Drugs Facts for Kids

Drugs are substances that can change how your body works. They can affect your brain, your feelings, or how your body functions.

There are different kinds of drugs, and they are used for different reasons. Some are helpful, like medicines, while others can be harmful if not used correctly or if they are not meant for medical purposes.

What Are Drugs?
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What Are Drugs?

Drugs are chemicals or natural substances that cause a change in your body or mind. This change can be big or small, and it can be helpful or harmful. Think of it like a key that unlocks different effects in your body.

Medicines: Helping Your Body

Many drugs are used as medicines. Doctors prescribe these special chemicals or natural ingredients to help people when they are sick or to prevent them from getting sick.

Medicines can help you feel better when you have a cold or a headache.
They can fight off infections, like antibiotics do for bacterial illnesses.
Some medicines help manage long-term conditions, like asthma or diabetes, so people can live healthy lives.
It's very important to only take medicines that a doctor or a trusted adult gives you, and to follow their instructions carefully.

Other Substances: How They Affect You

Besides medicines, there are other substances that can also be called drugs because they change how your body or mind works. These substances are not used to treat illnesses and can be dangerous.

Some of these substances can make people feel strange or different, but these feelings are often not safe or healthy.
They can confuse your brain, make you feel dizzy, or even make you very sick.
Using these substances without a doctor's guidance can lead to serious problems for your health and well-being.
It's always best to stay away from substances that are not prescribed medicines and to talk to a trusted adult if you have questions or concerns.

How Drugs Work

When you take a drug, it travels through your body, often through your blood. It then goes to specific places, like your brain or other organs, and causes a reaction.

For example, a pain reliever might block signals in your brain that tell you something hurts.
An antibiotic works by killing tiny germs that are making you sick.
Substances that are not medicines can also affect your brain and body in powerful ways, sometimes making it hard to think clearly or control your actions.

Always Ask an Adult

It is very important to remember that you should never take any substance unless it is given to you by a parent, guardian, or doctor. They know what is safe and what is not. If someone offers you something you don't recognize or tells you to keep it a secret, always say no and tell a trusted adult right away. Your safety and health are the most important things.