drug abuse (redirected from Drugs of abuse)

abuse (ah-būs´) misuse, maltreatment, or excessive use.

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child abuse  see battered-child syndrome.

drug abuse  substance a.

physical abuse  any act resulting in a nonaccidental physical injury.

psychoactive substance abuse  substance a.

sexual abuse  assault or other crime of a sexual nature, which need not be physical. Acts of a sexual nature are considered abuse if performed with minors or nonconsenting adults.

substance abuse  use of a substance that modifies mood or behavior in a manner characterized by a maladaptive pattern of use. See also substance dependence, under dependence.

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drug abuse

n.

Habitual use of drugs to alter one's mood, emotion, or state of consciousness.

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drug abuse,

the use of a drug for a nontherapeutic effect. Some of the most commonly abused drugs are alcohol; nicotine; marijuana; amphetamines; barbiturates; cocaine; methaqualone; opium alkaloids; synthetic opioids; benzodiazepines, including flunitrazepam (Rohypnol); gamma-hydroxybutyrate; 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy); phencyclidine; ketamine; and anabolic steroids. Drug abuse may lead to organ damage, addiction, and disturbed patterns of behavior. Some illicit drugs, such as heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide, and phencyclidine hydrochloride, have no recognized therapeutic effect in humans. Use of these drugs often incurs criminal penalty in addition to the potential for physical, social, and psychologic harm. See also drug addiction.

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abuse,

n the improper use of program benefits, resources, and/or services by either dental professionals, institutions, or patients.

abuse, child,

n See child abuse.

abuse, drug,

n the misuse of legal or illegal substances with the intent to alter the user's feelings, behavior, or perception.

abuse, elder,

n the behavior or treatment toward an elderly person, by another person in a position of care, that has the purpose or effect of harming the elderly person's well-being. Such harm may include economic, physical, sexual, or mental abuse.

abuse, nitrous oxide,

n the deliberate inhalation of nitrous oxide to produce mood-altering effects. A type of substance abuse.

abuse, polysubstance,

n the physical dependence on at least three substances that have been classified as habit forming, but without any one of the substances having greater importance or influence than the others. The concept does not include caffeine or nicotine.

abuse, sexual,

n sexual acts performed with children or with nonconsenting adults in a criminal manner.

abuse, substance,

n the misuse of legal or illegal substances with the intent to alter some aspect of the user's experience. May include medications, illicit drugs, legal substances with potential mood-altering effects (such as alcohol or tobacco), or substances whose primary use may not be for human consumption (such as inhalants).

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drug(s),

n a substance used in the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease or pain or as an aid in some diagnostic procedures.

drug absorption,

n See absorption, drug.

drug abuse,

n an excessive or improper use of drugs, especially through self-administration for nonmedical purposes. This term has increased significance because of the enactment of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, which replaces the Harrison Narcotic Act. See also substance abuse.

drug combinations,

n.pl the use of drugs together to enhance the properties of both to the benefit of the patient.

drug dependence,

n a physical or psychologic state in which a person displays withdrawal symptoms if drug use is halted suddenly; can lead to addiction.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),

n.pr the federal agency charged with monitoring use and abuse of narcotics. It provides the drug schedules used to determine the addiction potential of dental drugs.

drug hypersensitivity,

n an allergic reaction that occurs after exposure to a suspect medication. It may manifest with a fever or rash and in severe cases, organ damage or death. It is classified as (1) immediate or occurring rapidly after exposure, or (2) delayed or occurring several days after exposure.

drug idiosyncrasy

n an adverse drug reaction that occurs in a small number of persons and presents no correlation to dosage or means of therapy.

drug interaction,

n a modification of the effect of a drug when administered with another drug. The effect may be an increase or a decrease in the action of either substance, or it may be an adverse effect that is not normally associated with either drug.

drug resistance,

n the capacity of a microorganism to build a tolerance to a drug.

drug stability,

n the length of time a drug retains its properties without loss of potency; usually referred to as shelf life.

drug therapy,

n the use of a drug in the treatment of a patient with a specific disease or illness.

drug tolerance,

n the body's ability to increasingly withstand the effects of the substance being used, thereby requiring larger quantities of said substance in order to bring about the desired result.

drug toxicity,

n the critical or lethal reaction to an erroneous dosage of a medication. Drug toxicity may occur due to human error or intentional overdose in the case of suicide or homicide.

drugs, antibiotic,

n.pl the chemical compounds obtained from certain living cells of lower plant forms, such as bacteria, yeasts, and molds, and from synthesis. They are antagonistic to certain pathogenic organisms and have a lethal effect on them.

