Definition of Legal and Illegal Substances and the Differences between Them

Definition of Legal and Illegal Substances and the Differences between Them

Drugs are chemicals known to alter the functioning of a body. People take them when they are sick and when the doctor prescribes these drugs. Medications are legal if taken in the right dose and prescribed by doctors. However, drug abuse is considered illegal. People commit an illegal act when they sell or buy, possess and use drugs that are prohibited in a country. Tobacco and alcohol are two legal drugs in most countries, although a person under the age of 18 who buys tobacco and a person under the age of 21 who buys alcohol are considered illegal in the United States. www.verywellmind.com/health-effects-of-illegal-drugs-67033 Some legal drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine and cannabis, are readily available, as shown in the images above. Some drugs may be illegal, but not prohibited. Other substances could be legal, but are considered just as addictive as some banned substances because they are controlled and regulated.

And some drugs might be legal, but are considered illegal if taken in a higher dose than prescribed. Controlled substances, on the other hand, may have addictive potential. These types of medications can be obtained over-the-counter, over-the-counter, or illegally. It depends on the substance. • Legal drugs have side effects that we know, while illegal drugs are unknown amounts that are subjective effects. Whenever we think or hear the term illegal drugs, images of marijuana, charas, LSD, and other psychotic and hallucinogenic people come to mind. Cocaine, heroin, cannabis, etc. are some of the popularly known illegal drugs.

However, legal drug abuse is also considered illegal in many jurisdictions. Illicit or controlled drugs are punished for their use and even possession. There are classes of these drugs with different penalties for different classes of drugs. Therefore, all drugs banned or prohibited by law in a country can be considered illegal. A person found in possession of or trafficking in these drugs will be tried with a possible prison sentence. Illicit drugs are drugs whose possession or use is restricted by a government and which are illegal in certain situations (meaning that a person is not allowed to have them). Not everyone who tries a drug once will develop an addiction, although they play with fire when they use one of these harmful illegal drugs. An individual`s genetic makeup, social environment, family structure, and even personal income play a role in their chances of developing drug addiction. These differences between drugs can be confusing, but the U.S. government has made efforts to classify drugs to clarify the differences between their specific risks and benefits. Stimulants (also known as psychostimulants) are drugs that stimulate the central nervous system and speed up messages between the brain and body. These drugs usually increase energy, heart rate, and appetite.

Some examples of psychostimulants are: methamphetamine (speed, ice, base), cocaine, dexamfetamine, caffeine, nicotine, MDMA/ecstasy. Heroin users rush immediately, and after a while can no longer experience good feelings without using them. Addicts have intense cravings as they go through withdrawal. Heroin is a semi-synthetic substance extracted from the opium plant, making it a member of the opioid class. Heroin is usually taken by needle injection, although pure forms of the drug can be smoked or snorted. Many heroin users first got prescribed a legal opioid painkiller, and then desired a similar, probably stronger, effect once the prescription expired. Opioids such as heroin are responsible for nearly 20% of all admissions for drug and alcohol treatment worldwide. So if controlled substances can be illegal and cause effects similar to those of banned drugs, what is the real difference? Believe it or not, it can be a bit difficult to distinguish some prohibited drugs from controlled substances. Here`s why. During drug use, people are also less able to do well in school, sports and other activities.

It is often more difficult to think clearly and make good decisions. People can do dangerous things that could hurt them – or other people – if they take drugs. Read our fact sheets to find answers to some frequently asked questions about illicit drugs: The main difference between regulated and prohibited drugs is that one type is regulated by the government and the other is not. They can also be classified differently in terms of addictive potential. Illegal drugs are not good for anyone, but they are especially bad for a child or teenager whose body is still growing. Illegal drugs can damage the brain, heart and other important organs. Cocaine, for example, can cause a heart attack, even in a child or teenager. • Legal drugs such as tobacco and alcohol cause more harm than all illegal drugs. Since its inception in 1970, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) has been used by law enforcement to reduce drug abuse and U.S. addiction by regulating the production, sale, purchase, and use of many drugs. This law gives the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) the power to monitor and control the use of legal and illegal substances.

Whether a substance is classified as legal or illegal often depends on how the substance in question is used. For example, while some opioids may be legally prescribed to people (e.g., codeine, morphine), these drugs can also be used illegally. This occurs when a prescribed substance is used by a person other than the person to whom it was prescribed, when legal prescription drugs are diverted to the illegal market (CCSA, 2020), or when opioids are manufactured specifically for the illegal market. Most illegal drugs are also controlled substances in the United States, but not all controlled substances are considered illegal. Even legal drugs have the potential for abuse and addiction, so it is necessary for a person to understand that all drugs, legal and illegal, can be dangerous if abused. If a person has doubts about whether a medication is safe or not, they should consult their doctor before taking the medication. In both cases, a person can end up in hot water if they are in possession of these substances. Illegal substances are completely banned, but controlled substances can become illegal if abused. It is important to keep these two things in mind to avoid problems with the law. The problem with relying on notions of “legal or illegal” is that such distinctions tend to be associated with assumptions about the harm done to the individual and society, with illegal psychoactive drugs being considered more harmful than legal drugs.

Share this post