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Glossary
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| There are 109 entries in the glossary. | |
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| Term | Definition |
| Absorption | The process the body uses to move elements from the outside world into the blood and other tissues. Food is absorbed through the stomach and intestines. Nicotine is absorbed through the lungs. |
| Abstinence | The conscious choice not to use drugs. The term usually refers to the decision to end the use of a drug as part of the process of recovery from addiction. |
| Addiction | Strong physiological, emotional and/or psychological dependence on a substance such as alcohol or drugs that has progressed beyond voluntary control. For more on addiction see the section Addiction Information in this website. |
| Addictive Drugs | Drugs that change the brain, change behavior, and lead to the loss of control of drug-taking behavior. |
| AIDS | Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. A condition characterized by a defect in the body's natural immunity to diseases. Individuals who suffer from it are at risk for severe illnesses that are usually not a threat to anyone whose immune system is working properly. |
| Alcohol | Refers to ethyl alcohol or ethanol. |
| Amphetamines | Stimulant drugs whose effects are very similar to cocaine. |
| Amyl nitrite | A yellowish oily volatile liquid used in certain diagnostic procedures and prescribed to some patients for heart pain. Illegally diverted ampules of amyl nitrite are called poppers or snappers on the street. |
| Anabolic steroids | Any of a group of synthetic steroid hormones used to stimulate muscle and bone growth; sometimes used illicitly byathletes to increase their strength. |
| Analgesic | A group of medications that reduce pain. |
| Anesthetic | An agent that causes insensitivity to pain and is used for surgeries and other medical procedures. |
| Axon | The fiber-like extension of a neuron by which the cell carries information to target cells. |
| Axon terminal | The structure at the end of an axon that produces and releases chemicals (neurotransmitters) to transmit the neuron's message across the synapse. |
| Barbiturates | Depressant drugs that produce relaxation and sleep. Barbiturates include sleeping pills such as pentobarbital (Nembutal)and secobarbital (Seconal). |
| Benzodiazepines | A class of drugs used in medicine as minor tranquilizers which is frequently prescribed to treat anxiety. They are central nervous system depressants and are subject to abuse. |
| Binge | Uninterrupted consumption of a drug for several hours or days. |
| Buprenorphine |
A long-lasting opiate analgesic that
has both opiate agonist and antagonist properties. Buprenorphine shows promise
for treating Heroin addiction. |
| Butane | A substance found in lighter fluid. |
| Butyl nitrite | An illegal substance that is often packaged and sold in small bottles; also referred to as poppers. |
| Caffeine | Caffeine A mild stimulant,the most widely used drug in the world. |
| Cannabinoid receptor | The receptor in the brain that recognizes THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Marijuana exerts its psychoactive effects via this receptor. |
| Cannabis | The botanical name for the plant from which marijuana comes. |
| Central nervous system | The brain and spinal cord. |
| China White | A designer drug that was an opiate derivative. Some batches contained a neurotoxin called MPTP, which killed neurons that make dopamine, producing symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. |
| Chronic | Refers to a disease or condition that persists over a long period of time. Also a slang term for a particularly potent strain of marijuana. |
| Glossary V2.0 | |
