Drug of abuse

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.

• Medicinal drugs (for example, to treat injury or disease). Please see Pharmacology.

• Recreational drug use - Drugs used in a non-medical manner.

• Analgesic (painkiller) drugs
  • aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid
  • Acetaminophen (also known as Paracetamol or under its trade name Tylenol)
  • Opiates
    • Morphine
    • Heroin
    • Codeine

Opiates are also used as recreational drugs. They are very addictive.

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).
  • Alcohol
  • Nicotine
  • Caffeine
  • Hallucinogens
  • Cannabis
  • MDMA
  • Heroin
  • Cocaine
  • Inhalants

• Performance-enhancing drugs (for sport or combat).
  • Amphetamine
  • Ephedrine
  • Cocaine
  • Taurine
  • Anabolic steroids

Many enhancing drugs are also used for recreational purposes.

Regulations

Usage of most of drugs is regulated to some extent. While details vary with location, these are somewhat usual regulations:

Not regulated:

• Caffeine

Regulated to some extent (age or labeling requirements, for example) but available over the counter:

• Acetylsalicylic acid (such as Aspirin®)
• Acetaminophen (also known as Paracetamol) (such as Tylenol®)
• Alcohol (although in some nations with an Islamic background, alcohol is prohibited)
• Nicotine
• Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
• Taurine

Prescription drugs, prohibited for non-medical use:

• Cocaine
• Codeine
• Amphetamines
• Anabolic steroids
• Inhalants
• Methadone
• Morphine

Varies from tolerated to prohibited even for medical use:

• Cannabis

Varies from prohibited for non-medical use to prohibited for any use

• Heroin

Prohibited for any use, no medical uses currently allowed most of the time

• MDMA
• LSD

UN Documents

Three international UN treaties regulate drug laws:

• UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs from 1961, see http://www.incb.org/e/conv/1961/index.htm
• UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances from 1971, see http://www.incb.org/e/conv/1971/index.htm
• UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances from 1988, see http://www.incb.org/e/conv/1988/index.htm

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

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In ancient Vedic Hinduism, the Drugs are a class of demons.