Medical Questions » Illegal Drugs Questions » Question No. 530
| Question: | What is the difference between the drugs people are arrested for and those prescribed by a doctor? |
| Answer: | The word ' drugs' makes most people think of the illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin. But drugs are also the legal medications that are prescribed by your doctor or purchased over the counter from chemists. Everything from aspirin to antibiotics, and fluid tablets to vitamin C (ascorbic acid) are drugs. Any substance that has an effect on the function of the body is a drug.
It is always important to take drugs in the correct way in order to maximise their effect. Some interact with food to reduce their effectiveness; alcohol may exacerbate the side effects of others; different drugs may interact to give more potent or less effective results. Even over-the-counter preparations may interact with each other and with prescribed drugs. Check with your pharmacist or doctor.
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