drug
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drug
A substance that changes perception, mood, or consciousness and can often lead to addiction. Usually refers to illegal or intoxicating substances.
Der Konsum harter Drogen kann schwere gesundheitliche Folgen haben.
The use of hard drugs can have serious health consequences.
crude drug
A dried, unprocessed raw material of plant, animal, or mineral origin that is used to make medicines. This is a technical pharmaceutical term.
In der Apotheke werden pflanzliche Drogen zu Tees und Tinkturen verarbeitet.
In the pharmacy, plant-based crude drugs are processed into teas and tinctures.
In everyday language, 'Droge' (drug) almost always means an intoxicating, often illegal substance. The meaning 'Rohstoff für Arzneimittel' (raw material for medicines) is technical language and is used only in pharmaceutical or botanical contexts.
Die Polizei hat einen großen Drogenfund gemacht.
The police made a major drug seizure.
The word 'Droge' (drug) is the core of many compound nouns that relate to the topics of addiction and crime. Examples include 'der Drogenhandel' (drug trade), 'die Drogensucht' (drug addiction), or 'die Drogenkriminalität' (drug-related crime).
Der Kampf gegen den Drogenhandel ist eine große Herausforderung für die Gesellschaft.
The fight against the drug trade is a major challenge for society.
In connection with intoxicating substances, 'Droge' (drug) is often combined with certain verbs and adjectives. Typical phrases are 'Drogen nehmen' (to take drugs), 'von Drogen abhängig sein' (to be addicted to drugs), or the distinction between 'harten' (hard) and 'weichen' (soft) drugs.
Er hat früh angefangen, Drogen zu nehmen, und wurde schnell abhängig.
He started taking drugs early and quickly became addicted.
anesthetic / narcotic
Both words can refer to an illegal mind-altering substance. Droge is the general everyday term, while Betäubungsmittel emphasizes the legal classification of such substances. Use Droge in normal conversation and Betäubungsmittel in a legally oriented context.
Im normalen Gespräch nannte sie die illegale Substanz eine Droge.
In normal conversation, she called the illegal substance a drug.
Im Polizeibericht wurde die illegale Substanz als Betäubungsmittel bezeichnet.
The police report referred to the illegal substance as a narcotic.
