Medicine vs. Drugs
To be considered medicine a drug has to be effective in the treatment or prevention of a disease. The medicine has to actually do what it is advertised to do. Aspirin, for example lowers fever and relieves pain. It also has to be safe when used as directed. Because no medicine is completely safe for everyone, the side effects must be listed on the packaging. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors and regulates drug safety in the United States. There are many types of medicines and they are grouped by what they are intended to do. For example:
- Analgesics relieve pain
- Antacids neutralize stomach acid
- Antibiotics kill bacteria
- Vaccines prevent infections
Drugs that are abused actually changes the way the brain works in unhealthy ways. Some of these drugs include cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana. Prolonged use or abuse can lead to permanent behavior changes or long-term health problems.
How Drugs Enter the Body
Drugs can enter the body in different ways.
- Implanted (directly to part of body)
- Inhalation (through blood vessels in the lungs)
- Injection
- Transdermal patches (skin)
- Topical application (skin absorption)
- Ingestion (orally)
