Drogas

Drugs

Drugs are any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. In pharmacology[->0], a drug is "a chemical[->1] substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical or mental well-being." Drugs may be prescribed for a limited duration, or on a regular basis for chronicdisorders[->2]. Recreational drugs[->3] are chemical substances that affect the central nervous system[->4]. Some drugs can cause addiction[->5] and habituation. Many natural substances such as beers[->6], wines[->7], and some mushrooms[->8], blur the line between food and drugs, as when ingested they affect the functioning of both mind[->9] and body[->10].

A medication or medicine is a drug taken tocure or ameliorate any symptoms of an illness[->11] or medical condition, or may be used as preventive medicine[->12] that has future benefits but does not treat any existing or pre-existing diseases or symptoms. Dispensing of medication is often regulated by governments[->13] into three categories: over-the-counter[->14] medications, which are available in pharmacies[->15] and supermarkets withoutspecial restrictions; behind-the-counter , which are dispensed by a pharmacist[->16] without needing a doctor's prescription; and prescription only medicines[->17], which must be prescribed by a licensed medical professional[->18], usually a physician[->19]. Medications are typically produced by pharmaceutical companies and are often patented[->20] to give the developer exclusive rights to producethem, but they can also be derived from naturally occurring substance in plants called herbal medicine[->21]. Those that are not patented are called generic drugs[->22] since they can be produced by other companies without restrictions or licenses from the patent holder.

Recreational drugs use is the use of psychoactive substances to have fun, for the experience, or to enhance an alreadypositive experience. National laws prohibit the use of many different recreational drugs and medicinal drugs that have the potential for recreational use are heavily regulated. Many other recreational drugs on the other hand are legal, widely culturally accepted, and at the most have an age restriction on using and purchasing them. These include alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine products. Drugs that areconsidered to have spiritual or religious use are called entheogens. Some religions are based completely on the use of certain drugs. Entheogens are mostly hallucinogens[->23], being either psychedelics[->24] or deliriants[->25], but some are also stimulants[->26] and sedatives[->27].


Drugs, both medicinal and recreational, can be administered in a number of ways: bolus[->28],inhaled[->29], injected[->30], insufflation[->31], orally[->32], rectally[->33] as a suppository[->34], sublingually[->35], topically[->36], and vaginally[->37] as a suppository[->38], primarily to treat vaginal infections. Many drugs can be administered in a variety of ways. Drug addiction is a state of periodic or chronic intoxication produced by the repeated consumption of a drug. Its characteristicsinclude an overpowering desire or need to continue taking the drug and to obtain it by any means; a tendency to increase the dose; a psychological and generally a physical dependence on the effects of the drug; and detrimental effects on the individual and on society.

The illegal drug trade is a global black market[->39], competing with legal drug trade[->40], dedicated to cultivation,manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition[->41] laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit[->42] trade, except under license[->43], of many types of drugs[->44] by drug prohibition laws[->45]. The illegal drugs trade has arisen as a result of drug prohibition laws. The countries of drug production have been seen as the worst affected by global drug trade. Drugs...