Drug facts for kids

A drug is a special substance that can change how a living thing, like you or an animal, works. The WHO says this. Usually, food isn't called a drug, even if it has some effects. Most of the time, people take drugs to help them get better from a sickness or a health problem. For example, Aspirin or Paracetamol are drugs that can help with fever or certain infections. If you need to take these drugs for a long time, a doctor will usually tell you how to use them.

Some drugs are taken just for fun, because of the way they make people feel. Society accepts some of these "fun" drugs more than others. In some countries, it can be against the law to have or take certain drugs.

Drugs that help treat a sickness are often called "therapeutic" drugs. Drugs taken for fun are called "recreational" drugs.

How Drugs Work

Drugs can have effects you don't want. These are called side-effects. For example, a medicine might help your headache but also make you feel sleepy.

Drugs work differently depending on how much you take. It's very important to take the right amount. The amount of a drug you take is called a dose.

The Right Dose

Let's look at Aspirin. It's often used for fever or pain. But one of its side effects is that it makes blood thinner. Because of this, doctors can also use a much smaller dose of Aspirin to help prevent strokes or heart attacks. This is a different dose than what you'd take for a fever.

Taking too much of a drug, or "too high a dose," can make you very sick or even cause death. When a doctor tells you how much of a drug to take, you should only take that exact amount. It's also very important to keep taking the drug until the doctor says to stop. You might feel better, but you could still be sick.

When a doctor tells you what drug to take, how much, and for how long, it's called a prescription.

Addiction and Safety

Some drugs can cause addiction. This means your body gets used to the drug and feels like it needs it to function. Some drugs are illegal because they are very addictive and can be dangerous. It's always safest to only take medicines prescribed by a doctor and to follow their instructions carefully.

Therapeutic Drugs

Therapeutic drugs are also known as medicinal drugs, medicine, or medication. Doctors give these drugs to people who are sick to help them get better. You can buy these drugs at a pharmacy.

Some medicines need a prescription from a doctor before you can buy them. Other medicines do not need a prescription; these are called "over-the-counter" medications. There are many different types of these drugs for various illnesses. Here are a few examples:

• Aspirin - Used to help with pain.
• Paracetamol - Also used to help with pain.
• Penicillin - A type of medicine used to fight infections.
• Antibiotics - These are special medicines that kill bacteria (which are tiny germs that can make you sick).

See also

In Spanish: Droga para niños