Drugs & the Law in the Sunshine State

Download this booklet in pdf ( 387 KB)

Introduction

A drug is any chemical substance which affects the normal way that a person's mind or body works.

Since the very earliest civilisations, people have used many different kinds of drugs, and for many different reasons.

Most people don't think of themselves as drug takers, however, almost all of us are. We all use drugs in one form or another. Drug taking is part of ordinary human behaviour. Drugs can include a variety of substances including alcohol, tobacco, pain relieving tablets such as paracetamol and aspirin, cough and cold remedies, caffeine, minor tranquillisers, cannabis, amphetamines, heroin and steroids.

Using alcohol or any other drug is a matter of personal choice. If you choose to use a drug, you are responsible for the effects it has on your health, on your behaviour, in fact on all aspects of your life.

For example:

• If you go to a pub or other licensed premises and have a few drinks, you are responsible for how you behave afterwards.
  
  
• Even if a doctor prescribes a drug for you, you are responsible for taking it as advised and for not letting anyone else use it.
  
  
• If you use illegal drugs, you have to get them from an illegal source and you are responsible for possessing and using illegal substances.

Only a few drugs are absolutely illegal to use. Most are legal as well as socially acceptable and their use is often encouraged.

Whatever drugs you use, it is important that you know how they affect you and what the consequences of your drug use can be. Drugs can affect your health, your relationships with family and friends, your job, even your status in the community.

Sometimes drug use can get you into trouble with the law. USE OF BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL DRUGS CAN CAUSE LEGAL PROBLEMS. Most drugs are regulated by laws and regulations. This booklet is only concerned with psychoactive drugs, drugs which change the way you think, feel and behave. If you use any of these drugs, you need to know about the laws controlling them, the consequences of breaking those laws, and the people who can help with a legal or drug problem.