Drug

By: Alternix

Definition and Classification of Drugs

A drug is any chemical substance that causes a change in an organism's physiology.
Drugs are distinguished from food and other substances that provide nutritional support.
Drugs can be consumed through inhalation, injection, smoking, ingestion, absorption, or dissolution.
In pharmacology, drugs are known for their known structure and ability to produce a biological effect.
Pharmaceutical drugs are used to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose diseases and promote well-being.
Pharmaceutical drugs can be used for a limited duration or on a regular basis for chronic disorders.
Drugs are classified into drug classes based on their chemical structures, mechanism of action, and mode of action.
The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC) assigns drugs a unique code for specific drug classes.
The Biopharmaceutics Classification System categorizes drugs based on solubility and absorption properties.
Drug classification systems help in organizing and understanding the properties and uses of different drugs.

Psychoactive drugs affect the central nervous system, altering perception, mood, or consciousness.
Psychoactive drugs are divided into groups such as stimulants, depressants, antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and hallucinogens.
These drugs have been proven useful in treating various medical conditions, including mental disorders.
The most widely used psychoactive drugs include caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
Some psychoactive drugs are used for recreational purposes, providing pleasure rather than medicinal benefits.

The English noun 'drug' is believed to originate from Old French and Middle Dutch.
The term possibly refers to medicinal plants preserved as dry matter in barrels.
The word may have originated from an early romanized form of the Al-Andalus language.
The possible transcription of the term is 'حطروكة' or 'hatruka.'
The etymology of the word 'drug' has multiple possible origins.

Some religions, particularly ethnic religions, incorporate the use of entheogens, which are mostly hallucinogens.
Entheogens, such as kava, ayahuasca, and Salvia divinorum, are used to achieve religious ecstasy.
Shamans from various cultures use entheogens for spiritual healing and visionary states of consciousness.
Peyote, cannabis, and psychedelic mushrooms have also been used for their entheogenic properties.
Rastafari use marijuana (ganja) as a sacrament in their religious ceremonies.

Drugs can be administered through various routes, such as intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injection.
Inhalation, either through smoking or vaping, is another route of administration.
Drugs can also be taken orally, rectally, or sublingually.
Topical administration, through creams or ointments, can act locally or systemically.
Vaginal administration is primarily used for treating vaginal infections.
Governments have offices responsible for the control and supervision of drug manufacture and use.
International treaties, like the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, prohibit the use of narcotics.
The Convention on Psychotropic Substances addresses newer recreational drugs.
Different countries have varying legal status for specific drugs like Salvia divinorum.
Regulatory agencies like the FDA in the US and the NCB in India play a role in drug control.

Reference	URL
Glossary	https://www.alternix.com/blogs/glossary-of-terms/drug
Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8386
Knowledge Graph	https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/02kjb_