MEDICINE

Question

Dear Teachers,1. Is there any difference between "drug" and "medicine"? or are they the same meaning?Thanks very much to Teachers, Stevenukd.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

1. Is there any difference between "drug" and "medicine"? or are they the same meaning? The more commonly used term in the context of when you go to the doctor is 'medicine'. Here are a few comments.

Medicine - Usually taken orally (by mouth). Is often liquid. May not be something normally considered a drug, eg may be made from a plant. I'd say that the more common term in N. America is 'medication', which covers both liquid and pills, etc.

Drug - The word stresses a chemical basis of some kind. We speak of the big pharmaceutical companies as 'drug manufacturers'. The word is also used for the 'illegal' substances, eg cocaine, heroin, etc. Hence, we say 'He's a drug-addict'.

Best wishes, Clive

Philip · Answer

StevenukdDear Teachers,

1. Is there any difference between "drug" and "medicine"? or are they the same meaning?

Thanks very much to Teachers,

Stevenukd.

1. "Medicine" is the field of study.

2. "Drug(s)", "medication" and "medicine" can be used as synonyms.

3. "Drugs" can refer to the illegal stuff.

Anonymous · Answer

Drug - is a substance, that can be used in medicines or not. The most common uses of it are: 1. in sustitution of medicine; 2. when you talk about illicit drugs. BUt, under the pharmaceutical point of view it may be: 1. active principle of a medicine; 2. substance that acts on the human being and other animals; 3. licit and illicit substances that have action on the human being and other animals.
The drugs may have animal, vegetal and mineral origins.

Medicine - is a manipulated, manufatured or industrialized product that is prepared to cure or prevent diseases or to treat the symptoms of a disease.

MEDICINE

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