Hard and soft drugs

Hard and soft drugs

Hard and Soft Drugs are terms used to distinguish between psychoactive drugs that are addictive and cause serious physical harm from those that are believed to be non-addictive and less harmful. The distinction between hard and soft drugs is important in the fields of epidemiology, public health, medical sociology, and substance abuse.

Definition

The terms "hard drugs" and "soft drugs" are thought to originate from the Netherlands, where the drug policy categorizes drugs based on their potential for harm and addiction. Hard drugs include substances like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine. These drugs are considered to pose a high risk for addiction and have the potential to cause severe physical and psychological harm.

Soft drugs, on the other hand, include substances like cannabis, caffeine, and nicotine. These drugs are considered to have a lower risk of addiction and are generally thought to cause less harm than hard drugs. However, the categorization of a drug as hard or soft does not necessarily reflect its legal status.

Controversy

The distinction between hard and soft drugs is controversial. Critics argue that the classification is arbitrary and does not accurately reflect the risks and harms associated with drug use. For example, some point out that alcohol, a legal substance, can be more harmful than many illegal drugs.

See also

• Drug policy of the Netherlands
• Harm reduction
• Substance abuse
• War on Drugs

References

Drug groups | Encyclopedia | Dictionary | Cancer drugs | OTC | Alternative meds | Drugs | Medications A-Z | FDA approved products | Portal:Pharmacology