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Drugs

Types of Drugs and Drug Abuse

Types of Drugs and Drug Abuse
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 4 to 6
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   7.97

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    abusers, addictive, alcoholism, cocaine, dependency, dependent, fatal, hazardous, herbal, heroin, marijuana, nicotine, nonmedical, nonsmokers, opium, problematic
     content words:    Drug Administration

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Types of Drugs and Drug Abuse   
1     There are many types of drugs. There are legal drugs that are used as medicines, such as prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs. There are illegal drugs that you are not supposed to use, buy, or sell.
 
2     Prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs are meant to heal. They must be used correctly. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decides that these drugs are safe.
 
3     Herbal medicines are considered drugs. They are not regulated by the FDA. If the creators of an herbal supplement make a health claim about it, the label must say that the FDA has not evaluated its safety. However, because some plants contain chemicals, they should be used carefully.
 
4     The nicotine found in tobacco is considered a drug. It is addictive, making the smoker crave a cigarette. Smoking, though, is hazardous and can cause numerous health problems to both smokers and nonsmokers.
 
5     Alcohol is also considered a drug. Even though it is heavily promoted for relaxation, excessive use can cause health problems. It is a factor in more than half of all accidental deaths. People who become physically and psychologically dependent on it suffer from a disease called alcoholism. It is illegal to drink alcohol if you are under 21 years of age.

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