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Social Drugs & Medicines

Good Essays
1. Explain the terms social drugs and medicines.
People take social drugs to help them relax or occasionally give themselves the feeling of having more energy (BBC 2013). Social drugs are also known as recreational or non medicinal drugs. These types of drugs are used for recreational purposes and without medical justification. There are two types of social drugs, illegal and socially acceptable drugs. Illegal social drugs include heroin, cocaine, cannabis and LSD. Examples of socially acceptable drugs are caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. However, unlike social drugs, medicinal drugs are taken for the purpose of treating, preventing and diagnosing a disease (Taylor and Reide 1998 p3). Examples of medicinal drugs include amitriptyline – an
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Some stores have a limit as to how many packs of medicines you can buy off the shelf to reinforce this.
Certain drugs are classed as prescription only medicines as they have more harmful effects on an individual’s body. They are not available over the counter so to prevent the misuse of these drugs as they can lead to more serious consequences if taken incorrectly. Although, general sales list medicines can also harm an individual when taken in higher quantities, they do not run the same risk of misuse as prescription only medicines and can be self-medicated. General sales list medicines, such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen, in higher quantities are classed as pharmacy medicines.
4. Outline the purpose of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
“An Act to make new provision with respect to dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs and related matters, and for purposes connected therewith.” (Legislation.gov.uk 2013) The act is aimed to prevent the non-medical use of drugs, such as Amphetamines – a stimulant and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) – a hallucinogen. The act was introduced to criminalise the production, unlawful supply and possession of controlled drugs and also the exporting or importing of these drugs. It has given police the authority to stop, detain and search people on “reasonable suspicion” that they are carrying a controlled drug.
The act controls social drugs that are illegal, these differ from medicinal drugs as they are not taken to
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