From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A drug is any substance that can be used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom or modify a chemical process in the body for a specific purpose. The term is necessarily a vague one, being defined by intent: for example, foods consumed for normal metabolism are not generally considered "drugs", but the same foods consumed for a more specific purpose (such as the use of alcohol as a depressant or caffeine as a stimulant) may be.
- Pharmaceutical medications (for example, to treat injury or disease). Please see Pharmacology.
- Recreational drug use - Drugs used in a non-medical manner.
- Analgesic (painkiller) drugs
Acetaminophen and other non-opiate painkillers are often used in drug mixes for recreational purposes.
- Recreational drugs (to alter mood or body function for recreation).
- Performance-enhancing drugs (for sport or combat).
Not regulated:
Three international UN treaties regulate drugs laws:
Regulations
Usage of most of drugs is regulated to some extent.
While details vary with location, these are somewhat usual regulations:
Prescription drugs, prohibited for non-medical use:
Varies from tolerated to prohibited for medical use:
Varies from prohibited for non-medical use to prohibited for any use
Prohibited for any use, no medical uses currently allowed UN Documents
The UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (http://www.undcp.org/) is charged with overseeing these treaties and maintains a list of signatory nations at http://www.undcp.org/treaty_adherence.html.
See also
Drug addiction, medication, narcotic, illegal drug trade, route of administration, 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act
In ancient Vedic Hinduism, the Drugs are a class of demons.
In the fiction by J. R. R. Tolkien, the Drûg or Drúedain are a race of Men from Middle-earth.
