9781422281314

Recreational drugs are sometimes described as “hard” or “soft.” Hard drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, are considered to be more dangerous and addictive. Cannabis (also called pot, marijuana, and hash) is sometimes described as a soft drug, because it is less addictive than cocaine or heroin. But the terms “hard” and “soft” are not accurate scientific descrip- tions. The long-term dangers of a drug such as cannabis are dif- ficult to measure. Recreational drugs come in a range of forms. Cannabis is usually smoked, as is nicotine. Heroin can be smoked, inhaled , or injected into the bloodstream using a syringe . Cocaine

The flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant can be dried and processed into marijuana, a drug that is smoked or eaten to produce a mild high. Hashish is a similar, but more potent, drug produced from Cannabis.

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Drug Use and Abuse