here are a few warning signs that someone may have a substance abuse problem:
y y y y y y y relying on drugs or alcohol to have fun, forget problems, or relax having blackouts drinking or using drugs while alone withdrawing or keeping secrets from friends or family losing interest in activities that used to be important performing differently in school (such as grades dropping and frequent absences) building an increased tolerance to alcohol or drugs gradually needing more and more of the substance to get the same feeling y lying, stealing, or selling stuff to get money for dru y gs or alcohol

Public high school opens precedent-setting drug clinic

By Bernd Debusmann Jr.

NEW YORK | Wed Jun 8, 2011 6:03pm EDT

(Reuters) - An in-school drug and alcohol abuse clinic is opening at a public high school on Long Island, the first of its kind in New York state and possibly in the nation, treatment advocates said on Wednesday. Responding to soaring rates of substance abuse among students, the William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach will house the clinic starting in August. It will be run by Daytop Treatment Services, a network of drug and alcohol abuse centers, at no cost to the school district. The clinic will provide counseling but cannot dispense methadone or other drugs. "The school district is being incredibly proactive," said Daytop programs director Caroline Sullivan. "Other schools may have prevention programs, but this is a fullfledged treatment option with treatment done on site." Substance abuse has "increased exponentially" among the 3,200 students at the school and there were 38 disciplinary hearings tied to drug and alcohol abuse in the last two years, according to documents filed by Daytop with the state of New York.

Partnership for a Drug-Free America said nationwide there are 19 "sober high schools," meaning the entire student body is either in recovery or has pledged to steer clear of alcohol and drugs. On Long Island, the clinic in an otherwise typical public high school, is the first of its kind in New York and apparently no others exist elsewhere in the country, a Daytop spokesperson said. The clinic's clients will include walk-ins, referrals from school officials in lieu of suspension and those ordered to treatment by a judge. Teachers and administrators will not know which students are involved in the program, tailored specifically to young people. "There are very few programs that are adolescent specific," Sullivan said, despite the fact that "adolescents are starting to use at a much younger age." Officials from William Floyd School District were not immediately available for comment. Sullivan said that Daytop hopes similar programs will be introduced in other schools that have the same problems. "If it's seen that we are prospering and having success, other school districts will jump on board," she said.

Wine is a common alcoholic beverage.

The cigarette is the common pharmaceutical form of tobacco one of the world s best selling drugs