Information AboutDrugs |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT DRUG | |
| drugs | |
|
is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world.]] A drug is any chemical or biological substance, Synthetic or non-synthetic, that when taken into the organism's body, will in some way alter the functions of that organism. This broad definition can be taken to include such substances as Food . However more strict applications of the word prevail in everyday life. In these cases the word "drug" is usually used to refer specifically to Medicine , Vitamins , Entheogen ic Sacrament s, Consciousness Expanding or Recreational Drugs . Many natural substances such as Beer s, Wine s, and some Mushrooms , blur the line between food and drugs, as when ingested they affect the functioning of both Mind and Body . The word "drug" is etymologically derived from the Dutch/Low German word "droog", which means "dry", since in the past, most drugs were dried plant parts. 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. MEDICATION See Also: 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 Medicine s'' (POM), which must be prescribed by a licensed Medical Professional , usually a Physician . Most over-the-counter medications are generally considered to be safe enough that most people will not hurt themselves if they are taken as instructed. In the UK , BTC medicines are called Pharmacy Medicine s which can only be sold in registered pharmacies, by or under the supervision of a pharmacist. However, the precise distinction between OTC and prescription drugs depends on the legal Jurisdiction . Medications are typically produced by pharmaceutical companies and are often Patent ed to give the developer exclusive rights to produce them, but they can also be derived from naturally occurring substance in plants called Herbal Medicine . Those that are not patented (or with expired patents) are called Generic Drug s since they can be produced by other companies without restrictions or licenses from the patent holder. Drugs, both medications and recreational can be administered in a number of ways:
Many drugs can be administered in a variety of ways. RECREATION See Also: Recreational drug use ''Recreational drug use'' is the use of Psychoactive Drug s for Recreation al purposes rather than for work, Medical or Spiritual purposes. Much controversy has arisen over recreational drug use, and governments across the world have regulated the consumption and/or distribution of drugs in the name of fighting Drug Abuse , but many countries' laws are criticized for being passed under ulterior motives or for being hypocritical. This seems to be changing, slowly, as Canada follows the Netherlands ' lead and largely decriminalizes Marijuana . LEGAL DEFINITION OF DRUGS Some countries also defined what a drug is by law. In the United States, the Federal Food, Drug, And Cosmetic Act defines a drug as being an article "intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals" or an article "(other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals." FDCA ยง 201(g)(1) LIST OF DRUGS See List Of Drugs for an alphabetical list of drugs by name. Many drugs have more than one name and, therefore, the same drug may be listed more than once. Brand names and Generic Name s are differentiated by the use of capital initials for the former. Some drugs may have slang names and may need to be accessed using those names. CONTROVERSY |
|
|