Barbiturate Abuse Glossary of Terms

1. OTC and Prescription Drug Abuse Slideshow Pictures
2. Health Risks of Alcohol Abuse Slideshow Pictures

Abstinence: The voluntary self-denial of food, drink, or sex. Today, abstinence most commo...

Activated charcoal: Charcoal that has been heated to increase its ability to absorb molecu...

Addiction: An uncontrollable craving, seeking, and use of a substance such as alcohol or a...

Antihistamines: Drugs that combat the histamine released during an allergic reaction by bl...

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

Benzodiazepines: A class of drugs that act as tranquilizers and are commonly used in the t...

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Cocaine: A substance derived from the leaves of the coca plant that is a bitter, addictive...

Coma: A state of deep, unarousable unconsciousness. A coma may occur as a result of head t...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

ECG: Electrocardiogram.

Electrocardiogram: A recording of the electrical activity of the heart. Abbreviated ECG an...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Generic: 1. The chemical name of a drug. 2. A term referring to the chemical...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Insomnia: The perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep due to a number ...

Medical profession: A vocation characterized by a specialized body of knowledge of medici...

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

Primary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Red Devils: Street name for dextromethorphan (DXM).

Relapse: The return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a remission.

Seizure: Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which may produce a physical conv...

Seizure disorders: One of a great many medical conditions that are characterized by epis...

Shock: In medicine, a critical condition that is brought on by a sudden drop in blood flow...

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Substance abuse: The excessive use of a substance, especially alcohol or a drug. (There is...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Therapeutic: Relating to therapeutics, the branch of medicine that is concerned specifical...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Tobacco: A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nic...

Toxicology: The study of the nature, effects, and detection of poisons (toxins) and the tr...

Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm...

Withdrawal symptoms: Abnormal physical or psychological features that follow the abrupt di...