9781422281314

dle it any more. He’d been taking ecstasy for the past three years, and he was sure it was making him depressed . He said that each week, a couple of days after taking a pill he felt so down he couldn’t get out of bed. He’d been to see his doctor and they both agreed that he had to stop taking drugs and move on with his life. “Although I never had any bad experiences like Ben’s I decided it was time for me to stop taking drugs. I still go to clubs, and I enjoy it just as much as I ever did. You don’t need to get high on drugs to have an amazing time. And I’m work- ing really hard for my tests. I know that my future doesn’t have to have anything to do with drugs, and I’m just grateful I never got into any real trouble when I used them.” What Are Drugs? A drug is something that changes the way your body works. There are thousands of different kinds of drugs. Many are made from plants or from substances found in plants. Others are made synthetically , using chemicals in a laboratory. Some drugs are used by people to change their mood and the way they feel about things. Some drugs, such as alcohol and nicotine, are legal in many countries. Other drugs—such as ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, or marijuana—are illegal. These mood-altering drugs are often known as recreational drugs . Other drugs are medicinal. They can change the way you feel pain, or help your body to fight illness. Some medicinal drugs, such as certain painkillers or cold remedies, can be bought from a drugstore. Others, such as antibiotics used to fight infections, must be prescribed by a doctor.

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Drug Use and Abuse