A drug is any substance that can be used to treat an illness, relieve a symptom or modify a chemical process in the body for a specific purpose. The term is necessarily a vague one, being defined by intent: for example, foods consumed for normal metabolism are not generally considered "drugs", but the same foods consumed for a more specific purpose (such as the use of alcohol as a depressant or caffeine as a stimulant) may be.

Opiates are also used as recreational drugs. They are addictive.

Acetaminophen and other non-opiate painkillers are often used in drug mixes for recreational purposes.

Many enhancing drugs are also used for recreational purposes.

Table of contents
1 Regulations
2 UN Documents
3 See also

Regulations

Usage of most of drugs is regulated to some extent. While details vary with location, these are somewhat usual regulations:

Not regulated:

Regulated to some extent (age or labeling requirements, for example) but available over the counter: Prescription drugs, prohibited for non-medical use: Varies from tolerated to prohibited for medical use: Varies from prohibited for non-medical use to prohibited for any use Prohibited for any use, no medical uses currently allowed

UN Documents

Three international UN treaties regulate drugs laws:

The UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (http://www.undcp.org/) is charged with overseeing these treaties and maintains a list of signatory nations at http://www.undcp.org/treaty_adherence.html.

See also

Drug addiction, medication, narcotic, illegal drug trade, route of administration
In ancient Vedic Hinduism, the Drugs are a class of demons.
In the fiction by J. R. R. Tolkien, the Drûg or Drúedain are a race of Men from Middle-earth.