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
- Salvia divinorum (prohibited in Australia, tolerated elsewhere)
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
