Drug abuse

Drug abuse has a wide range of definitions, all of them relating to the use, misuse or overuse of a drug for a nontherapeutic effect. Some of the most commonly abused drugs include alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, methaqualone, opium alkaloids, and minor tranquilizers. Use of these drugs may lead to criminal penalty in addition to physical, social, and pyschologic harm.{{an|mosby}} Other definitions of drug abuse fall into four main categories:

Abuse potential

Some of the most commonly abused drugs are alcohol, anabolic steroids, amphetamines,analgesics, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine, laxatives, methaqualone, opiates, and tobacco. Depending on the actual compound, drug abuse may lead to health problems, social problems, physical dependence, or psychological addiction.

Related Topics:
Alcohol - Anabolic steroids - Amphetamines - Analgesic - Barbiturates - Benzodiazepines - Cannabis - Cocaine - Laxative - Methaqualone - Opiates - Tobacco

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some drugs that are subject to abuse have central nervous system (CNS) effects, which produce changes in mood, levels of awareness or perceptions and sensations. Most of these drugs also alter systems other than the CNS. But, not all centrally acting drugs are subject to abuse, which suggests that altering consciousness is not sufficient for a drug to have abuse potential. Among drugs that are abused, some appear to be more likely to lead to uncontrolled use than others, suggesting a possible hierarchy of drug-induced effects relative to abuse potential.{{an|jaffe}}

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~