Drugs and medicines

1What is a drug?

A drug is a chemical that changes the way the body works. Most travel in the blood to organs such as the brain and heart. Medicines, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine are all drugs.

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2Medicines and recreational drugs

Medicines treat or prevent illness, or ease its symptoms: painkillers, antibiotics, insulin. Recreational drugs, such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, are taken for the way they make people feel.

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3Drugs and the law

Caffeine is legal. Alcohol, tobacco and vapes can't be sold to under-18s, and anyone born after 2008 will never be allowed to buy tobacco. Drugs such as cannabis and cocaine are illegal.

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4Antibiotics

Antibiotics are medicines that kill bacteria inside the body. They have no effect at all on viruses, which cause colds and flu.

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5Resistant bacteria

By chance, a few bacteria may be resistant: the antibiotic doesn't kill them. They survive and multiply, and the infection becomes hard to treat. Using antibiotics only when they are needed slows this down.

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6Using medicines safely

Follow the label: the dose (how much) and how often. Too little may not work; too much can harm. Never take medicine prescribed for someone else. Unwanted effects are side effects.

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7Testing new medicines

New medicines are tested for years: in a lab, then on a few healthy volunteers, then on many patients. These tests on people, clinical trials, check that it is safe and that it works.

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