Drugs are chemical substances that can change how the body and mind work. They can affect the way the brain works, how a person feels and behaves, and their physical state. Drugs can be classified into different categories, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. Some drugs are used to treat medical conditions when prescribed by a doctor, while others have no medical use and are abused for their effects.
When taken, drugs find their way into the bloodstream and move to the brain and other parts of the body. In the brain, drugs may intensify or dull the senses, change how alert or sleepy people feel, and sometimes decrease physical pain. Because of the way these drugs work on the brain, they affect the ability to make healthy choices and decisions.
Illegal drugs can be particularly harmful to children and teenagers whose bodies are still growing. They can damage the brain, heart, and other important organs. Drug use disorders are associated with significant costs to society due to lost productivity, premature mortality, increased health care expenditure, and costs related to criminal justice, social welfare, and other social consequences. Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease that causes a person to take drugs repeatedly, despite the harm they cause.
