21. A Few Terms Explained

• DRUG: A substance which alters the way in which the body functions.
  
• DEPENDENCE: This word has replaced the word addiction. Dependence can be:
  • physical: a person tolerant to a drug would experience withdrawal symptoms if usage is reduced or ended.
  • psychological: a person is unable to function emotionally without the use of a drug.
    
• EFFECTS: Effects of a particular drug on the individual will be influenced by a variety of factors, such as how much has been taken before, tolerance levels, the amount taken, the mood, expectations of what might happen, and the reactions of others. Therefore, it may be misleading to say that "drug A will always cause B".>
  


• INTOXICATION: The body has more of a drug than it can cope with.
  
• OVERDOSE: Taking a quantity of a drug to which the body has not built up a tolerance leading to severe illness or death.
  
• TOLERANCE: Describes the way the body adapts to repeated doses of a drug, so increasingly large amounts are needed to maintain the same effects.
  
• DEPRESSANT: A drug which slows down the action of the brain and body systems.
  
• STIMULANT: Drug which speeds up or stimulates the brain or body systems. It makes the user feel confident, powerful, important or assertive.
  
• AMPHETAMINE: Stimulants, usually an off white/yellow bitter tasting crystalline powder. They are illegal and are not normally available on prescription in Ireland.
  
• GRAM: Common measurement for weighing drugs.

Drugs are illiegal because they are dangerous - They are not dangerous because they are illegal.