Did you know this about drugs?

Hmmm not sure. If it's true, then I guess I'm a drug addict.

No surprise here. Would alcohol and/or cigarettes be legalized if there came out today? They are legal because....well, cigarettes came out before the full health risks were exposed and alcohol has been around forever. Trying to ban alcohol with Prohibition did no good and resulted in often dangerous homemade brews.
Caffeine? I know that is mind-altering. If it keeps a person awake, it has to have some effect on the brain. It can mess with sleep rhythms too. Mormons don't drink caffeine. I'm not willing to go that far - yet. :)

OOOH gotta have Coffee!

of course they are drugs, these are all highly addictive substances.

I can live with out the alcohol but I like my cigarettes and caffeine. Plus I take 23 other medications every single day - I count them out every morning and call them "BREAKFAST". It's a very sad state of affairs but it is my life. It is also VERY expensive to have to be on that many medications. VERY!!! It's hard to eat when you take that many meds but I am still overweight - go figure..... doesn't make sense.

I took a class last term on drugs and society and that was one of the things I learned that surprised me. I really learned a lot in that class.

I quit smoking six years ago. After the day I've had I wish I didn't quit drinking. I have to have my coffee, and like Lisa I take prescribed medications every day. I've already taken a Xanex (prescribed) and I really should take another, but "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" is on at 10:00 and I'd like to be awake to watch it.

I have heard about this before, weird!

Yep, I knew this. I gave up the cigarettes years ago, don't really drink alcohol very often, but can't do without the caffeine. I guess if you have to have one of the 3 as a vice, I'll take the caffeine:)

I knew that alcohol, cigarettes and caffine was mind altering drugs. I learned that back in my highschool years. I am 36 now. It must of been a day i actullay paid attention in class.

Yes, I guess they are. I hate how I feel without my coffee.

Lisa...I found out that lots of my fibro meds are known to cause weight gain. That could be your problem.

I've learned all this in my psychology class. Pretty neat.

Good Article!

I often advise people who self medicate (using illegal drugs) to consider going to a doctor to get medication that will help them feel better. Many suffer from depression or bi polar and are drawn to illegal drugs. Alcohol is a depressant as is pain killers, if you are depressed drinking and take pain pills get you high but then you wind up more depressed when you crash.

I have been on and off medication for many years and 8 years ago I decided I needed medication for the rest of my life for depression and post traumatic stress disorder. I have some physical ailments and depression is part of the effects of the diseases. Like I take insulin for my diabetes, the other medicines I take are helping me live longer. I try to avoid the steroid medicines but it is no picnic not inhaling the full amount of oxygen. I drink coffee to help me breathe when my sugar is high and I avoid my breathing medicines as they raise my sugar level. Coffee does help even in an asthma attack.

I have tried to lower my medicines, but I just wound up adding two that I dropped back.
The good part about taking precriptive drugs is that you have a doctor and druggist involved to make sure you don't have drug interaction. When you take drugs bought on the street you don't know what you are getting and one day the same amount as the day before can be twice the strength and you overdose. You can also be sold poison.

Thus I advise people not to self medicate.

coffee!!! wow I guess I am a drug addict too!!

back in school we were taught that anything that alters your "state of being" is a drug. Oh great, guess that could include life at times.

Thanks for the informative little piece!

I guess I can call myself a functioning addict. Remember, chocolate is included in the caffeine category! Yikes....I'm bound to hit bottom, eventually! ; )

Any substance that enters your bloodstream and cause a metabolic reaction could be called a drug. Anything mood altering is a drug. Some drugs are of course beneficial, but those legal or illegal that cause side effects are a huge risk to health. Most drugs just mask symptoms and are not curative. The misconception that drugs can cure is part and parcel of advertisements. I'm very anti-drug, both illegal and especially legal. The thing about any drug is to measure the effect on your body. If prolonged use causes a negative effect, why use it. Most foods like coffee, tea and chocolate, which have drugs in them are short lived and can actually have beneficial effects. The drugs we need to use utmost care with are those in powders and pills.

i knew smoking, caffeine and even tea were considered a drug. i only use the first 2, can people call me an druggie now? i sure hope nobody will