What
are drugs?
A
medical dictionary defines a drug as
"any substance that when taken into
the living organism may modify one or
more of its functions." That
definition includes a wide range of
materials, including aspirin, milk of
magnesia, penicillin, caffeine,
alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. When
people talk about "drug abuse,"
however, they are referring to only
those drugs that are illegal to use
without a doctor's prescription or
that are illegal to use under any
circumstances whatsoever. Such drugs
are also called illicit drugs.
Examples of illicit drugs include
cocaine, heroin, marijuana, PCP
(phencyclidine), and hallucinogens,
such as LSD (lysergic acid
diethylamine) and peyote. For young
people, two other widely used
drugs-alcohol and tobacco-are also
illegal. These drugs are, of course,
legal for adults to use.
More
Sources:
Overview of Drug Testing
Illicit Drugs
Drug Use
Drug Abuse