Drug Misuse and AbuseLesson 1

Drug Use

There is a difference between drugs and medicines.

Drugs- a substance other than food that changes the structure or function of the body.

Medicines are drugs used to prevent or treat illnesses and disease.

Types of Medicines

2 Types Prescription Medicines-

medicines that can be sold only with a written order from a physician.

Doctor gives specific directions- how much to take, how often, and how long.

Over the Counter Medicines- medicines that are safe enough to be taken without a written order from a physician.

Drug Misuse

Both prescription medicines and OTC’s can be misused.

Drug misuse- taking or using a medicine in a way that is not intended.

Side Effect- any effect of a medicine other than the one intended. Upset stomach, drowsiness, sleeplessness, and

headache.

Tolerance- condition in which a person’s body becomes used to the effect of a medicine and needs greater and greater amounts of it in order for it to be effective.

Drug Misuse

Using a drug without following the instructions on the label

Using a drug not prescribed for you

Allowing someone else to use a drug prescribed for you

Taking more of the drug than the doctor prescribed

Using the drug longer than advised by the doctor

What is drug misuse?

Drug Abuse When you hear the term drug

abuse, what do you think of?

Drug Abuse- intentionally using drugs in a way that is unhealthy or illegal.

Illegal drug use is always abuse.

Using legal drugs for nonmedical purposes is also drug abuse.

Addiction

Drug use can lead to tolerance.

Tolerance can lead to addiction.

Once addicted, the user can no longer function without the drug.

Drug addiction, like alcoholism, is a disease.