drugs, antimicrobial,

n.pl the drugs, mainly penicillin and its derivatives, used to combat viral, fungal, and parasitic infections.

drugs, antiseptic,

n.pl the chemical compounds used to reduce the number of microorganisms in the oral cavity.

drugs, autonomic,

n.pl the drugs that mimic or block the effects of stimulation of the autonomic nervous system.

drugs, desensitizing,

n.pl the agents used to diminish or eliminate sensitivity of teeth, especially the dentin, to physical, chemical, thermal, or other irritants (e.g., strontium chloride, silver ammoniacal] or potassium nitrate, sodium fluoride, formalin, zinc chloride). See hypersensitivity, dentin.

drugs, endodontic,

n.pl the drugs used in treating the dental pulp and dental periapical tissues.

drugs, nonofficial,

n.pl the drugs that are not listed in the United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) or the National Formulary (N.F.).

drugs, official,

n.pl the drugs listed in the U.S.P. or N.F.

drugs, officinal

n.pl drugs that may be purchased without a prescription. More commonly called
over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.

drugs, over-the-counter (OTC),

n.pl the drugs that may be purchased without a prescription. Sometimes called nonlegend drugs because the label does not bear the prescription legend required on all drugs that may be dispensed only on prescription.

drugs, parasympathetic

n.pl the belladonna alkaloids that inhibit glandular secretions of the nose, oral cavity, pharynx, and bronchi. This is the main reason for using atropine and scopolamine for preanesthetic or preprocedural medication.

drugs, parasympatholytic

(per´sim´pthōlit´ik),
n.pl the drugs that block nerve impulses passing from parasympathetic nerve fibers to postganglionic neuroeffectors.

drugs, parasympathomimetic

(per´sim´pthōmimet´ik),
n.pl the drugs that have an effect similar to that produced when the parasympathetic nerves are stimulated.

drugs, proprietary

(prprī´iter´ē),
n.pl the drugs that are patented or controlled by a private organization or manufacturer.

drugs, psychoactive

n.pl the drugs or other agents that have the capacity to become habit forming because of their influence on mood, behavior, or conscious thought; may be therapeutic or recreational.

drugs, sympathetic,

n.pl the agents that imitate the sympathetic autonomic nervous system actions. They usually cause raised levels of alertness and anxiety. Various types are used in dentistry as vasoconstricters in conjunction with local anesthetics. See also adrenergic agents.

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drug abuse

See Substance abuse.

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Patient discussion about Drugs of abuse.

Q. Is coffee so harmful? I am Saloni, 17 and a keen coffee-lover. Now-a-days, I drink lot of coffee which my brother has noticed and advised me to minimize the quantity. He also blames coffee for heart diseases and addiction status of the person. Is coffee so harmful?

A. Coffee is a great morning stimulant. Tea can do the same thing. There are lots of grades of coffee. The normal stuff you can get in a regular restaurant is usually not the best grade. I drink my coffee black. Sugar is not so good for you, but it can give you more energy and keep you going in difficult circumstances. If you shop around for better blends, grind your own beans, and keep your ground coffee fresh, its much better. There is actually a Starbucks blend that is quite excellent. You can easily tell the difference. The really good blends aren't the ones on sale. I find that if you keep your pot of coffee in a caraffe or a thermos where it won't evaporate, it will stay good a long time. Letting a pot of coffee sit on the warmer where it can evaporate all day, will ruin it after a while. My doctor told me that all I needed for morning stimulation was coffee. It keeps me alert when I study and read most days. Enjoy!!!

Q. Can ADHD and ADD medication harm you? My son is diagnosed as an ADHD and the Dr. recommended taking Ritalin

A. The whole issue is highly controversial. They were a lot of papers done on this question alone, some said Ritalin can give you cancer other works proofed it wrong (a much more extensive experiment I might say). The FDA gave a black box warning (medication that can cause death) only on Atomoxetine , which is not as effective like others anyway.

Q. Whats the harm in drinking coffee? I drink coffee all day long and love it! My friends say I'm addicted and should cut back. But what is the harm in drinking coffee?

A. What caffeine actually does is set off a stress response. It stimulates your adrenal glands to make epinephrine and norepinephrine—the same stress hormones that are produced in response to any stressor. This sets the stress response in motion, causing tense muscles, elevated blood sugar, and increased pulse and respiration. You may feel mentally sharper because your brain is high on adrenaline. If stress hormones remain elevated, the body is thrown into a state of chronic stress. By sipping on coffee all day long, you are forcing your adrenal glands to continue to pump out stress hormones.