A drug is any substance that changes how the body works once it gets inside the body. Some children may assume that everyone takes drugs. The fact is that the vast majority of Americans do not use illegal drugs. It is important for children to understand this fact and to know that it is perfectly normal to refuse to use illegal drugs. The same drug can do different things to different people.
Most drugs offer special risks to children.
For example, the same amount of cocaine results in a much higher blood level of the drug in a child than it does in an adult. Thus, a child may run a greater risk of overdose than an adult. Second, children are less able than adults to understand the possible long-term effects of drug abuse, such as lung cancer, liver damage, and mental health problems. The younger the person, the more difficult it is for them to understand the consequences of drug abuse. Once drugs enter the bloodstream, they travel throughout the body.