Do you know about drug?
HISTORY
Drugs were originally derived from plant sources and used for medicinal purposes. The Chinese scholar-emperor Shen Nung compiled the first book on herbs and their healing properties around 2735 B.C. Sheng Nung was the first, for example, to note the stimulating effect of the herb Ma Huang, now known as ephedra. It wasn't until 1887, however, that the actual active compound, ephedrine, was isolated by a Japanese chemist.
Drugs were originally derived from plant sources and used for medicinal purposes. The Chinese scholar-emperor Shen Nung compiled the first book on herbs and their healing properties around 2735 B.C. Sheng Nung was the first, for example, to note the stimulating effect of the herb Ma Huang, now known as ephedra. It wasn't until 1887, however, that the actual active compound, ephedrine, was isolated by a Japanese chemist.
FUNCTION
Drugs have served many functions throughout history, from recreational and medicinal to religious and spiritual uses. A common function of drugs is to heal the physical body. Simple drugs such as aspirin can thin the blood and alleviate headaches, and complex drugs such as Viagra can help erectile dysfunction.Drugs for psychological disorders are a more recent development in modern medicine, with various chemicals used to control such conditions as depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
SIGNIFICANTS
The United States government has tried to restrict recreational drug use since the 1930s, when an anti-marijuana media campaign marked the beginning of the infamous "War on Drugs" that continues to this day, often expending enormous amounts of money on what some believe are fruitless efforts at controlling illegal drugs.Medicinal uses for drugs, however, have gotten a lot of support from government and industry, leading to a substantial growth in the development of new drugs. Today, the pharmaceutical lobby in Washington, D.C., is one of the most powerful and influential lobbies in government and often successfully initiates and supports legislation that is favorable to the pharmaceutical industry, such as extension of drug patents.
The United States government has tried to restrict recreational drug use since the 1930s, when an anti-marijuana media campaign marked the beginning of the infamous "War on Drugs" that continues to this day, often expending enormous amounts of money on what some believe are fruitless efforts at controlling illegal drugs.Medicinal uses for drugs, however, have gotten a lot of support from government and industry, leading to a substantial growth in the development of new drugs. Today, the pharmaceutical lobby in Washington, D.C., is one of the most powerful and influential lobbies in government and often successfully initiates and supports legislation that is favorable to the pharmaceutical industry, such as extension of drug patents.
THEORIES/SPECULATION
There has been a lot of speculation about what to do with the recreational usage of drugs. The United States has a schedule of illegal drugs that includes a long list of prohibited substances (see Resources below). There are substantial penalties for those who break drug laws. Some countries, such as the Netherlands, have effectively stopped enforcing drug laws, and there is some evidence that this approach de-glamorizes drugs, leading to a substantial reduction of recreational usage.In addition to legal issues, science continues to develop better and more powerful drugs to treat a variety of diseases. There are some promising signs that in the next few decades, new drugs will increase human life span, eradicate cancer and AIDS, eliminate psychological disorders and maybe even reduce our need for sleep.
WARNING
Drugs are by nature poisonous, and there is no such thing as a safe drug. In fact, in many cases it is the toxic nature of drugs that give them their healing properties (many drugs, for example, are derived from animal venom). The best defense against poisoning or overdosing on drugs is to know as much as you can about the substance--a variation of the "Just Say No" drug war campaign of the 1980s: "Just Say Know." It is a little known fact that more people in the United States die every year from legally prescribed as well as freely available over-the-counter drugs than from all illegal drugs combined. Even seemingly safe drugs such as aspirin can lead to serious health complications and even death if not used properly.
Drugs are by nature poisonous, and there is no such thing as a safe drug. In fact, in many cases it is the toxic nature of drugs that give them their healing properties (many drugs, for example, are derived from animal venom). The best defense against poisoning or overdosing on drugs is to know as much as you can about the substance--a variation of the "Just Say No" drug war campaign of the 1980s: "Just Say Know." It is a little known fact that more people in the United States die every year from legally prescribed as well as freely available over-the-counter drugs than from all illegal drugs combined. Even seemingly safe drugs such as aspirin can lead to serious health complications and even death if not used properly.
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