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DRUG VOCABULARY WORKSHEET
FDA Definitions
Drug Use – The taking of a drug, as medicine, correctly, for its
proper medical purpose and in the right amount,
frequency and strength and manner.
Drug Misuse – (of medical drugs only) the taking of a drug for
its correct medical purpose, but not in the correct
amount, frequency, strength or manner.
Drug Abuse – Taking a drug for a non medical purpose, and in a
manner that can damage a person’s health or
ability to function. Both legal and illegal drugs
can be abused.
Recreational Drug Use – Term for using a mind altering drug
and claiming that it produces no
harmful social or health effects.
Euphoria – A sense of great well being and pleasure. “High”
Dysphoria – Unpleasant feelings that occur when endorphins are
lacking.
Drug Addiction – Dependence. A need for a particular drug. If
the drug is taken away withdrawal symptoms
will occur.
Physical Addiction – A change in the body’s chemistry so that
without the drug normal functioning
begins to fail.
Psychological Addiction – Craving for something, mental
dependence on a drug.
Withdrawal – The physical symptoms that occur when a drug to
which a person is addicted is deprived.
Endorphins – Chemicals in the brain that produce feelings of
pleasure in response to a variety of activities.
Gateway drug – Drug where frequent use often leads to the use
of stronger drugs.
Tolerance – need for more of a particular drug to get the same
initial “high”
Narcotics Anonymous – A free self help program of addiction
recovery.
Enabler – A person whose behavior and decision making
promotes unhealthy behavior in another individual.
Synergism – Two drugs combine to produce effects much
greater than if each was used alone.