Legal vs. Illegal Drugs: Definitions, Abuse Factors & Effects

definition of “drug”

• any substance that changes a person's body or mind,

• two main kinds,

  • legal drugs, these are made sold and used by the rules,

  • illegal drugs, these are made sold or used against the rules,

legal drugs

tobacco & alcohol

• allowed but you have to be old enough,

• in the u.s. you have to be $(21)$ for both,

• other countries have their own ages but they all control how these are sold advertised or used in public,

• just because they're legal doesn't mean they're safe,

• health risks like cancer heart problems liver damage addiction,

medicines / pharmaceuticals

• they help cure treat or stop sicknesses,

• two ways to get them,

  • prescription drugs, only with a doctor's order,

  • over-the-counter drugs, you can buy these without a doctor's note and follow the label,

• the fda in the u.s. checks these drugs,

• all medicines are drugs but not all drugs are medicines,

when medicines become illegal

• selling your own prescription to another person,

• taking someone else’s prescription without having one,

• buying prescription drugs from someone not allowed to sell them,

• using them in any way that breaks fda or other laws,

illegal drugs & regulatory context

• these are grown made or sold without fda approval or against drug laws,

• no one of any age can legally make have buy or sell them,

• if you do, you could get arrested fined go to jail or lose your job licenses,

principal categories mentioned

1. stimulants,

2. depressants,

3. narcotics, opioids,

4. hallucinogens,

5. marijuana,

6. inhalants,

7. steroids,

8. designer drugs, man-made ones that copy the first four,

drug abuse, substance abuse / dependence

• it's using drugs in a way that messes up a healthy life,

• happens to people of all ages genders and places worldwide,

why teens and others abuse drugs

1. peer pressure

• wanting to belong,

• not knowing how to say no, you need to practice saying “no thank you”,

• better to pick friends who don't do drugs and stay away from places where drugs are used,

2. family environment

• more likely if parents brothers sisters or relatives use or keep drugs at home,

• some family members who are addicted might offer drugs to kids,

3. performance enhancement

• believing drugs make you a better athlete or student is a myth,

• sports groups and jobs test for drugs to stop cheating,

4. role models & media

• good role models who don't use drugs make it less likely you will,

• movies tv and social media can make drug use look cool or show wrong ideas,

5. escape from stress

• stress from family school or work makes some people look for drug relief,

• but the relief is short and causes more stress later, like legal health or friend problems,

6. curiosity

• myths like “it’s natural” or “you won’t get hooked from one try” make people want to experiment, especially if they don't learn about drugs in school,

7. thrill seeking

• wanting new risky experiences, drugs mixed with illegal stuff can feel exciting,

• healthy choices are sports adventure creative arts and helping others,

categories of common illegal drugs & their effects

1. stimulants, uppers

• how they work, they speed up your brain and body,

• short effects,

  • more alert and energetic,

  • faster heart rate blood pressure and breathing,

  • less hungry,

• risks later, nervous panic sad kidney and liver damage heart problems death from too much,

• street names, cocaine crack amphetamine methamphetamine,

2. depressants, downers

• how they work, they slow down your brain and body,

• short effects, happy less worried less shy sleepy,

• risks, slow heart or breathing memory loss confusion death from too much,

• examples, barbiturates benzodiazepines ghb rohypnol some sleep pills,

3. narcotics / opioids

• doctors use them for bad pain but watch closely,

• desired effects, happy relaxed less pain sleepy,

• risks, super addictive, need more to feel same confusion slow breathing coma death,

• examples, morphine codeine oxycodone hydrocodone heroin opium,

4. hallucinogens

• how they work, they twist how your brain sees reality time space and yourself,

• effects, seeing or hearing things that aren't there mixed up senses dizzy weak,

• risks, hurting yourself or others losing touch with reality flashbacks death,

• examples, lsd mescaline psilocybin mushrooms pcp dmt,

5. designer / synthetic drugs

• these are made in labs to act like stimulants hallucinogens or opioids,

• names, mdma pcp ketamine and many others,

• dangers, they are very different in strength and what's in them, you don't know how much to take or what poisons are added, too much water loss too hot body organ problems long-term brain damage,

6. marijuana, cannabis

• comes from plant leaves buds and flowers smoked or eaten,

• main chemical is thc, stays in your body for weeks,

• short effects, relaxed a little happy time and distance seem off short-term memory problems more hungry,

• risks later, trouble learning and remembering slower reactions possible panic attacks tired after the high wears off lung problems from smoke,

• street names, pot weed dope grass mary jane bud,

7. inhalants

• these are gasses or sprays that people sniff to get a quick short happy feeling,

• found in homes, paint thinner aerosol sprays propane butane,

• effects, dizzy can't move well sick to stomach throwing up,

• risks, sudden death from heart stopping brain damage from not enough air choking burns organ problems,

• they are very cheap and easy to get so kids and teens often try them first,

8. anabolic-androgenic steroids

• these are man-made forms of testosterone,

• meant for health problems but used illegally for muscle and how athletes look,

• guys side effects, shrinking testicles less sperm trouble with erections chest growth baldness acne extreme anger paranoia,

• girls side effects, deeper voice hair on face messed up periods bloating bigger clitoris,

• risks for everyone, liver damage high blood pressure bad cholesterol early heart disease,

practical take-aways

• legal doesn't mean safe, legal drugs like alcohol tobacco and some medicines still have big health risks,

• using legal medicine wrong makes it illegal, like taking or giving away prescription drugs without a prescription, that's a crime,

• ways to stop drug use,

  • learn how to say no, practice it,

  • choose friends and role models who don't use drugs,

  • stay away from places where drugs are,

  • find healthy ways to deal with stress and seek thrills like sports art or helping others,

• drug abuse hurts everyone, it makes it hard on hospitals laws families and money,

• learning and talking about drugs helps clear up wrong ideas makes people less curious to try and gives tools to help friends say no,

numerical / regulatory references

• in the u.s. you have to be $(21)$ to drink or smoke,

• the fda checks if prescription and over-the-counter medicines are safe and work,

connection to what we learned and will learn

• part one said what drugs are and the difference between legal and illegal,

• part two looked at why and how people abuse drugs,

• part three explained specific illegal drugs and what they do to your body,

• the teacher said we would talk about how to say no ways to get help and what happens legally and in society,

ending thoughts

• every big illegal drug type can make you addicted and risks serious harm or death,

• knowing the facts feeling good about yourself and having friends who don't do drugs are important ways to stay safe,

• if you or someone you know is feeling pressured get help, there are people and places ready to support you,