Main Difference – Drug vs Medicine
Drugs and medicine are substances that result in a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body. The physiological effect caused by drugs can be either negative or positive since drugs have different uses and purposes. However, the effects of medicine are often positive and favorable since the main purpose of medicine is treating diseases. This is the main difference between drug and medicine.
What is a Drug
Drug is any substance other than food which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, categorizes several characteristics to define drugs.
– a substance recognized in an official pharmacopeia or formulary
– a substance intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
– a substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body
– a substance intended for use as a component of a medicine but not a device or a component, part, or accessory of a device
Although drug is often used synonymously with medicine, drug also has negative connotations. This is because drug also refers to an illegal substance that causes addiction and a marked change in the consciousness.
It is also important to note that drugs have different uses such as medication, spiritual and religious purposes, and recreation. It is recreational drugs that alter the state of consciousness. Such drugs are often illegal or controlled by certain regulations.
In a nutshell, drugs can have both adverse and beneficial effects on the body. The drugs in recognized in an official pharmacopeia have beneficial effects on the health whereas illegal drugs have the opposite effects on the health.
What is a Medicine
Medicine refers to a substance that is used in treating disease or relieving pain, and that is usually in the form of a pill or a liquid. Medicine has a favorable effect on our health. As explained above, medicine can be taken as a type of drug.
Medicine is sometimes used interchangeable with drug, but it does not have the negative connotations associated with drugs.
In addition, the term medicine also refers to the science or practice of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
Difference Between Drug and Medicine
Definition
Drug is any substance other than food which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body.
Medicine is a substance that is used in treating disease or relieving pain.
Purpose
Drugs are used for different purposes such as treating disease, relieving pain, recreation and improving cognitive abilities.
Medicine is mainly used to treat disease or relieve pain.
Effects
Drug may have either positive or negative effect.
Medicine usually has a positive effect on the health.
Connotations
Drug is associated with negative connotations.
Medicine is not associated with negative connotations.
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