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 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
  • GHB
  • Heroin
  • Cocaine
  • Inhalants
  • dissociative drugs

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

Many enhancing drugs are also used for recreational purposes.

Table of contents

1 Regulations 2 UN Documents 3 See also

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:

• DXM/dextromethorphan
• 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
• GHB
• Amphetamines
• Anabolic steroids
• Inhalants
• Methadone
• Morphine

Varies from tolerated to prohibited 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

• 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, medication, narcotic, illegal drug trade, route of administration

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