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Chapter 9 Vocabulary
Understanding Drugs and Medicines
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Active Ingredient | The chemical component that gives a medicine its action. |
| Addiction | A condition in which a person can no longer control his or her drug use. |
| Drug | Any substance that causes a change in a person's physical or psychological state. |
| Drug Interaction | A condition in which a drug reacts with another drug. |
| Drug Tolerance | A condition in which a user needs more of a drug to get the same effect. |
| Generic Medicine | A medicine made by a company other than the company that developed the original medicine. |
| Medicine | Any drug used to cure, prevent, or treat illness or discomfort. |
| Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medicine | Any medicine that can be bought without a prescription. |
| Physical Dependence | A condition in which the body relies on a given drug in order to function. |
| Prescription | A written order from a doctor for a specific medicine. |
| Psychoactive | Describes a drug or medicine that affects the brain and changes how a person perceives, thinks, or feels. |
| Psychological Dependence | A state of emotionally or physically needing a drug in order to function. |
| Side Effect | Any effect that is caused by a drug and that is different from the drug's intended effect. |
| Withdrawal | Uncomfortable physical and psychological symptoms produced when a physically dependent drug user stops using drugs. |