Of course not. Remember that drugs are also prescribed or taken “over-the-counter” for good reasons and safely when taken as instructed. But it’s important to emphasize that prescription medication can be abused if they are used more or differently than the doctor instructed, or used illegally if they are used by someone who did not receive the prescription. Both of these situations are dangerous for the person taking the drugs.

Some drugs are legal for anyone, like your morning cup of coffee. Caffeine is a drug, because it impacts our body and mind, making us feel more awake or energized. Other drugs are legal for adults, but illegal for kids, such as alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis in some states. This does not mean that it isn’t harmful. It just means that we let adults make this decision once their brains are fully developed. Finally, many drugs are illegal for everyone. Also called “illicit”, these are always off limit and dangerous even in small quantities.

Drugs can get in the body in many ways. They can be taken as a pill, eaten or consumed in beverage form, injected through a needle into the body, snorted up the nose, inhaled, smoked through a cigarette or a vape pen, and more. The way a drug is taken is important because it can impact how fast and how strong it affects the body, and it can also create additional health risks, like the risk of getting HIV or Hepatitis C through a needle.

Often a person starts off using drugs as an experiment, just to try something that people seem to enjoy. Drugs can make a person feel good at first. They might feel more relaxed, happier, or more easily able to connect socially. Over time, someone who doesn’t have other ways to feel good, may find that they need drugs. The trouble is that all this time, the drugs are actually hurting their body and their brain, and soon it takes more and more of a substance to just feel normal. We call this addiction, and addiction can mean that the most important thing in a person’s life becomes the drug. They may lose their relationships, their schooling or their job, their health and even their life.