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DRUGS AND POISONS

المؤلف:  Max M. Houck، Jay A. Siegel

المصدر:  Fundamentals of Forensic Science

الجزء والصفحة:  p355-356

2026-08-10

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DRUGS AND POISONS

A drug is a chemical or chemical mixture that is designed to have one or more physiological and/or psychological effects upon a person. See Chapter 13 for a discussion of illicit drugs and their major effects upon humans. The difference between licit drugs and other substances is that the drug is manufactured or designed to cause a particular response. A poison, on the other hand, is a substance that has a toxic (life threatening) effect on a person. Drugs can also be poisons if too much of a drug is ingested or if two or more drugs are taken such that their cumulative effects cause a toxic response. Actually, nearly any substance can be a poison if taken in excessive quantities that can cause harm to living beings. Direct effects of drugs are those that are intended by the drug’s maker. These are distinguished from unintended side effects. These may be mild or severe and do not occur in everyone who takes the drug. For example, some drugs meant to treat some of the symptoms of allergies may have the side effect of causing drowsiness. Some side effects may even cause death. From a toxicology standpoint side effects may be as important as direct or intended effects from some drugs.