Drugs and Alcohol are better known for their negative connotations, and it is somewhat inaccurate to assume so. Drugs and alcohol are two substances that are quite useful in day to day life. They can be used as antiseptics and also act as very potent medicine for various diseases whereas because of the misconduct of human beings, drugs and alcohol are now mostly associated with substance of abuse and have gained a rather bad reputation over the years.
What is Alcohol?
Alcohol can be defined as any organic compound with a hydroxyl functional group attached to a carbon atom. There are different kinds of alcohol; most common are isopropyl, methanol and ethanol. Alcohol can be used in many ways. In medicine, it is commonly used as an antiseptic. In industrial settings, alcohol, especially methanol and ethanol are also used as fuel. They are also used as a solvent in medical drugs and perfumes. The most popular use of alcohol, or more specifically ethanol, is in the alcoholic beverages industry.
What are Drugs?
‘Drugs’ is a very broad term that can stand for many things. It can mean any substance that, when absorbed by the body, alters normal bodily functions. It can also be defined as a chemical substance that is used in the treatment, cure, prevention or diagnosis of a disease or used to enhance physical and mental well-being. Drugs, for the most part, are used in medicine and would need prescriptions for their use. There are also recreational drugs, which are basically used for entertainment purposes or for enhancing the experience. These are the types of drugs that have various restrictions and prohibitions on their use.
What is the difference Between Drugs and Alcohol?
While both drugs and alcohol are beneficial to human health in their applications, in medicine, it is worthwhile to know that the abuse of the alcoholic beverages and recreational, even some medicinal, drugs are very detrimental to human health. Alcoholic drinks and some drugs, called depressants or ‘downers’, slows human reaction speed and reduces attention. That is why it is strongly advised not to drink and drive. Alcohol has a wider range of use since its applications extend to the industrial settings. The body can absorb drugs as they are supposed to work that way; taking too much, however, sometimes results in overdose or organ failure. There are only a number of alcohols, however, that can be absorbed by the body, and most alcohols are poisonous to the human body. As they are both dangerous substances when abused, there are strict regulations in their use and propagation.
· Alcohol is an organic compound with a hydroxyl functional group attached to a carbon atom. Drugs can be defined as any substance that, when absorbed by the body, alters normal bodily functions.
· Most drugs need a prescription in order to purchase them. Alcoholic beverages are available to any person over the age of majority.
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In brief: Alcohol vs Drugs 1. Alcohol and drugs have a wide range of uses, most commonly in their medicinal applications. 2. Drugs and alcoholic beverages are highly addictive substances and too much intake causes harm the human body. 3. While alcoholic beverages only have an age restriction on as to whom can consume it, drugs have sterner restrictions to their use. Drugs usually need a prescription before you can buy them. 4. Alcohol has a wider range of use as it extends to the industrial setting. 5. There are only a number of alcohols that can be absorbed by the human body, and the rest are poisonous. Drugs, on the other hand, are made to be absorbed by the body, though you can get hurt if you take too much of certain drugs.
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