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Drugs are any substance, other than food, that is taken to change the way the body or mind functions.
Drug use can be broken-down into two groups: legal and illegal.
Legal drug use includes any drug that is regulated by the Federal Government of Canada. These include (among others) medications, alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine. While all of these drugs are regulated by the Canadian Government, they also have the potential to be abused or used for recreational purposes.
Other drugs are Illegal. These drugs are usually produced (grown or manufactured) for sale on the street. Marijuana, LSD, cocaine and heroin are just a few examples of drugs included in this category. They are produced and used only for recreational purposes.
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People use drugs for many reasons including:
- For medicinal purposes. (For example, to ease pain or fight infection)
- For relaxation. (Especially in social situations, to lower inhibitions or to make people feel more lively and friendly)
- To cope with or to forget problems.
- For religious or ceremonial purposes.
- For pleasurable sensations.
- For a sense of "belonging" to a certain group.
- Out of curiosity about a drug's effect or a desire to experiment.
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Drug laws vary depending on the drug. Generally drugs are regulated under the Canadian Food and Drug Act or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
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| If you need more information about drugs or you need someone to talk to about drugs and their effects, please talk to your doctor, school counsellor or your parents. |
Legal Drugs are drugs that are regulated by the Canadian Food and Drug Act and possibly the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Although they can be abused and there are some exceptions, their primary goal is the treatment or prevention of medical conditions. |
- Illegal drugs can be defined as a chemical or other substance that is ingested in order to produce a mood altering affect.
- Although some drugs have medical uses, the majority of illegal drugs are used only for recreational purposes.
- These drugs are considered to be psychoactive (mind altering) and can be broken down into three major categories: stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens.
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